A delegation of the European Karate Federation (EKF) participated in the ceremony of hand-out of the flag and signature of the agreement of confirmation of Bielsko-Biala as a partner city of the 2023 European Games.
Located in the south of Poland, Bielsko-Biala thus becomes one of the partner cities of the 2023 European Games Krakow-Malpolska. The Karate competition will be held in Bielsko-Biala from June 22 to 23.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Bielsko-Biala Jaroslaw Klimaszewski, the Vice-President of the Organising Committee of the European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023 Maciej Kurp, the Secretary General of the European Karate Federation Davor Cipek, the president of the board of the Polish Karate Union Pawel Poltorzecki and the EKF Technical Delegate for the event Konrad Poltorzecki.
Mayor Jaroslaw Klimaszewski said:
“We are experienced in this type of competition, as this is another big event that will take place in our city. It’s an honour for us to participate in the European Games, and we’re already inviting you to this event, as there’s bound to be a lot going on.”
Vice President of the Organising Committee Maciej Kurp said:
“I think that the karate competition will be very popular. The city, the hosts of the venue and cooperating institutions are perfectly prepared for this event. Thank you very much for that, and I hope for even more.”
The Mayor of Bielsko-Biala Jaroslaw Klimaszewski and the Vice-President of the Organising Committee of the European Games Kraków-Malopolska 2023 Maciej Kurp signed the cooperation agreement.
EKF Secretary General Davor Cipek said:
“It is a great honour for me to be here, and I would like to thank you for your hospitality in such a beautiful city as Bielsko-Biala. Nearly one and a half million athletes are united in the European Karate Federation, and the European Games are one of the most important events for all of us. So, this year Bielsko-Biala will be the capital of karate, and I am already looking forward to coming here again.”
EKF and WKF President Antonio Espinós said:
“As one of the sports that have remained in the programme of the European Games since the onset of the event in 2015, Karate and the Karate family are proud to be part again of the most important multi-sport competition in the continent. Our athletes are very much looking forward to coming to Bielsko-Biala for an unforgettable tournament. I am confident that Karate’s added value and the Karate ideals will be displayed again at the event.
“I want to thank Davor Cipek for his outstanding work as EKF Secretary General and for taking the time to represent our sport in the event. Also, I would like to send my appreciation to Pawel Poltorzecki and Konrad Poltorzecki for their efforts to make the Karate competition at the European Games a reality.”
The Karate competition of the 2023 European Games will take place at the Bielsko-Biala Arena from June 22 to 23. No less than 96 athletes from 33 countries will participate in the competition. Spain topped the medal table of the Karate event of the 2019 European Games in Minsk after taking three golds, with Ukraine and Italy registering successful performances as well with two gold medals each, and eight countries taking home the titles of the tournament.
(Top picture: From left to right: the Technical Delegate of the EKF for the event Konrad Poltorzecki, the Mayor of Bielsko-Biala Jaroslaw Klimaszewski, the EKF Secretary General Davor Cipek, and the president of the board of the Polish Karate Union Pawel Poltorzecki
The Vice-President of the Organising Committee of the European Games Kraków-Malopolska 2023 Maciej Kurp hands the Mayor of Bielsko-Biala Jaroslaw Klimaszewski the flag of EOC as the event nears the one-month to go mark.
The EKF Secretary General Davor Cipek highlighted Karate’s excitement ahead of the event.
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