Why Karate was Dropped from the 2024 Summer Olympics

By Jayson Panganiban February 06, 2024 06:10

Photo by Harry How / Getty Images

Karate, a traditional Japanese martial art, was included in the Olympic program for the first time in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, it was subsequently dropped from the program for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The decision to remove Karate from the Olympic program has sparked discussions and debates within the martial arts community. Several factors contributed to this decision, ranging from the Olympic Committee's desire to optimize the Games' appeal to logistical and financial considerations.

Limited Appeal and Universality

One of the primary reasons for the exclusion of Karate from the 2024 Summer Olympics was the concern over its universal appeal. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) aims to include sports that have a broad global following and can attract a wide range of audiences. Despite Karate's popularity in certain regions, it lacks the same universal appeal as other Olympic sports. This limited global interest raised questions about the sport's ability to attract viewers and maintain a high level of excitement throughout the Games.

Ongoing Efforts to Revise Olympic Sports

The Olympic program undergoes periodic revisions to ensure that it remains relevant and appealing to a global audience. The inclusion and exclusion of sports are part of this ongoing effort. The decision to include or exclude a sport from the Olympic program is based on various criteria, including viewership, global participation, and the sport's overall impact on the Olympic Games. In the case of Karate, the IOC may have deemed other sports as more fitting for the 2024 Summer Olympics, leading to its exclusion from the program.

Cost and Logistical Considerations

Hosting an Olympic event involves significant logistical and financial considerations. Each sport added to the program increases the complexity of the Games, requiring additional infrastructure, resources, and personnel. With the IOC's emphasis on controlling the size and cost of the Games, the inclusion of Karate may have posed logistical challenges and increased the overall operational costs. This consideration likely played a role in the decision to drop Karate from the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Limited Long-Term Commitment

The inclusion of any sport in the Olympic program requires a long-term commitment from the sport's governing body to ensure its continued development and global appeal. While Karate made a historic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, there were concerns about its sustainability as a long-term Olympic sport. The IOC may have evaluated the sport's post-Olympic trajectory and determined that it did not align with the long-term vision for the Games, leading to its exclusion from the 2024 program.

Reevaluation of Sporting Events

The Olympic Games continually reevaluate their sporting events to ensure that the program reflects the evolving interests of the global audience. This involves periodic assessments of each sport's popularity, appeal, and contribution to the overall Olympic experience. The exclusion of Karate from the 2024 Summer Olympics may reflect the IOC's reevaluation of the sport's place in the Olympic program, as well as its potential to engage and captivate audiences worldwide.

The decision to drop Karate from the 2024 Summer Olympics was influenced by a combination of factors, including its limited global appeal, ongoing efforts to revise the Olympic program, cost and logistical considerations, the sport's long-term commitment, and the reevaluation of sporting events. While this decision may disappoint Karate enthusiasts, it underscores the dynamic nature of the Olympic Games and the continuous efforts to ensure that the program reflects the values and interests of the global sporting community.