TO ALL WAKO MEMBERS
Dear WAKO Members,
It is with great pride, as the Interim President of WAKO, to hereby announce the best message for the WAKO family ever;
WAKO has been granted today with IOC’s provisional recognition .
The decision was taken by the IOC Executive Board in Tokyo Japan on 30th November 2018 upon the IOC Sports Department’s recommendation.
WAKO has experienced a massive development in the last years and we really feel we all collectively deserve such recognition. All our Hard work, focused attention on development, patience and a dedicated and competent team has finally paid off. When everything is settled it is time to reach for new and higher goals.
Please take this special moment to reflect on how far we have come, but more importantly how far we have to go. To finally achieve this goal is the end of a long but constructive and developing marathon, even though such recognition will lead to obligations for us to follow up and develop.
Since our application was delivered in August 2016, we have seen a great positive and constructive contribution from many people. In acknowledgement of the work, I thank everybody involved, and in particular the International Relations team who constructed the application and lead all the discussions with the IOC: Espen Lund, Chairman, Roy Baker and our former President Borislav Pelevic; tank you also to WAKO Administration and the Legal Committee. All undertook a huge task for our sport and delivered. Bravo to everybody in WAKO, what a fantastic day for our sport! This will have a positive and dramatic effect on our sport in all five Continents.
It is also important to dedicate this recognition to Borislav Pelevic that supported and approved all the work done. Not to say to Ennio Falsoni that founded the WAKO we see today.
We know that such recognition will be very important for the recognition and support for all our national members. We will come back with more specific information about this issue, its consequences and its impact. Congratulations to the WAKO family!
Sincerely yours,
Francesca Falsoni
WAKO Interim President
(Here below a symbolic picture of a brave WAKO athlete to express all enthusiasm and joy for such wonderful news.)
Herewith enclosed also the congratulating letter received by Thomas Bach, IOC President.
