Karate’s influence in the Spanish sports ecosystem was showcased this past weekend as top regional and national authorities visited the 2023 EKF Senior Championships in Guadalajara.

The opening ceremony of the event on Friday was attended by the President of the Castilla La Mancha region Emiliano Garcia-Page, together with the President of the Spanish Consejo Superior de Deportes Jose Manuel Franco, and the Major of Guadalajara Alberto Rojo Blas. They all accompanied WKF and EKF President Antonio Espinós and the Spanish Karate Federation (RFEK) president Antonio Moreno to show the support of sports and government institutions to the discipline of Karate.

Meanwhile, the finals on Saturday had the presence of the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee Alejandro Blanco who travelled to Guadalajara to see the Spanish team claiming two gold medals for a total of seven awards.

Moreover, the final day of the competition saw the President of the Popular Party of Spain Alberto Nuñez Feijoo attending the closing ceremony of the event. Mr Nuñez Feijoo posed with the Spanish national team and departed with the Karate athletes and RFEK officials.

From left to right: President of the Karate Federation of the Castilla La Mancha region Javier Pineño, WKF and EKF President Antonio Espinós, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee Alejandro Blanco, and the President of the RFEK Antonio Moreno.

WKF and EKF President Antonio Espinós said:

“This week we could attest, once again, that Karate is not just a very popular sport, with a strong social support here; Karate is also regarded as an honourable, well-organised discipline that provides many values to society. I want to thank all the officials that, with their cooperation and presence in Guadalajara, contributed to the success of the event. 

“Many thanks and huge congratulations to the RFEK and its President Antonio Moreno because the support this event has received from the highest officials in the country demonstrates that the RFEK is an exemplary and committed organisation”.

(Top picture: Officials, with WKF and EKF President Antonio Espinós, RFEK President Antonio Moreno, and the President of the Popular Party of Spain Alberto Nuñez Feijoo in attendance among others pose with the Spanish Team competing in Guadalajara.)

WKF and EKF President Antonio Espinós (right) with the President of RFEK Antonio Moreno.

From left to right: WKF and EKF President Antonio Espinós, President of the Popular Party of Spain Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, President of Spanish Karate Federation Antonio Moreno, and President of Spain’s Popular Party in the Castilla La Mancha region Francisco Javier Nuñez.

Officials after the tribute to Olympian Sandra Sanchez.

WKF and EKF President Antonio Espinós (right) with the President of the Castilla La Mancha region Emiliano Garcia-Page.