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The news fell this morning, February 21st. Karate is not included in the list of additional sports presented to the IOC by the Organizing Committee of Paris 2024 (OCOG). The Olympic adventure ends before it starts ! A very hard blow lived as a betrayal of the Olympic spirit. A total surprise and injustice for many, especially by announcing it before the Tokyo Games. Analysis and reactions of Da Costa, Philippe, Uygur, Horne, Horuna, Thomas ...
By Ludovic Mauchien
It's an earthquake, what do I say, a cataclysm that has just fallen on Karate. A sledgehammer, a stab wound in the back, a cut as few have ever experienced ! To kill a sport, we would not do it otherwise ! Would Karate be the unloved of Olympism? Of course, paranoia and conspiracy theory do not have to be, but the timing, the methodology and the choices put forward by the Paris 2024 and the IOC questioned.
To summarise, on February 21st (today), the OCOG had to officially announce its list of additional sports for Paris 2024. In June, the IOC had to validate it (or not) then, in December 2020, after the Tokyo Olympics, this same IOC had to formalise these « new » sports.
Two options then came up for the OCOG : to give a broad list of 8 or 9 sports, giving the chance to those chosen for Tokyo to show off their strengths and, in a way, to pass on the political baby to the IOC for the final choice. 2nd option : propose a tight and quasi-final list.
Tony Estanguet and his team chose the 2nd option. They proposed climbing, skateboarding and surfing, already present in 2020, and breakdance. In its official press released titled « Paris 2024 : a revolutionary experience », the OCOG explains its choice : « Paris 2024 proposes the integration of 4 new sports, with youth, creativity at the service of performance, the spectacular dimension and the inclusion as common denominators.
Paris 2024 embodies its ambition to offer unique Games : accessible, popular, coming out of the stadiums and coming to meet the public, Games that offer a participative and inclusive dimension previously never seen. [...] (A choice) guided by three main principles : (1) Sustainable and responsible Games, with sports offering a limited number of athletes and requiring no permanent construction. (2) Games connected with their time, which inspire new audiences and attract the younger generation, with sports that are shared on social networks, which are means of expression and lifestyle, and are practised everywhere, in town as in nature. (3) Games reflecting the Paris 2024 identity, in other words, spectacular, creating bridges with culture and inviting to engagement, accessible, inclusive, practicable outside the stadiums and appealing to creativity ».
Everyone has the freedom to think what he wants but, obviously, Karate does meet these criteria in the spirit of the OCOG 2024. Difficult for the moment to know the real ins and outs. It's even misunderstanding for many. Received mid-January by Jean-Philippe Gatien, the Paris 2024’s director of sports, the representatives of the French federation left reassured and confident. « We filled all the fields », says today the National technical director, Dominique Charre (see also his interview). « We have 150,000 young people. We are present everywhere on the territory. We win medals, the athletes are at the heart of the project ... I am shocked ! I was not excpecting that at all ! ».
Several arguments can be advanced to explain this choice. For the outsiders of combat sports, so the vast majority of people, Karate and Taekwondo, present since 2000, are the same thing. But, above all, the ambition (and the obligation) of Thomas Bach, the IOC President, to rejuvenate the Games and (re) develop their appeal to young people, logically favours the arrival of skateboarding and break-dance.
An enhanced reflection at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) last year, where break-dance was a hit (quality of the organisation of the tournament, great show and public), karate much less. Another criterion could also play : the number of athletes. In Tokyo, additional sports do not fit in the quota (10,500), in Paris, yes. The break-dance will have 32 participants, Karate 100.
In the OCOG press release, Tony Estanguet motivates the choice of these 4 sports : « From the beginning, we have the will to propose Games that mark the spirits, which surprise. We have chosen 4 spectacular sports, resolutely turned towards youth, with a strong creative dimension and which are fully in line with our vision. We are convinced that break-dance, climbing, skateboarding and surf will help strengthen our project ».
But, far beyond the choice, it is the calendar that shocks. The world of karate has been in turmoil since 2016. The kids were dreaming. The champions of any country redoubled their efforts in training to live an exceptional moment. The federations have invested, sometimes even in debt, to shine at the Olympics. The mechanics began to snap, sponsors, without jostling for the time, scrutinised karate more closely. The stop is brutal. It is especially cruel for athletes. Even before they live their dream, it has already died out.
