Mr Wilfried Lemke, the Special Adviser of the Secretary General of the United Nations on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP), Senator Wilfried Lemke, takes over the patronage for the 22nd World Senior Karate Championships 2014 in Bremen, Germany.

The WKF is highly honoured that the Special Adviser of the Secretary General of the United Nations on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP), Senator Wilfried Lemke, takes over the patronage for the 22nd World Senior Karate Championships 2014 in Bremen, Germany.

Mr Wilfried Lemke, former manager of the football Bundesliga club SV Werder Bremen and Senator for Education and Science, as well as for Home Affairs and Sports in the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen will intensively promote the World Championships, which will be held from November 5-9 in the ÖVB arena. 1,200 athletes from at least 130 Nations are expected to attend.

WKF President, Mr Antonio Espinos, indicates that the whole karate family “feels highly honoured that the United Nations Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace has taken over Patronage of the next World Championships.  The support of Mr Wilfried Lemke is of great importance for the development of karate worldwide and for our recognition from the highest international governing bodies. It encourages us to further integrate Karate in the Olympic movement”.

The United Nations is collaborating with international and national sports organizations and particularly with the International Olympic Committee since its very beginning in 1922. A series of partnerships between the IOC and the UN system partners have since then reinforced the initial institutional cooperation.

Photo credits: Mark Garten / United Nations