“We would like to be added. We don’t want to replace anyone because everyone who is there deserves it, but we want to be the fifth sport ”, explained the gold medalist of the under 67 kilos in Tokyo, Steven Da Costa, Thursday, August 12 to Agence France-Presse (AFP). In 2024, surfing, climbing, skateboarding, already present in Tokyo, as well as breakdance will be the new additional sports, but not karate, which appeared on the program of the Japanese Olympics for only one edition. “I have to help my sport and fight for something that I think is right”, says the 24-year-old karateka. It received the support of the Minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, and the French National Olympic and Sports Committee.
“These are important supports for us, it is not for nothing that I was the flag bearer for the closing ceremony in Tokyo”, slips the Olympic champion. A feeling confirmed by the minister in an interview with Parisian Thursday : “I support Steven Da Costa’s approach. Worth writing at least to the IOC [Comité international olympique] “, explains the minister. “The integration of karate would be a great link between Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 “, she specifies.
“We talk about money, audience, we no longer talk about sport”
He will, however, have to count without the support of Tony Estanguet, president of the organizing committee for the Paris 2024 Olympics and triple Olympic champion in C1 slalom, who assumes the will to promote sports. “Which are successful on social networks”, as he explained on France Info on Monday. “These are excuses that annoy me a little”, says Steven Da Costa:
“We are completely moving away from the values of the Olympic Games, we are talking about money, audience, we are no longer talking about sport, so I understand the decision even less. “
“Tony [Estanguet] is in a good position to know what we are going through, he has experienced the same thing so he does not forget where he comes from and where he went “, launches the native of Mont-Saint-Martin, in Meurthe-et-Moselle. The Olympic champion highlights the opportunity to collect several medals for France, with eight French karatekas lined up in the different categories, for a nation “Which is part of the world top 3”. “I think it’s still possible, the IOC and the Cojo [Comité d’organisation des JO] do what they want “, wants to hope Da Costa.