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
Does this March 6 marks the end of the hopes of karate to see the Olympics in Paris in 2024 ? No ! As long as there is life... But so small is it, so complicated to unravel it may prove, this hope to see karate at the Paris Olympics remains.
Antonio Espinos, Toshi Nagura, the WKF president and general secretary, and Francis Didier, President of the French national federation, were received this morning at 11 am by Tony Estanguet, President of the 2024 OCOG, Etienne Thobois, its General Manager, Jean-Philippe Gatien, the sports director and Aurelie Merle, the vice-sports director. They expressed themselves by way of press release.
Antonio Espinos, president of the WKF
« We came to Paris with the goal that the OCOG reconsider its position on their choice to propose only four additional disciplines. As President of the World Federation, with Toshi Nagura and Francis Didier, I have defended our great family of karatekas, our athletes today and our hopes for tomorrow.
We therefore proposed to put karate as the fifth additional sport, but our interlocutors did not answer us, except to mention the total number of athletes that can not be exceeded at the Games, an argument that does not meet our expectations. But they did not tell us that they had to limit their original proposal to four sports. There is obviously no order from the IOC about this.
We have also asked the OCOG to ensure full transparency on this file so that we can provide clear and objective arguments for the selection of sports. In the end, we come out of this interview without any valid criteria or reason being presented to us. So we give ourselves a few days of thinking, during which we will consult experts, and we will launch an action plan with only one goal : to integrate karate in Paris in 2024. We will study all the possibilities and we will not therefore exclude any option. All possible remediation will be launched from the moment they serve our purpose.
We will also ask for full access to the file. We have defended our family and our athletes with firmness and from this perspective, we are satisfied with this meeting since it will allow us to start our actions. One thing is certain, we will not give up ».
Toshi Nagura, General Secretary of the WKF
« As a Japanese representative, I wanted to focus on the current situation of karate, present in all Continental Games, Youth Games and Beach Games, before Tokyo 2020. In Tokyo, the IOC has accepted new sports whose karate, we can not understand its current rejection while the Tokyo Games have not yet happened ».
« PUT TATAMIS UNDER THE EIFFEL TOWER, ItT’S POSSIBLE, IT’S URBAN ! »
Francis Didier, president of French Federation
« The position of the FFK is to make every effort, alongside the WKF, for karate to be present at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. The proposal made by the OCOG goes against the respect of athletes, our family of practitioners... against common sense, quite simply. How can we tell our athletes, even before they can prove themselves in Tokyo 2020, that they will not be in Paris in 2024 ? Go explain to Steven Da Costa, our World champion, to Gwendoline Philippe and Alizee Agier, both 2018 Grand Winner, and to all our young champions, that they will not be able to represent their discipline in Paris, in front of their public... Before even if they could taste this first Olympic dream. Let's put ourselves in their situation, put yourself in their situation...
The timing of this decision goes against common sense and that's why we will go all the way. Athletes feel that they have been humiliated. I invite athletes from all Olympic disciplines to put themselves in the shoes of our young karatekas. How would they react ? How would their national federation react ?
We also discussed with the OCOG leaders their strategy regarding the medals and the performance of the French team for these home Olympics. Indeed, the French karate is doing very well internationally. We are an important supplier of medals for France since, historically, we rank first in Europe and second in the world. It was made clear that it was not an argument. We therefore take note that the winning of the medals is no longer a priority goal.
A priori, they want urban disciplines. If this was a criterion posted at the beginning, we would have adapted by proposing solutions... Put tatamis under the Eiffel Tower, it is possible, it is urban !
I want to remind you that karate is a discipline that appeals to young people (120,000 licensed in France), which is present throughout the country with our 5,000 clubs and which is practiced in recreation but also in competition. Karate is respect, courage, politeness, self-control... so many educational values that carry our practice and make this sport one of the most practiced among young people in France.
Our application dossier respected, as it was told by its officials, all the criteria required by the OCOG, which is why we are now asking for transparent access to the file. We are in our right. We will continue to fight for karate to be present in Paris, for our athletes and for all the values inherent to our practice ».