Source; www.karate-k.com/en/sport/road-to-tokyo/news/383-olympics-2024-karate-is-out.html
Quotes
Steven Da Costa (France), 22, 2018 World champion
« I fell from up there ! It's like I've learned somebody’s death. It's a total misunderstanding. It's demotivating, demoralizing ... I do not even have the words to describe what I feel. I have a true feeling of injustice !
In addition, it is in Paris, France, that refuses us, while the French Karate is part of the top nations. We are in the top 3 on almost all competitions. I do not understand !
We are 250,000 licensees. We want young people in 2024. We have more than 120,000 youth licensees, 5,000 clubs, in all cities, neighborhoods, everywhere. Really, it's a total misunderstanding !
I do not denigrate any sport, I respect any athlete of any discipline but to be replaced by breakdance which has 6000 licensees, someone has to explain to me !
We do not even have the chance to prove how beautiful our sport is. We go in 2020 to leave behind. We do not even go from shadow to light. We go from light to shadow.
It will change a lot of things. This will disgust a pair of people. And that changes all the projects. I will fight for 2020 and I will do everything to become Olympic champion in Tokyo. Behind, I do not know what will happen. I do not know what goal I will have after. Everything is changed ».
Burak Uygur (Turkey), 23, two-times European champion
« Unfortunately, I just heard it. I'm shocked. This is a big surprise for me, because I thought that « France is a country of karate. The French really like this sport and they have success in karate. Karate will definitely be in Paris in 2024 ». But I see now that I'm wrong, it's a bad news for all the karate world and the karate lovers ».
Jordan Thomas (England), 26, 2016 World Champion
« 2020 is the goal and it is very hard to look past this Olympic cycle. We want karate to be an Olympic Sport permanently and I think Tokyo can only bring positive and progression to our sport to then be in contention to go back into the Games ».
Jonathan Horne (Germany), 30, 2018 World champion
« Well, I am very sad that our sport will not have the opportunity to be an Olympic sport in the future. It's not fair that karate is the only combat sport that is not an Olympic sport. We are one of the biggest and best organized sport from all of them. I wish we will be able to come back and show in 2020 to the IOC and to the world that Karate is an interesting and beautiful sport ».
Stanislav Horuna (Ukraine), 29, European and World multi-medalist
« I am deeply disappointed. That's a shame that such a wonderful, intelligent, complete and dynamic sport won’t be in the Olympic program anymore. Karate is a sport that surpasses many other Olympic sports by its spectacular side and technical requirements. It is well deserved to be at the Olympic Games according to all the criteria ».
Gwendoline Philippe (France), 19, Junior and U21 World champion
« At first, I am very surprised... Because each of us saw Karate at the Olympic Games in 2024... And I am quite disappointed inevitably. Living this experience must be extraordinary, so living it at home is even more so ! In addition, I would have been just 25 years old, it's like the golden age in karate. Disappointed because I think that our sport conveys beautiful values. Now, my goal has always been and is even more the 2020 Olympics. I had been told too young to hope to participate. Today, I'm in the running and, with hard work and perseverance, I intend to qualify and win gold in Tokyo. Paris 2024 was a goal of course, but only in second ».
Amir Mehdizadeh (Iran), 29, 2014 World champion
« Actually I am shocked, because karate is a complete sport and so many countries practice karate. I think Olympic Games will miss karate, it’s not karate that will miss the Games ! »
Thomas Scott (USA), 28, multi Panamerican medalist
« This is a disappointing news indeed. I think there is still a chance Karate can be included and I hope this is the case. France would have a very strong chance at medals in 2024. It’s possible we can make the inclusion list. Let’s hope for the best ».
By Ludovic Mauchien
It's an earthquake, what do I say, a cataclysm that has just fallen on Karate. A sledgehammer, a stab wound in the back, a cut as few have ever experienced ! To kill a sport, we would not do it otherwise ! Would Karate be the unloved of Olympism? Of course, paranoia and conspiracy theory do not have to be, but the timing, the methodology and the choices put forward by the Paris 2024 and the IOC questioned.
