China introduces karate and trains umpires
| It is estimated that some 67 million people practicing karate in the world. The World Karate Organization, which has been recognized by International Olympic Committee as a formal organization, has set up 177 branches globally. |
| Chinanews, Beijing, Nov. 22 – According to Boxing and Taekwondo Administrative Center of State Bureau of Physical Culture (SBPC), the first training course of karate umpires opened in Beijing University of Physical Culture on Sunday. Nearly 100 trainees from China's 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions will study there for a month.
Karate and Taekwondo were introduced to China almost simultaneously several years ago, currently there are millions of Taekwondo participants and training clubs in China, encouraged by the State Physical Culture Administration and China Taekwondo Association after Taekwondo became a formal Olympic event in 2000. In the past when it was a non-Olympic event, Karate, originating from Japan, raised little public attention in China because the government was reluctant to popularize this sport. It is estimated that some 67 million people practicing karate in the world. The World Karate Organization, which has been recognized by International Olympic Committee as a formal organization, has set up 177 branches globally. Karate has been listed as a event of the Asian Games. The center has planned to set up China Karate Association in the near future.
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