Dear friends in Karate,

I am sure that you have by now become aware of the news that Karate is not being recommended by the Organizing Committee for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.  This is heartbreaking news for not only the sport, but for those up-and-coming athletes who were targeting 2024 as their dream and goal. While this is a difficult setback, Karate Canada remains a very different and much stronger organization than it was in 2016, when the original announcement for Tokyo 2020 was made. In the past few years, Karate Canada has more fully developed its Kata and Kumite Senior and Junior programs. We have benefitted from fantastic support from Sport Canada, both with continued core funding for our sport programs and with its Enhanced Excellence targeted funding program, through positive recommendations from Own the Podium. We also benefitted from additional Sport Canada Cards (Athlete Assistance Program), as well as various grants and programs offered by the Canadian Olympic Committee and various funding organizations and provincial government programs. Also, we will be in the Canada Winter Games in 2023. There are more Canadian karate athletes doing more now, all over the world, than ever before, and with consistent success. This is a testament to the hard work of the volunteers, staff, coaches, officials and athletes in our federations, but also to the dedication and commitment of the many parents and recreational members who make up our family.

Yes, this is definitely unfortunate news, but Karate remains on the Pan Am Games program and many high-level competitions feature Karate as a sport. Our federation remains strong, and we will move forward. I truly believe that Karate will return to the Olympics at a future date. In closing, I want to again thank and congratulate Mr. Espinos, Mr. Nagura, and the entire WKF family for their committed work to bring Karate to Tokyo 2020. I also wish to thank our sport partners, particularly Sport Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee, for their unwavering support of the sport of Karate. Remember, fall down seven times, get up eight.

Craig Vokey