To summarise, on February 21st (today), the OCOG had to officially announce its list of additional sports for Paris 2024. In June, the IOC had to validate it (or not) then, in December 2020, after the Tokyo Olympics, this same IOC had to formalise these « new » sports.
Two options then came up for the OCOG : to give a broad list of 8 or 9 sports, giving the chance to those chosen for Tokyo to show off their strengths and, in a way, to pass on the political baby to the IOC for the final choice. 2nd option : propose a tight and quasi-final list.
Tony Estanguet and his team chose the 2nd option. They proposed climbing, skateboarding and surfing, already present in 2020, and breakdance. In its official press released titled « Paris 2024 : a revolutionary experience », the OCOG explains its choice : « Paris 2024 proposes the integration of 4 new sports, with youth, creativity at the service of performance, the spectacular dimension and the inclusion as common denominators.
Paris 2024 embodies its ambition to offer unique Games : accessible, popular, coming out of the stadiums and coming to meet the public, Games that offer a participative and inclusive dimension previously never seen. [...] (A choice) guided by three main principles : (1) Sustainable and responsible Games, with sports offering a limited number of athletes and requiring no permanent construction. (2) Games connected with their time, which inspire new audiences and attract the younger generation, with sports that are shared on social networks, which are means of expression and lifestyle, and are practised everywhere, in town as in nature. (3) Games reflecting the Paris 2024 identity, in other words, spectacular, creating bridges with culture and inviting to engagement, accessible, inclusive, practicable outside the stadiums and appealing to creativity ».
Everyone has the freedom to think what he wants but, obviously, Karate does meet these criteria in the spirit of the OCOG 2024. Difficult for the moment to know the real ins and outs. It's even misunderstanding for many. Received mid-January by Jean-Philippe Gatien, the Paris 2024’s director of sports, the representatives of the French federation left reassured and confident. « We filled all the fields », says today the National technical director, Dominique Charre (see also his interview). « We have 150,000 young people. We are present everywhere on the territory. We win medals, the athletes are at the heart of the project ... I am shocked ! I was not excpecting that at all ! ».
Several arguments can be advanced to explain this choice. For the outsiders of combat sports, so the vast majority of people, Karate and Taekwondo, present since 2000, are the same thing. But, above all, the ambition (and the obligation) of Thomas Bach, the IOC President, to rejuvenate the Games and (re) develop their appeal to young people, logically favours the arrival of skateboarding and break-dance.
An enhanced reflection at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) last year, where break-dance was a hit (quality of the organisation of the tournament, great show and public), karate much less. Another criterion could also play : the number of athletes. In Tokyo, additional sports do not fit in the quota (10,500), in Paris, yes. The break-dance will have 32 participants, Karate 100.
In the OCOG press release, Tony Estanguet motivates the choice of these 4 sports : « From the beginning, we have the will to propose Games that mark the spirits, which surprise. We have chosen 4 spectacular sports, resolutely turned towards youth, with a strong creative dimension and which are fully in line with our vision. We are convinced that break-dance, climbing, skateboarding and surf will help strengthen our project ».
But, far beyond the choice, it is the calendar that shocks. The world of karate has been in turmoil since 2016. The kids were dreaming. The champions of any country redoubled their efforts in training to live an exceptional moment. The federations have invested, sometimes even in debt, to shine at the Olympics. The mechanics began to snap, sponsors, without jostling for the time, scrutinised karate more closely. The stop is brutal. It is especially cruel for athletes. Even before they live their dream, it has already died out.
Source; www.karate-k.com/en/sport/road-to-tokyo/news/383-olympics-2024-karate-is-out.html
Quotes
Steven Da Costa (France), 22, 2018 World champion
« I fell from up there ! It's like I've learned somebody’s death. It's a total misunderstanding. It's demotivating, demoralizing ... I do not even have the words to describe what I feel. I have a true feeling of injustice !
In addition, it is in Paris, France, that refuses us, while the French Karate is part of the top nations. We are in the top 3 on almost all competitions. I do not understand !
