August 4, 2016
It’s official: the Sport of Karate will be Featured in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Program!
Karate Canada – Montreal, August 3, 2016 – The world and Canadian sport karate communities are celebrating today’s announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that it has formally approved the addition of five new sports, including karate, to the program of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The inclusion of these five new sports will add 18 events and 474 athletes to the Olympic program in Tokyo, without impacting existing sports. The sport of karate will be represented by total of 80 athletes, set to compete in six kumite (sparring) and two kata (forms) divisions.
“The entire Canadian karate community is thrilled with this historic news,” says Karate Canada President Mr. Craig Vokey, “and inclusion of the sport of karate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games’ program represents a milestone of immense significance for all karateka across the globe. With the continued support of the Canadian government, the Canadian Olympic Committee and our other partners, Karate Canada is sparing no effort to ensure its readiness for these Games, and we excitedly look forward to seeing our remarkable Canadian karate athletes shine on the world stage, in the very birthplace of this hugely popular martial art and combat
sport.”.
“We have been preparing for this opportunity for years, and can’t wait for the entire world to see some of our best athletes shine in Tokyo in 2020. We sincerely hope that we may benefit from increased support and funding in the near future, in order to help further ensure the Canadian karate team’s success at these Games” adds Executive Director Olivier Pineau.
The Canadian Olympic Committee has provided the following statement: “We applaud the IOC’s decision to include karate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Program. It is an important recognition of that sport which has experienced significant growth world-wide and the exceptional athletes who take part in it. This addition will attract millions of new fans around the world to the Olympic Movement. Congratulations to Karate Canada, we’ll see you in Tokyo.”
Tricia Smith
President, Canadian Olympic Committee
Karate Canada’s President Mr. Craig Vokey and its Executive Director Mr. Olivier Pineau, as well as the following 4 Senior National Team Members and potential Olympic hopefuls, are available and may be reached for interviews and or comments regarding this historic announcement:
- Camélie Boisvenue, 19, Gatineau, QC
- Silver medalist in female +68kg at the 2015 Pan American Games
- Kathryn Campbell, 25, Fredericton, NB
- Silver medalist in female -55kg at the 2015 Pan American Games
- Kenneth Lee, 27, Vancouver, BC
- Bronze medalist in male individual kata at the 2016 Senior Pan American Karate Championships
- Philippe Soucy, 21, Gatineau, QC
- Former silver medalist in male -84kg at the Senior Pan American Karate Championships
About Karate Canada:
Karate Canada is a not-for-profit corporation constituted under Part II of the Canada Corporations Act, with the objective of describing and incorporating all activities related to the promotion, organization, regulation and popularization of the sport of karate all over Canada, of protecting the physical and emotional health of athletes, and of promoting the interests of karate throughout Canada. Karate
Canada and its 11 member Provincial and Territorial Associations assemble roughly 16,000 participants nationwide. Furthermore, Karate Canada is a proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, the World Karate Federation and the Pan American Karate Federation.
For more information, interviews and/or photos, please contact:
Alexandra Roy
Program Manager
Tel: 514-252-3209
Email: alexandra.roy@karatecanada.org
Olivier Pineau
Executive Director
Tel: 514-252-3209
Cell: 514-668-0386
Email: olivier@karatecanada.org