In August 2021, Liviu Crisan, President of the World Union of Karate-Do Federations (WUKF), addressed an open letter to Antonio Espinós, President of the World Karate Federation, with a copy sent to the then-President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach. His message was respectful, yet firm and forward-looking. While praising the performance of WKF athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Crisan raised a serious concern. Karate had been excluded from the Paris 2024 Olympic programme, and the future of the sport within the Olympic Movement had become uncertain.

However, exclusion from the Olympic Games is only part of the issue. A deeper and more systemic problem is now unfolding. WKF has been granted exclusive authority to represent karate at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. As a result, only athletes affiliated with WKF through their national federations will be eligible to participate. In practical terms, this decision automatically excludes millions of young karateka who train and compete under other international federations such as WUKF, ITKF, IKO and others. These athletes, despite their talent and commitment, will have no path to the Youth Olympics.

A charter of equality, yet a system of exclusion

The Olympic Charter makes its position on fairness very clear.

“The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind.” Olympic Charter, Fundamental Principle 4

“All sports organisations and athletes shall have equal access to the Olympic Games, without unjust exclusion.” Olympic Charter, Rule 19

In light of these principles, the current framework raises serious ethical and structural concerns. The IOC’s recognition of only one federation for karate has created a model of governance that leaves out the vast majority of practitioners worldwide. Entire communities of athletes are excluded, not because of lack of merit, but because of the administrative choices of their national or international affiliation.

This is a structural form of exclusion. It punishes youth athletes for belonging to the “wrong” federation, even when that federation is active, legitimate, and widely supported within its region.

Who is accountable?

It is fair to ask why the IOC, an organisation that champions values like equality and inclusion, has supported a model that fosters monopoly and division within the global karate community.

By recognising only the WKF, the IOC has helped create an environment where diversity of style, governance, and philosophy is reduced to a single template. This has led to documented cases of athletes being banned from competing for participating in non-WKF events, and has further marginalised styles and systems outside the dominant WKF framework.

This is not a personal critique of any individual in IOC leadership. It is a call for reflection on how the institution itself can better align with its own values. The new leadership of the IOC represents a chance to re-evaluate longstanding structures and open the door to fairer, more inclusive systems.

A new Olympic chapter for karate?

With new leadership comes new opportunity. The IOC has a chance to correct course and take steps toward a more open and representative future for karate. That includes engaging with other federations, opening qualifying systems, and recognising the real diversity of the sport around the world.

Millions of young karate athletes should not be excluded from the Olympic dream because of bureaucratic affiliation. The Olympic Movement should lift them up, not lock them out.

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games could be a turning point. But only if the IOC embraces inclusion over exclusion, and lives up to the values it has long claimed to uphold.