We are 250,000 licensees. We want young people in 2024. We have more than 120,000 youth licensees, 5,000 clubs, in all cities, neighborhoods, everywhere. Really, it's a total misunderstanding !
I do not denigrate any sport, I respect any athlete of any discipline but to be replaced by breakdance which has 6000 licensees, someone has to explain to me !
We do not even have the chance to prove how beautiful our sport is. We go in 2020 to leave behind. We do not even go from shadow to light. We go from light to shadow.
It will change a lot of things. This will disgust a pair of people. And that changes all the projects. I will fight for 2020 and I will do everything to become Olympic champion in Tokyo. Behind, I do not know what will happen. I do not know what goal I will have after. Everything is changed ».
Burak Uygur (Turkey), 23, two-times European champion
« Unfortunately, I just heard it. I'm shocked. This is a big surprise for me, because I thought that « France is a country of karate. The French really like this sport and they have success in karate. Karate will definitely be in Paris in 2024 ». But I see now that I'm wrong, it's a bad news for all the karate world and the karate lovers ».
Jordan Thomas (England), 26, 2016 World Champion
« 2020 is the goal and it is very hard to look past this Olympic cycle. We want karate to be an Olympic Sport permanently and I think Tokyo can only bring positive and progression to our sport to then be in contention to go back into the Games ».
Jonathan Horne (Germany), 30, 2018 World champion
« Well, I am very sad that our sport will not have the opportunity to be an Olympic sport in the future. It's not fair that karate is the only combat sport that is not an Olympic sport. We are one of the biggest and best organized sport from all of them. I wish we will be able to come back and show in 2020 to the IOC and to the world that Karate is an interesting and beautiful sport ».
Stanislav Horuna (Ukraine), 29, European and World multi-medalist
« I am deeply disappointed. That's a shame that such a wonderful, intelligent, complete and dynamic sport won’t be in the Olympic program anymore. Karate is a sport that surpasses many other Olympic sports by its spectacular side and technical requirements. It is well deserved to be at the Olympic Games according to all the criteria ».
Gwendoline Philippe (France), 19, Junior and U21 World champion
« At first, I am very surprised... Because each of us saw Karate at the Olympic Games in 2024... And I am quite disappointed inevitably. Living this experience must be extraordinary, so living it at home is even more so ! In addition, I would have been just 25 years old, it's like the golden age in karate. Disappointed because I think that our sport conveys beautiful values. Now, my goal has always been and is even more the 2020 Olympics. I had been told too young to hope to participate. Today, I'm in the running and, with hard work and perseverance, I intend to qualify and win gold in Tokyo. Paris 2024 was a goal of course, but only in second ».
Amir Mehdizadeh (Iran), 29, 2014 World champion
« Actually I am shocked, because karate is a complete sport and so many countries practice karate. I think Olympic Games will miss karate, it’s not karate that will miss the Games ! »
Thomas Scott (USA), 28, multi Panamerican medalist
« This is a disappointing news indeed. I think there is still a chance Karate can be included and I hope this is the case. France would have a very strong chance at medals in 2024. It’s possible we can make the inclusion list. Let’s hope for the best ».
Monarch Airlines collapse forces English Karate Federation to spend £27,000 on flights
THE EKF said it had been "an extremely exhausting and stressful time" The English Karate Federation (EKF) has had to spend £27,310 extra on flights to the Junior World Championships since the collapse of Monarch Airlines.
The body had paid £18,700 for flights to Tenerife before the 26-29 October event, money it says "has been lost".
About 860,000 people lost bookings when Monarch collapsed. The Civil Aviation Authority sent more than 30 planes out to return 110,000 holidaymakers.
The EKF secured new flights after "a fraught few days of internet searches".
Having calculated the cost of cancelling its athletes' participation at an additional £45,000 - "way above the figure for rebooking" - it decided to spend the "astronomical figure" required.
A statement read: "A consequence of the Monarch Airlines collapse quickly led to the remaining airlines seeking to exploit the situation that we, like many others, have found themselves in with trying to find alternative travel.
"Many of the airlines have hiked their airfares for the same travel period to over £1,000 per passenger.
"We believe that asking for the full additional costs from the athletes arising from this extraordinary situation would be harsh in these circumstances.
