'The K is on the way' WKF Campaign News
The bid for Olympic Games recognition is now in full swing, and as part of that campaign, the WKF have launched 'The K is on the way'.
We ask all our members to embrace this campaign, and use the logo where they can to place it into the public eye. By working together we hope that Karate will receive the recognition that it deserves.
Read more about the campaign at this specially created website: www.thekisontheway.com
Join the campaign on Facebook - click here
Vote for Karate to be in the Olympics here
The K is the way Newsletters
Latest News:
Posted 11th May 2013
"YES, I'M K"
"THE K IS ON THE WAY" arrives to the heart of Europe
(European Karate Championships, Budapest 9th - 12th May 2013)
The WKF (World Karate Federation) campaign continues developing in order to reach its goal of BECOMING OLYMPIC SPORT in 2020, and has a very important appointment in Budapest (Hungary) in these days, where the European Senior Championships take place.
The "K" and "YES, I'M K", the symbols of the Karate Family’s passion, will be offered to the world by most of the current world champions, male and female categories. Besides, they will do that two weeks ahead the important meeting it will be held in Saint Petersburg (Russia). In this meeting, the IOC will decide on the 29th May the sports that will be shortlisted for the final decision by the IOC Session in Buenos Aires (Argentina) next September on the Olympic Program.
From the 12 current World Champions in Paris 2012, 7 of them will be competing in Budapest from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th May. Also, the French Kumite Team, World Champion last November in Bercy, will take part.
Without any doubt, it will be a real show of the KARATE STARS, supporting the dream of millions of karate's and fans who along the five continents show every day their love, pride and passion for their universal motto: "YES, I'M K" & "THE K IS ON THE WAY" (This week the K is traveling in Colombia, Denmark, Hungary, Japan, USA and Venezuela).
Back the bid Karate 2020 here.
Posted 7th May 2013
IOC Set to Shortlist Three Sports for 2020 Olympics
(ATR) Sources tell Around the Rings the eight sports bidding for Olympic inclusion are likely to be cut to a group of three by the IOC Executive Board meeting in St. Petersburg later this month.
Karate, squash and wrestling are tipped to be shortlisted after all bidders have presented to the IOC on May 29, with baseball/softball, roller sports, sport climbing, wakeboarding and wushu dropped from the pack.
But ATR is told that the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) must deliver a very convincing case to the EB if it wants to stay in the bidding contest.
The sources say FILA chiefs have to provide strong evidence to show how much the sport has changed since the IOC’s ruling body recommended it be dropped from the list of 25 core sports in February.
Decisions made at FILA’s extraordinary congress in Moscow next week could aid its cause. Delegates from 177 national federations will consider the introduction of new rules, changes in the organization to include more women in leadership roles and additional athlete involvement in the sport’s governing body.
Baseball’s joint bid with softball appears doomed to fail in its quest to be readmitted to the Olympics.
Major League Baseball’s failure to break the season to allow its best players to participate in the Olympics has hurt the 2020 bid, it is claimed.
One source close to the bidding process told ATR the MLB’s lack of commitment to the Olympics would not be well received by the IOC EB.
He said the sports which merged to form the World Baseball Softball Confederation last month was simply a “marriage of convenience”.
Karate has “made a strong claim over the years” to be included in the EB’s shortlist, he added. With the IOC keen to balance the Olympic program, karate’s challenge lay in the fact it's “another combat sport” for the Games; boxing, judo, taekwondo and wrestling are the others.
Commenting on roller sports, sports climbing, wakeboarding and wushu, he suggested they were not developed enough internationally to merit a place in the Olympics, lacking the “universality” factor the IOC demanded of any new sport.
IOC president Jacques Rogge is said to favor three sports for the shortlist, according to another person familiar with the bid race.
The Belgian is expected to take a strong lead in EB discussions on the sports in St. Petersburg. He’s keen to leave a strong legacy when he steps down from the IOC presidency in September.
The vote on the sport to fill the one slot available on the program for the 2020 Games takes place at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires on Sept. 8.
Posted 22nd April 2013
On the Record - Karate President Confident Ahead of IOC Presentation
WKF President Antonio Espinos says "The time of karate has come" in an interview with Arond The Rings.
Posted 5th April 2013
Karate and Candidate Cities news from the Around The Rings website
Karate and the WKF have gained considerably from presenting championships in locations that are candidate hosts of the 2020 Olympic Games.
Posted 11th October 2012
Great success of the K Day - 2 million Karatekas all over the world
Spreading along the 5 continents and in hundreds of emblematic cities such as New York, London, Buenos Aires, Brasilia, Moscow, Cairo, Sidney, Tokyo or Beijing, last Sunday, 7th October, the "K DAY" was held with a huge number of attendees, participants and Karate supporters.
The "K DAY" is a WKF (World Karate Federation) initiative through the campaign "THE K IS ON THE WAY KARATE 2020" that wants to approach and get a more popular position, even more than the current one, all over the world for this sport that represents the maximum respect to the values and it is deeply established in society worldwide.
The WKF is working with enthusiasm in order to get the qualification of "Olympic Sport" for Karate, in reference to the 2020 Olympic Games.
