Karate at the Summer Olympics

Lore & Background

The effort to bring karate to the Olympics began in the 1970s by Jacques Delcourt. In 2009, karate failed to receive the necessary two-thirds majority vote to become an Olympic sport. In May 2013, the IOC executive board decided karate would not be considered for inclusion in 2020 at the 125th session. However, in September 2015, karate was shortlisted with baseball, softball, skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing for the 2020 Games. In June 2016, the IOC Executive Board supported including all shortlisted sports, and on 3 August 2016, all five sports were approved for the 2020 Olympic program.

Reader's Guide

Karate at the 2020 Summer Olympics featured two disciplines: kumite (sparring) and kata (solo forms). Kumite had three weight classes each for men and women, a reduction from the five normally used by the World Karate Federation. Kata had one event each for men and women, with competitors choosing from 102 recognized kata and not allowed to repeat a kata during the tournament. Each event had 10 competitors. Qualification included 80 spots, with a maximum of 8 athletes per nation. The host nation Japan received one spot per event. Despite its debut, karate was not included in the 2024 Games and, after making a shortlist for 2028 in August 2022, was ultimately not selected for that edition either.

Did You Know?

• Karate was one of five optional sports added to the Olympic program specifically for 2020, not as a permanent sport.
• The three weight classes in Olympic kumite combined the five WKF weight classes into three for each gender.
• Competitors in kata could not demonstrate the same kata twice during the tournament.
• Karate was not on the shortlist for inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.