"Therefore, we have asked the athletes if they could make an additional payment of only £190, which is the difference between the original and new airfares.
"This was an unprecedented situation and we must thank those involved for turning this around. This has been an extremely exhausting and stressful time."
Source; BBC UK Sport. 12th October 2017.
THE EKF said it had been "an extremely exhausting and stressful time" The English Karate Federation (EKF) has had to spend £27,310 extra on flights to the Junior World Championships since the collapse of Monarch Airlines.
The body had paid £18,700 for flights to Tenerife before the 26-29 October event, money it says "has been lost".
About 860,000 people lost bookings when Monarch collapsed. The Civil Aviation Authority sent more than 30 planes out to return 110,000 holidaymakers.
The EKF secured new flights after "a fraught few days of internet searches".
Having calculated the cost of cancelling its athletes' participation at an additional £45,000 - "way above the figure for rebooking" - it decided to spend the "astronomical figure" required.
A statement read: "A consequence of the Monarch Airlines collapse quickly led to the remaining airlines seeking to exploit the situation that we, like many others, have found themselves in with trying to find alternative travel.
"Many of the airlines have hiked their airfares for the same travel period to over £1,000 per passenger.
- What are your rights?
- The rise and fall of Monarch
- 'Shock and anger' among passengers
- Four reasons why Monarch failed
"We believe that asking for the full additional costs from the athletes arising from this extraordinary situation would be harsh in these circumstances.
"Therefore, we have asked the athletes if they could make an additional payment of only £190, which is the difference between the original and new airfares.
"This was an unprecedented situation and we must thank those involved for turning this around. This has been an extremely exhausting and stressful time."
Source; BBC UK Sport. 12th October 2017.
Comments...
IN 2016 THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) AGREED TO ADD SPORT-KARATE TO THE SPORTS PROGRAMME FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020.
Greg Francis English Karate Federation Board Resignation Letter.
Dear Karateka,
On Friday 14th October I reluctantly resigned as a Director from ...the EKF. I came to this decision after significant angst and deliberation. Ultimately my passion for Karate and desire to stand strong with my suspended colleagues was superseded by my principled and professional perspective, namely that the hearing is unjustified and openly prejudiced towards a negative decision. This was proved to be the case with the dismissal of Steve and Ivor on Saturday even though their contentions were credible and evidentially supported.
As a Magistrate for 20 years and Senior Officer with the National Crime Agency I operate in an environment where all processes are undertaken in a fair, just and reasonable manner. It is clear from the Board's biased, prejudicial, public letters circulated to HoA's and published on the EKF website, those principles are not uppermost in their mind. Simply put, my attendance at the hearing would have legitimised a flawed and compromised process orchestrated by individuals absent of integrity and lacking in credibility. An appearance in front of the Authors of those juvenile letters sanctioned by the EKF Lawyer was unpalatable and the outcome predetermined. I had asked, in the light of their negative communications, for an Independent panel. I, not for the first time, received no reply.
To make matters worse they (the Board) now, from a position of strength, are able to issue a statement to the members, the majority who are in the dark,proclaiming a unanimous vote to remove two of the most honest and erstwhile individuals we all know and respect..This will obfuscate if not justify their published statements about us former Directors.
This decision, as was our suspension, was undertaken in your name i.e. "in the interests of the members"..
I apologise wholeheartedly to you all for seemingly not staying the path but I cant impress enough that I am not walking away from this situation.I hope you all remain resolute as I do in bringing openness and transparency to the governance of English Federation. There are now 36 signatories to the petition and I believe you can justifiably make a collective request to the Board for an EGM. Two resignations and Two dismissals of elected Directors since the 24th July is unacceptable.. The Board can coopt on 4 members. This would mean that 6 out of 11 members would be unelected. a ludicrous situation that on its own, within any other company, would warrant an EGM. That aside, who are we now left with at the helm of the EKF:Mick Billman - Unelected, Mick Dinsdale - Unelected and Peter Consterdine elected by stealth, not the will of the members from the looks on the faces in the room at the AGM. It is also explicitly clear that he is being groomed for the Presidents election next May.As for the the remainder on the Board, they are either strategically passive and/or motivated by self interest..
