On the eve of the 2024 EKF Senior Championships in Zadar, Croatia, the referees met at the Referee Briefing of the event to ensure a smooth and efficient progress of the competition. The meeting was headed by the EKF Referee Commission acting chair Eva Mona Altmann, with the presence of the European Karate Federation (EKF) and World Karate Federation (WKF) President Antonio Espinos, along with Croatian Karate Union president and EKF General Secretary Davor Cipek.
The meeting was an opportunity to review recent rules updates and emphasize the key elements of competition judging. The gathering aimed to align all referees on the best practices and ensure consistency in applying rules during the championships.
In his opening remarks, EKF president Antonio Espinos thanked the referees for their dedication and hard work. “Your efforts are essential in keeping karate at the forefront of sports judging. We have made tremendous progress over the last years to improve the level of judging at our events, with the application of updates in the video review and the clickers system as two of the many practises that have been implemented. The adaptability of the Karate judges to execute these changes most efficiently is one the keys to the success and popularity of our sport.”
“The importance of these European Championships cannot be overstated. This event will not only crown the new continental champions but will also determine the European representatives for the upcoming World Team Championships to be held in November in Pamplona. The Karate community is counting on you to ensure that the best team in Europe will be in Pamplona later this year.”
The Referee Briefing served to align the judging ahead of the event.
The meeting underscored the critical role referees play in karate’s structure and integrity, with a common commitment to uphold the high standards expected at the 2024 EKF Senior Championships.
Top picture: EKF and WKF President Antonio Espinós (centre standing) addressed the referees, accompanied by Croatian Karate Union president and EKF General Secretary Davor Cipek (third from left), WKF and EKF Executive Committee member Davide Benetello (third from right), and EKF Referee Commission members Maria Teresa Moreno, Jan Christoffersen, Milan Kovacevik, and Jahangir Babayev (from left to right).
Nearly 200 referees and judges have gathered in Zadar for the tournament.
Croatian Karate Union president and EKF General Secretary Davor Cipek welcomed referees to Zadar, with EKF Referee Commission Secretary Eva Mona Altmann (standing) leading the meeting.