Stanislav Pozdnyakov: “Expanding the format of the Olympic Games has always made Olympic competitions even more interesting”

The President of the ROC held a working meeting with the head of the World Karate Federation (WKF), Antonio Espinos. During the meeting both sides discussed the Olympic prospects of karate, which will make its first appearance at Tokyo 2020, nevertheless, the combat sport was excluded from the Paris 2024 Olympic programme.

– The Russian Olympic Committee has clout in the Olympic movement, and Stanislav Pozdnyakov is a member of IOC’s Olympic Programme Commission. That is why I am here in Moscow to talk about the further development of karate as an Olympic sport, – said the President of WKF.

Antonio Espinos expressed hope that with the support of the ROC, karate could defend its Olympic position.

– The IOC should revise the principles for forming the Summer Games programme. This is not only my personal opinion, this opinion is shared by the leaders of numerous international federations, – he stressed.

– Expanding the format of the Olympic Games has always made Olympic competitions even more interesting: in 1980, athletes competed for 206 sets of medals in Moscow, in Tokyo 2020 athletes will already compete for 339 sets, – said Stanislav Pozdnyakov. – The programme for the Summer Olympics should take into account the interests of different audiences: some prefer modern urban sports such as 3×3 basketball or skateboarding, while others prefer classic sports with a rich history, for instance karate.

Following the meeting, Stanislav Pozdnyakov invited the President of WKF to take part in the festive celebrations timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Olympic Games due to be held at the Luzhniki Sports Complex on July 4, 2020.