Admittedly I had advanced warning of the deviance I was to encounter.. On submission of my Nomination Form I immediately faced two attempts by Mick Billman supported by Ian Stebbings the Lawyer, to disqualify me from the process. Their arguments were both overturned and the questions I asked never satisfactorily answered. The current Board are fully aware of this.. Please see the attached emails. There is a wealth of other information you all should know Including the failure of Mick Billman and Ian Stebbings to declare their business relationships, past and present. Why has this information not been made available to the Board and the members. These are some of the reasons we need an EGM.
In closing I thank you all for your support and I emain optimistic that we can bring real change to the Governance of karate. Do not forget the real power, as always, in the hands of informed members.
Regards
Greg Francis
Source: karate-site.co.uk
On Friday 14th October I reluctantly resigned as a Director from ...the EKF. I came to this decision after significant angst and deliberation. Ultimately my passion for Karate and desire to stand strong with my suspended colleagues was superseded by my principled and professional perspective, namely that the hearing is unjustified and openly prejudiced towards a negative decision. This was proved to be the case with the dismissal of Steve and Ivor on Saturday even though their contentions were credible and evidentially supported.
As a Magistrate for 20 years and Senior Officer with the National Crime Agency I operate in an environment where all processes are undertaken in a fair, just and reasonable manner. It is clear from the Board's biased, prejudicial, public letters circulated to HoA's and published on the EKF website, those principles are not uppermost in their mind. Simply put, my attendance at the hearing would have legitimised a flawed and compromised process orchestrated by individuals absent of integrity and lacking in credibility. An appearance in front of the Authors of those juvenile letters sanctioned by the EKF Lawyer was unpalatable and the outcome predetermined. I had asked, in the light of their negative communications, for an Independent panel. I, not for the first time, received no reply.
To make matters worse they (the Board) now, from a position of strength, are able to issue a statement to the members, the majority who are in the dark,proclaiming a unanimous vote to remove two of the most honest and erstwhile individuals we all know and respect..This will obfuscate if not justify their published statements about us former Directors.
This decision, as was our suspension, was undertaken in your name i.e. "in the interests of the members"..
I apologise wholeheartedly to you all for seemingly not staying the path but I cant impress enough that I am not walking away from this situation.I hope you all remain resolute as I do in bringing openness and transparency to the governance of English Federation. There are now 36 signatories to the petition and I believe you can justifiably make a collective request to the Board for an EGM. Two resignations and Two dismissals of elected Directors since the 24th July is unacceptable.. The Board can coopt on 4 members. This would mean that 6 out of 11 members would be unelected. a ludicrous situation that on its own, within any other company, would warrant an EGM. That aside, who are we now left with at the helm of the EKF:Mick Billman - Unelected, Mick Dinsdale - Unelected and Peter Consterdine elected by stealth, not the will of the members from the looks on the faces in the room at the AGM. It is also explicitly clear that he is being groomed for the Presidents election next May.As for the the remainder on the Board, they are either strategically passive and/or motivated by self interest..
Admittedly I had advanced warning of the deviance I was to encounter.. On submission of my Nomination Form I immediately faced two attempts by Mick Billman supported by Ian Stebbings the Lawyer, to disqualify me from the process. Their arguments were both overturned and the questions I asked never satisfactorily answered. The current Board are fully aware of this.. Please see the attached emails. There is a wealth of other information you all should know Including the failure of Mick Billman and Ian Stebbings to declare their business relationships, past and present. Why has this information not been made available to the Board and the members. These are some of the reasons we need an EGM.
In closing I thank you all for your support and I emain optimistic that we can bring real change to the Governance of karate. Do not forget the real power, as always, in the hands of informed members.
Regards
Greg Francis
Source: karate-site.co.uk
WORLD KARATE CAMPAIGN
21 January 2015 ·
For the attention of: National Olympic Committees as required
For the attention of: Mr Thomas Bach,
President of International Olympic Committee
Dear Mr Bach, President of International Olympic Committee
Re: Karate
We are trying to bring to the attention of the IOC that many respected karate organisations do not consider that their views are accurately, fairly represented or indeed represented at all by the World Karate Federation, in relation to some critical matters which we must bring to your attention.
