Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
O’Kane: Focus turns to action
KANZEN Karate president and Sensei Roy O’Kane is delighted the preparations for hosting one of t he sport’s biggest events in the city are over and the focus can finally switch to the sport.
Kanzen are t he host federation for the World Union of Karate Federations ( W U K F ) Wo r l d K a r a t e Championships, set to start tomorrow, and have been working hard to ensure the tournament is a success.
The city will welcome some 4,000 spectators and participants from 37 countries to Dundee Ice Arena.
Alongside Dundee City Council and Leisure and Culture Dundee, O’Kane has been at the forefront of making their dream a reality but admits he can’t wait for the karate to get under way.
He said: “Kanzen are the only group representing this part of the world so we need to make sure we win some medals.
“I t ’s b e e n a h u g e challenge preparing 93 athletes for competition while organising the event in tandem.
“I had to step back from that but my team of six coaches have been preparing the squad really hard.
“Hopefully, it can be a legacy for other sporting events.
“If we can take karate and show it works, what’s stopping other sports from coming to the city and the arena?
“We hope that others can take an i dea like ours, which was completely bonkers, and pull it off.
“I can’t wait for it to start.”