THE Guyana Karate College (GKC) has received with pure delight and gratification the news that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has agreed at its 129th IOC session in Rio de Janeiro recently, to allow the martial art of Karate-do, as one of five additional sports that will be part of the next Olympics to be held in Tokyo, Japan in 2020.Senior Instructor and vice-president of the GKC, Sensei Jeffrey Wong, advised that with just four years to go, his college intended to spare no effort in preparing to play its part and possibly a medal-winning performance in Tokyo.
However, it will be a tall order bearing in mind that approximately 80 martial artists from around the world will qualify to vie for medals in Japan.
He underscored the need for instructors and dojos to have the correct technical background and knowledge to prepare their karatekas for the games.
Wong expressed the belief that the IOC took a historic step in bringing the games to young martial artists, which will allow young karatekas from around the world the chance at compete in the Olympic Games, the world’s greatest sporting stage.
Since its establishment a decade ago, the GKC has done a phenomenal job, with more medals than any other Karate organisation in Guyana.
They competed at the ISKF and IKD world tournaments held in Toronto, Canada. They also took part at the Pan American Championships, the South American Cup and the Caribbean Karate Championships held in St Lucia, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.