On behalf of the European board, I am happy and excited to welcome you at the European Adults Championship 2021 in the beautiful city of Tbilisi.
Never in the history of full contact karate has there been such a challenge as the organizing of this prestigious competition. While the coronavirus was still at the height of its impact, the Georgian Fullcontact Karate National Federation with president shihan Avtandil Shengelia, WKO Branch Chief and Country Representative Irakli Dolaberidze, Sport Director of Tournament and Mr. Anzor Chubinidze Head of Organizing Committee their strong team of assistants agreed to give everything to make this tournament possible.
And, also thanks to the full support of the Ministry of Sports and relevant government agencies of Georgia, they did accomplish this incredible feat.
While all eyes in the karate world were watching and the virus was still raging, the European Adults Championship 2021 definitely took form. Through great preparation and enormous eye for detail and, above all, safety, the organizers managed to attract fighters, officials and referees from more than 20 countries.
And now, after a seemingly incredible long time, we are again able to share the unique feeling of being members of the shinkyokushin family. Of being together, competing and celebrating the budo spirit of our karate.
Of course the best will win this tournament. However, everybody who went through great trouble to join the tournament has shown his or her true spirit. Once again, the incredible strength of our WKO with its president Kenji Midori shihan has been proven, to all of the martial arts world.
Osu!
Koen Scharrenberg (EKO President)
