Mari lauds inclusion of karate into Olympics competition

PNG Karate-Do Federation president Carl Mari says he is elated about the news of karate being approved by the International Olympic Committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
He said the World Karate Federation bid for inclusion in the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics but were unsuccessful.
But with the Olympics agenda 2020 introduced by IOC, karate and the other four sports bid with 21 other codes for 2020 Olympics and eventually won on Wednesday.
“This moment of history has been a long time coming. Our current and future karatekas (fighters) both in PNG and throughout the world can now aim for the Olympics, the pinnacle of sports,” Mari said. He said PNGKF’s journey for athletes’ preparation and qualification would start during the 17th Oceania Karate Championships in New Caledonia from Sept 15-17.