Paris 2024 / Can Karate still hope ?
Since February 21, 2019, the disaster has settled in the spans of Karate. Even before partying, everyone has a hangover. Karatekas will see Tokyo and die. Paris, it's over. But is it definitely done ? Have the hopes to see the Olympics 2024 completely gone ? The reason would say yes. The heart, which has its reasons, pushes to think that the 2024 Olympics doesn’t yet belong to history for Karate.
Between action and resignation, space remains for redemption. It will be a way of the cross with sharp thorns, where the sacred union is not a choice but an obligation. But the path of hope remains open. The facts, the examples of Judo and Taekwondo, the interviews of the French federation leaders, Francis Didier and Dominique Charré... Actions carried out and reasons to hope, or not...
By Ludovic Mauchien
Photo : LM / Kphotos
IN SHORT / OG 2024 - World Karate meets the French Minister
A delegation led by Antonio Espinos, the President of the International Federation (WKF), meets the French Sports Minister, Roxana Maracineanu, today April 10 in Paris. Since the announcement made by the OCOG Paris 2024 last February 21 not to include karate in the Olympic Games 2024, the mobilization is in full swing.
By Ludovic Mauchien
Photo : Kphotos
OG 2024 / Guillaume Cossou : « The idea is to get out from the karate world »
He has been in the French team for 7 years (1999-2006), was 3rd at the 2005 Europeans, team world champion in 2004 but it is as general manager of Publicis Sport that Guillaume Cossou, 39 years old, made the trip to the European championships in Spain. The reason ? The launch of a campaign for Olympic karate in Paris 2024, « Belt of Hope ». A clip of « demotivation », a multicolored belt and many actions in perspective. Explanations.
By Ludovic Mauchien in Guadalajara (Spain) / Photo : DR / LM
OG 2024 / Azedin Rghioui : « A whole process called into question »
They are coaches of national teams, teachers of clubs, professionals or volunteers. They are the lungs of karate, the beating heart of practice. We give them a voice in a series of interviews. How do they live the decision not to allow Karate at the2024 Paris Olympics ? What consequences ? What to do ? They express their feelings, deliver their misunderstandings, analyze the future, each in his own way. Today, Azedin Rghioui, coach of the Australian Team.
By Ludovic Mauchien
Photo : DR
OG 2024 / Stephanie Bel Lahsen : « I'm not going to do bafflegab… »
They are coaches of national teams, teachers of clubs, professionals or volunteers. They are the lungs of karate, the beating heart of practice. From today, we give them a voice in a series of interviews. How do they live the decision not to allow Karate at the2024 Paris Olympics ? What reasons ? What consequences ? What to do ?
7th episode with Stephanie Bel Lahsen, coach of the Hong Kong Kata national team. She also trains kids in Sarcelles, near Paris, and elite athletes at Team KP. She is quite critical but also inclined to hope, if some changes occur. An analysis with no concession.
By Florian Fournier
Photo : DR
OG 2024 / Antonio Espinos : « We will not give up »
They were received during 1h30 this Wednesday morning but nothing concrete really came out of this meeting with the Paris 2024 organiszing committee. Antonio Espinos, the president of the World Federation (WKF), Toshi Nagura, its general secretary, and Francis Didier, president of the French federation, « do not exclude any option », plan to « launch all possible remediation », « (to) have access to the file in full transparency », and not « not give up » for Karate to be in 2024 OG. But questions remain unresolved. Impressions and reactions.
By Ludovic Mauchien
Photo : Kphotos
