The IOC Executive Board approves the addition of sports
The official decision will be made at the IOC Session (Rio) in August
As has been reported, at the IOC Executive Board held in Lausanne, Switzerland on June 1st (Wed), the additional sports for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics proposed by the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in September last year, was approved.
As a result of this, at the IOC Session that will take place in Rio de Janeiro in August, an official decision will be made through a vote by about 100 committee members.
At the Executive Board, it was also decided that the 18 events of the five additional sports put up — karate, baseball/softball, skateboarding, sports climbing, and surfing — will be submitted to the Session as a whole “package.”
Finally, the realization of the long-cherished dream of being accepted as an Olympic sport is right in front of us. I cannot help but become emotional at the thought that I will witness with my own eyes, the moment that will be a big turning point in the history of karate, with people involved in karate from all around the world. To have karate reach this point is the fruit of all your support and cooperation that you have given during the assessment process of additional sports, since the adoption of the Olympic Agenda 2020 in 2014, and I would like to express my deepest heartfelt thanks. Moreover, without the effort and passion of those involved in karate in each country around the world, doing their utmost for the past three attempts for the Olympics, and for the spread and development of karate, this would not likely have been achieved.
In August, the IOC Session will be held before the Summer Olympics in Rio. I will be there with President Espinos. With only two months left till the Session, the first goal of karate’s “road to the Olympics” is coming into view.
I would like to ask for your understanding and support in the future as well, and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
World Karate Federation General Secretary
Toshihisa Nagura
