The Quebec federation determines that the interpretation and application of the Penal Code exposes the organizers, participants (refers, coaches, medical personnel, etc.) and athletes involved in coordinated bouts to the risk of criminal acts.
The withdrawal of karate from the supplementary sports program of the Paris 2024 Olympics is causing this situation. Karate no longer has an exemption from the Canadian Penal Code. Its practice is still legal, but holding events in which participants compete against each other is prohibited.
The Organizing Committee for the 2024 Games chose Surfing, Climbing, Skateboarding (skateboard) and break dancing (break dance).
According to Karate Quebec Vice President Daphné Trahan-Perreault, 500 young people will be banned from competing this weekend because of this legal mess in Montreal.
Section 83.2 of the Criminal Code establishes exceptions: sports that are part of the Olympic program, such as boxing and judo, can organize fights in Canada. If you don’t belong, you can’t.
No salvation without the Olympics?
Karate Quebec is currently working with the Quebec Department of Education’s Department of Recreation and Sports Safety to resolve the issue.
We want an optimal solution for clubs and athletes as quickly as possible
explained the president of the association, Stéphane Rivest.
The processing of the file is proving longer than expected due to the recent elections and the forthcoming appointment of the Council of Ministers.
British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and Ontario issued ordinances to regulate this situation a few years ago. Quebec has not done so, and the Quebec Federation is working in that direction.
The federation is recognized by the Ministry of Education, the Directorate of Recreation and Sports Safety, and the President of Karate Quebec continues his efforts to support Quebec’s athletes to compete in the 2023 Winter Olympics in Canada.
Other major sporting events for Quebec athletes could suffer from this mess.
I urge the government to address the issue as soon as possible to limit the impact on the development of karateka in Quebec.
said Stephane Rivest.
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