This "K DAY" is one of the many actions that are being held for a long time and that has had a huge support with millions of attendees but also with a great expectation and followed with the help of new technologies and the social communities.
More that 250.000 persons from all over the World and from different human races, credos and social status have visited the page "THE K IS ON THE WAY" that is working on Facebook as a forum of relationships for all the supporters, practitioners and fans of Karate.
Thousands of photos, videos and comments arose from the crowded exhibitions in the streets or in the free lessons of basic level or even the photo shows have been shared among the members of the Karate family and we are very proud for contributing to spread this healthy physical and mental habit which is the practice of the Karate and next November, from 21st to 25th Nov., Paris will hold the 21st World Championships of Karate.
Posted 9th October 2012
Two Million Karate kas take over 300 cities around the world
The International Olympic Committee will elect in September 2013 in Buenos Aires the new sport to be included in the 2020 Olympic Games program. One year before the Buenos Aires IOC session, Karate is standing as a strong candidate among the eight shortlisted sports.
With more than 100 million practitioners around the world, Karate is nowadays the most universal sport still standing out of the largest global sport event, the Olympics Games.
The World Karate Federation is running a global campaign to collect support from all the members of their community worldwide. Under the slogan “The K is on the Way”, the bid is reaching practitioners and stakeholders through the web, social media and some global actions.
The first World Karate Day, the “K Day”, organized by the WKF on October 7th, is one of the most representative milestones of the campaign. Throughout the world, 2 million Karatekas from thousands of Karate clubs are holding demonstrations and inviting people to discover an accessible and balancing physical activity.
Mr. Antonio Espinós, WKF President has stated: “This is Karate´s third bid in a row to becoming an Olympic Games program sport. And we truly believe this will be the successful one. We have been learning from the Olympic Movement during former bids, and this has allowed us to improve the WKF and Karate.
We have so much to bring to the Olympic Games. Karate is an absolutely universal sport; every human being around the globe recognizes it and associates our sport to highly positive values. This is why the movies and communication industry often include Karate in their contents and this is also what makes Karate so attractive to sponsors.
Karate is also attractive to youngsters. Currently youth comprises 65% of karate practitioners. As Karate is a Candidate Sport, the 65 million young karatekas are Candidate Athletes. They deserve being in the Games.”
Next step for Karate on its way to 2020: The WKF World Championships in Paris (Paris-Bercy venue, November 21-25).
World Karate Federation Headquarters
Posted 3rd October 2012
Two new posters added
Click on the thumbnail for a larger version.
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Posted 25th September 2012
K is the Way Promotional Material
In order to reinforce our ongoing campaign for the inclusion of Karate in the Olympic Programme, your Federation has the possibility of enhancing the campaign through several promotional materials.
Please find below a link where you will be able to download the following resources:
1. Explanatory brochure of the reasons why Karate should become Olympic. This brochure can be easily translated into the official language of your Federation and the logo of your Federation can be included in the back cover.
2. Official logo of the campaign. It can be used for stickers, t-shirts, baseball caps and diverse promotional materials.
If you would like to use these tools, you just have to click on the following link in order to download the final artwork of the brochure and the logo:
http://www.thekisontheway.com/sites/default/files/merchandising.zip
We would be very thankful for letting us know about the actions you would decide to realise in order to support and spread the campaign through these tools.
Regards.
Antonio Espinós
WKF President
Posted 18th September 2012
"Karate PowerPoint Presentation"
As a follow up to the letter sent last week to all NFs with regards to contact with their NOC /IOC members we have been requested to provide a presentation that can help and support the meetings. Please click here to download the PowerPoint presentation.
Regards.
Antonio Espinós
WKF President
Posted 18th September 2012
"Let the World Discover Karate Launch Day"
The WKF President, Snr Antonio Espinos, recently announced the launch of the first World Karate Day, to be known as the "K Day."
The K Day will be launched world-wide with the focus being on the BKF International Open Competition to be held at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, on the 7th October.
This date was picked as a gesture to the BKF for all the work they are currently doing to promote the K is on the Way.
With over 1,000 entries, the BKF tournament promises to be a spectacular event.
John De Bono
THE K IS ON THE WAY 2020
Posted 14th September 2012
"Let the World Discover Karate"
The WKF President, Snr Antonio Espinos, recently announced the launch of the first World Karate Day, to be known as the "K Day."
The K Day will be launched world-wide with the focus being on the BKF International Open Competition to be held at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, on the 7th October.
This date was picked as a gesture to the BKF for all the work they are currently doing to promote THE K IS ON THE WAY.
With over 1,000 entries, the BKF tournament promises to be a spectacular event.
John De Bono
THE K IS ON THE WAY 2020
Posted 12th September 2012
KDay October 7th 2012
One of the key points of Karate’s Olympic Bid is to show the International Olympic Committee how committed our National Federations are to this campaign.
To demonstrate this commitment, the WKF is to launch the first World Karate Day. Called the ‘K Day’, this event will take place worldwide next 7th October.
Read letter from Antonio Espinós, WKF President in full »
Download full sized KDay Poster »
Posted 4th June 2012
Ticky Donovan O.B.E. backs 'The K is on the way' campaign.
