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I honestly cannot believe I am typing this but they finally listened and karate is actually going to be in the Olympics. I keep staring at the screen because I was so convinced they would just keep ignoring us for those other sports but I guess persistence really does pay …

January 15, 2011

Please allow Karate a chance to be admitted as an IOC Event

Please allow Karate a chance to be admitted as an IOC Event

🏆 Won — 102 supporters Verified

Final supporters

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Brandon P.
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+92 more
Started by Anonymous 15 years, 11 months ago

Dear Count Rogge, I am writing to you not for criticism but to please as the head of the International Olympic Committee/Comité International Olympique correct what millions across the world believe to be a grand injustice. On August 13th 2009, The sports of Rugby 7's and Golf were chosen to be represented for future Olympic Events at the expense of Karate which for many years have been campaigned for inclusion most prominently by the World Karate Federation which you recognise as the International Sports Governing Body of Karate.

Karate was Leading by Five Points as a strong contender for qualifying as an event in the first round, it required only three points for the second round to go through but no-one voted for this sport after the first stage. Most commentators were absolutely surprised at the result. This is according to coverage from the World Karate Federation dated August 30th 2009 titled "Information on IOC Executive Board decision for new sports added in the programme". 

Golf & Rugby 7's are fine sports but most feel that they were incorporated into the IOC Event Roster for mainly Sponsorship reasons; The Olympic Games has a long and more proud history with games of a Combat or Team-based Nature because the ancient champions were soldiers... Wrestling, Boxing, Equestrian, Javelin etc are activities of combat. Golf as a Sport has frequent events that rival the Size of the Olympics i.e. Ryder Cup, USPGA, St Andrews Open etc.

Rugby has its own events like i.e. The Tri-Nations, The Six-Nations, Heineken Cup and The Rugby World Cup each year prior to the Olympics. Martial Arts like Judo which was admitted in 1964 and Taekwondo in 2000 are few and far between in this prestigious event that graces the world and its people every four years... They are associated with the combative tradition of the Ancient Olympic Games. Please allow the Twenty Million Plus Practitioners across the world a chance to compete for Olympic Glory. 

Thank You




Updates

November 29, 2010

Seeing this much energy behind the idea of getting Karate into the Olympics is honestly surreal because I remember when I first hit publish feeling like I was shouting into a void. It really feels like the momentum has shifted toward recognizing combat sports as a core part of the Olympic legacy and not just some sideshow for sponsors.

Reached 100 supporters

November 29, 2010

6 Comments

D
David Fox
15 years ago Featured

KARATE IS A REAL SPORT. LET THEM COMPETE!!!

J
Jason Pierce
15 years ago Featured

how does golf get picked but not this? ridiculous.

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Sarah Yang
15 years ago Featured

Total joke that golf got in over a martial art. Really hope they rethink this because it makes no sense.

K
Kevin Montgomery
15 years ago Featured

The olympics are supposed to be about peak physical performance. Karate fits that perfect.

E
Elena Murphy
15 years ago Featured

been doing karate since i was 6 and it taught me so much. its time for the olympics to recognize the talent involved.

M
Mike Hart
15 years ago Featured

Karate has way more discipline and history than golf. It belongs on the world stage.

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