We strongly urge you to note that the World Karate Federation is actually an undemocratic organisation and that it should not be the only one that governs ‘world karate society’, it truly does not speak in the interests of or represent the views of most respected karate societies and organisations.
It was widely reported that Samaranch sent WKF (ex-WUKO) a letter dated 23 December 1998, in which he approved them as the IF for karate in the Olympics. They have been listed as a provisional IF on the IOC web site for some time. Many have realized that the WKF (ex-WUKO) has been claiming that the IOC had or would approve them, and that karate would be a medal event in the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the Athens 2004 Olympics, neither of which were possible.
In 1993 and again 1997 the IOC Session approved an agreement between WKF (ex-WUKO) and ITKF whereby they would merge into a unified IF for karate. The merger never occurred.
Both ITKF and WKF (ex-WUKO) claimed they worked toward the merger; however, WKF (ex-WUKO) had been requesting that the IOC remove the merger and claimed that the IOC had agreed to their request.
We must draw to your attention the question that still remains: Did Samaranch have any authority to approve an IF, particularly to repudiate the terms set by the Session for approval of such an IF?
From the point of view of many Karate Organisations, there have now been 2 decades of undemocratic rules in the WKF; the global Karate community expected WKF President Mr Antonio Espinós to take full responsibility and resign from his post when Karate was unsuccessful in its Olympic bid for a 3rd time, as the honorable decision to take. Yet Mr Espinós did not take such an honorable decision. Subsequently a letter from the WKF secretary clearly pointed to large scale corruption and 'miss-management by the President' at the heart of the organisation. This letter is still unanswered by Mr Espinós and the secretary was removed illegally from his position. Why? (WKF’s Statue 15.2: The Executive Committee will appoint an independent qualified accountant, or a firm of qualified accountants, who will be given the task of auditing annually the accounts of the WKF and reporting to it on them. For each Ordinary Congress, the appointed accountant will moreover provide a succinct report on the audit of the WKF accounts).
Further, with regards to undemocratic rules in WKF, may we bring to your attention on behalf of our many colleagues, WKF’s 21.9 statute which states: The WKF expressly prohibits their National Federations, and their components from the double affiliation with any karate organisation as it may be determined by the WKF Executive Committee to be a dissenting organisation, and also statute number 21.12: affiliated members and Individuals shall commit themselves to accept no authority other than the one of the WKF.
An appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS / CAS) is only possible after having exhausted all the internal resources foreseen in the WKF Statutes and Disciplinary Rules.
See one of the CAS decisions (CAS 2014/A/3516)
http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Award_3516.pdf
Many of the world’s most elite athletes of karate are very frustrated that the IOC can still recognize WKF as a Karate governance body and that the World Karate Federation is still using IOC recognition as a hammer for sanctioning unhappy members.
WKF policies have already divided world karate society to 3-4 large different groups. There is absolutely no unity and the situation has been much worse since August 2013 particularly when Mr Espinos’ sanctions applied directly to 4 international karate tournaments in Russia, Montenegro, Greece and Kosovo.
Most of us Senior Karateka believe passionately and wholeheartedly in the symbol of the modern Olympic Games is five coloured rings linked together. We respect that these rings represent the original then continents of North and South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe. They also symbolize the uniting of athletes from all over the world to compete at the Olympic Games.
We also believe Mr Espinós is largely responsible for the lack of unity and harmony in World Karate. Rather than use the WKF mandate to encourage groups to join, he has sought to bully them to join through the imposition of Rule 21.9. This has created disharmony and resentment in many countries and in a number of cases led to court action against WKF on grounds of violation of human rights, most if not all of them successful.
We look forward to your guidance on this matter, many Senior, experienced and passionate Karateka like ourself feel strongly about this matter and act purely in the interests of Good and Best Karate practice and appropriate world stage recognition of the athletic skill, utter discipline of mind and body, expertise and dedication involved.
