December 11, 2020 - Great news for Croatia, as Porec has been confirmed to host the 2021 European Karate Championships, which will bring karate fighters from 52 countries to the Istrian town. 

HRT reports that Croatia will host the 56th European Karate Championships from May 19 to 23, 2021, in Porec.

This has been confirmed by EKF, the European Karate Federation, which opted for Croatia in the competition of sixteen other candidates. According to the earlier schedule, the European Championships were supposed to be held in Gothenburg. However, after Sweden's withdrawal, the Croatian offer was chosen, so the best European karate fighters will fight for medals in Croatia for the first time since Zagreb in 2009.

Representatives of 52 countries are expected to participate in the European Championships in Porec, and this will also be the last qualifying competition for a spot at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"We are thrilled and proud to have received the trust to host the 56th European Senior Championships, a tournament that should be held next year, from May 19-23. It will definitely be one of the biggest and most important sporting events in Croatia in 2021. The elite of senior karate will come to Porec. There will be competitors who will qualify for the Olympics, and some of them will be winners of Olympic medals. Moving on, it’s not time to celebrate. We have a few months left to prepare everything for Croatia, Porec, and the "Žatika" sports hall to host 52 countries participating in the European Karate Championship,"  said the president of the Croatian Karate Federation, Davor Cipek.

During the five-day championship, the European Championships in para karate will be traditionally held, and the EKF Election Congress, where ten new members of the Executive Board of the European Karate Federation will be elected for the next period.

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