KSA president thrilled with Olympic inclusion
The inclusion of the new sports will add 18 events and 474 athletes, with equal numbers of women and men for all sports except baseball/softball.
THE International Olympic Committee (IOC) has agreed to add baseball/softball, skateboard, karate, sports climbing and surfing to the sports programme for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The decision by the 129th IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro was the culmination of a two-year process. The inclusion of the new sports will add 18 events and 474 athletes, with equal numbers of women and men for all sports except baseball/softball.
The news that karate will feature in the 2020 games has thrilled Karate South Africa (KSA) president, Kyoshi Sonny Pillay.
“This is huge for the karate fraternity of the world not just South Africa given that our World federation has won this battle on the third attempt. It simply means our karateka’s (students) can now dream of the Olympics as its possible for them to compete on the world stage in Tokyo 2020.
“I have no doubt that karate athletes under the auspices of the national federation KSA have the potential to go all the way and win gold at the Olympics like our swimmers, however, it requires sound preparation,” he said.
Pillay added the decision also meant the scope of the sport would be elevated and could mean an increase in popularity.
“I firmly believe given that karate has been elevated to Olympic status the sport will grow in leaps and bounds similar to the early 70’s when the famous Bruce Lee movie Enter The Dragon was released. The KSA, under my presidency is focussed on grassroots development starting with primary schools in the rural areas. I personally started a program over a decade ago called taking karate to the township children and we hope to see this continue,” he said.