World Karate Campaign
21 January 2015 ·
For the attention of: National Olympic Committees as required
For the attention of: Mr Thomas Bach,
President of International Olympic Committee
Dear Mr Bach, President of International Olympic Committee
Re: Karate
We are trying to bring to the attention of the IOC that many respected karate organisations do not consider that their views are accurately, fairly represented or indeed represented at all by the World Karate Federation, in relation to some critical matters which we must bring to your attention.
We strongly urge you to note that the World Karate Federation is actually an undemocratic organisation and that it should not be the only one that governs ‘world karate society’, it truly does not speak in the interests of or represent the views of most respected karate societies and organisations.
It was widely reported that Samaranch sent WKF (ex-WUKO) a letter dated 23 December 1998, in which he approved them as the IF for karate in the Olympics. They have been listed as a provisional IF on the IOC web site for some time. Many have realized that the WKF (ex-WUKO) has been claiming that the IOC had or would approve them, and that karate would be a medal event in the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the Athens 2004 Olympics, neither of which were possible.
In 1993 and again 1997 the IOC Session approved an agreement between WKF (ex-WUKO) and ITKF whereby they would merge into a unified IF for karate. The merger never occurred.
Both ITKF and WKF (ex-WUKO) claimed they worked toward the merger; however, WKF (ex-WUKO) had been requesting that the IOC remove the merger and claimed that the IOC had agreed to their request.
We must draw to your attention the question that still remains: Did Samaranch have any authority to approve an IF, particularly to repudiate the terms set by the Session for approval of such an IF?
From the point of view of many Karate Organisations, there have now been 2 decades of undemocratic rules in the WKF; the global Karate community expected WKF President Mr Antonio Espinós to take full responsibility and resign from his post when Karate was unsuccessful in its Olympic bid for a 3rd time, as the honorable decision to take. Yet Mr Espinós did not take such an honorable decision. Subsequently a letter from the WKF secretary clearly pointed to large scale corruption and 'miss-management by the President' at the heart of the organisation. This letter is still unanswered by Mr Espinós and the secretary was removed illegally from his position. Why? (WKF’s Statue 15.2: The Executive Committee will appoint an independent qualified accountant, or a firm of qualified accountants, who will be given the task of auditing annually the accounts of the WKF and reporting to it on them. For each Ordinary Congress, the appointed accountant will moreover provide a succinct report on the audit of the WKF accounts).
Further, with regards to undemocratic rules in WKF, may we bring to your attention on behalf of our many colleagues, WKF’s 21.9 statute which states: The WKF expressly prohibits their National Federations, and their components from the double affiliation with any karate organisation as it may be determined by the WKF Executive Committee to be a dissenting organisation, and also statute number 21.12: affiliated members and Individuals shall commit themselves to accept no authority other than the one of the WKF.
An appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS / CAS) is only possible after having exhausted all the internal resources foreseen in the WKF Statutes and Disciplinary Rules.
See one of the CAS decisions (CAS 2014/A/3516)
http://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Award_3516.pdf
Many of the world’s most elite athletes of karate are very frustrated that the IOC can still recognize WKF as a Karate governance body and that the World Karate Federation is still using IOC recognition as a hammer for sanctioning unhappy members.
WKF policies have already divided world karate society to 3-4 large different groups. There is absolutely no unity and the situation has been much worse since August 2013 particularly when Mr Espinos’ sanctions applied directly to 4 international karate tournaments in Russia, Montenegro, Greece and Kosovo.
Most of us Senior Karateka believe passionately and wholeheartedly in the symbol of the modern Olympic Games is five coloured rings linked together. We respect that these rings represent the original then continents of North and South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe. They also symbolize the uniting of athletes from all over the world to compete at the Olympic Games.
We also believe Mr Espinós is largely responsible for the lack of unity and harmony in World Karate. Rather than use the WKF mandate to encourage groups to join, he has sought to bully them to join through the imposition of Rule 21.9. This has created disharmony and resentment in many countries and in a number of cases led to court action against WKF on grounds of violation of human rights, most if not all of them successful.
We look forward to your guidance on this matter, many Senior, experienced and passionate Karateka like ourself feel strongly about this matter and act purely in the interests of Good and Best Karate practice and appropriate world stage recognition of the athletic skill, utter discipline of mind and body, expertise and dedication involved.
World Karate Campaign
