Karate Canada president welcomes chance for Canadians to compete in 2020

Up North8:13HiYa! Karate comes to the 2020 Olympics

Sudbury resident and Karate Canada president Craig Vokey joined us in studio. Karate will be one of five new sports to join the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The International Olympic Committee has announced that five new sports will be introduced at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

One of those new entries will be karate, which has Karate Canada president Craig Vokey excited.

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Vokey said the committee chose golf over karate for the Rio Olympics, but because of its origins karate is a Japanese traditional martial art including itinto Tokyo's lineup was a natural fit.

And with the additional recognition as an Olympic sport, it may be easier for Canadianathletes to raise funding to compete.

"The government of Canada does support karate and the athletes,"Vokeysaid, "but this could mean more support and resourcesfor example karate athletes previously couldn't qualify for 'Own the Podium' fundingand often have to work jobs to support themselves."

As for his predictions how a Canadian karate team would do,Vokeysaid it was hard to know, but pointed to current success stories.

"We did win four silver medals at the Pan-Am [games]," he said.