📢 Official Invitation: Turkish Open WAKO World Cup 2025 Dear WAKO Members, We are pleased to invite you to the Turkish Open WAKO World Cup 2025 , set to take place in Antalya, Turkiye, from May 14th to 18th, 2025 . This prestigious event promises to bring together the best kickboxing athletes from around the world for an unforgettable competition. With Antalya’s world-class venues and stunning surroundings, the tournament will not only be a test of skill and determination but also a fantastic experience for all participants. 🔹 Date:  May 14-18, 2025🔹 Location:  Antalya, Turkiye🔹 Competition Level:  Open to all WAKO-affiliated members and clubs We have attached the official invitation letter , which contains all the essential details regarding registration, accommodation, and event logistics. We kindly ask you to share this information with your affiliated members and clubs to ensure everyone has the opportunity to take part. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the event! We look forward to welcoming you to Antalya for an incredible week of kickboxing action! WAKO

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐎 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 1st Seminar:           WEIGHT MANAGEMENT - maintaining peak performance of kickboxers 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍: Tuesday, 25 February 2025, time: 2-3 PM CET 𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: Weight management strategies for combat sports athletes 𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫: Mr Emerson Franchini, MSc and PhD in Sport Sciences 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞: English 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 1 hour 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫: online via Sportdata,  only with WAKO Sports ID 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 24th February 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧: Everyone interested: kickboxers, coaches, referees, parents, club's medical staff. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐲: - Payment of the 2€ entry fee is done via PayPal payment directly on Sportdata during the registration process. If the payment isn't executed properly, you will stay on the waiting list, without the access to the webinar. On the photos it is indicated where to click. After you register, you will see popup : "After registration". You need to click on that button. On the second popup : "Paypal Payment” you need to click on the PayPal icon. After that click, you will be forwarded to PayPal for the payment. - After successful registration, you will get the link to join the webinar. - All proceeds goes to WAKO Athletes development program. This seminar explores evidence-based weight management strategies for combat sports athletes. Topics include periodic nutrition, rapid weight loss methods, and their physiological and performance-related consequences, ensuring athletes achieve weight targets while maintaining peak performance. About the lecturer: Mr Emerson Franchini is MSc and PhD in Sport Sciences, one of the most well-known sport scientists in combat sports, former judo athlete with expertise in combat sports, sports nutrition, and exercise physiology ‼ Mark your Tuesday, 25 February 2025, time: 2-3 PM CET

Kickboxing Excellence on Display at the 4th WAKO India Open International Tournament! The 4th WAKO India Open International Kickboxing Tournament kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony at the K.D. Jadhav Indoor Stadium, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Delhi. The event was graced by WAKO President Mr. Roy Baker (Ireland), Mr. Romeo Desa (Chairman, Technical Committee - WAKO, Croatia), Dr. Rajeev Tyagi (Pro Chancellor, Shri Venkateswara University, India), and dignitaries from around the globe, highlighting the event’s international prestige. Athletes from diverse nations gathered to showcase their skills, setting the stage for an electrifying competition that celebrates the true spirit of kickboxing. Stay tuned for exclusive highlights and powerful moments from the tournament—capturing the passion, precision, and power of kickboxing at its best! #WAKOIndiaOpen #KickboxingChampionship #WAKO2025 #OneWAKOOneChampion

Congratulations to Mr. Santosh Agrawal on His Election as President of WAKO India! WAKO proudly extends its heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Santosh Agrawal on his election as President of WAKO India. WAKO President Roy Baker shared his thoughts: "Mr. Agrawal is the right man at the right time to lead WAKO India. His leadership and vision will undoubtedly elevate the sport of kickboxing in India to new heights." We look forward to seeing the positive impact of his presidency on the growth and success of kickboxing in India. #OneWAKO #KickboxingLeadership #WAKOIndia

As decided during the last WAKO Board of directors meeting, it was two new members, countries coming from African continent, approved as members of WAKO:   * Federation Beninoise de Kick-Boxing et Disciplines Associees (FBKB-DA) (BENIN) approved as Full Member Chairman: Mr. Narcisse Justin Soglo
 * Bonaire Kickboxing Federation (BONAIRE) approved as Provisional Member Chairman: Mr. Peter Silberie WAKO President Roy Baker commented: “We are delighted to welcome two new national Federations as WAKO members. This shows continued growth of WAKO on a global scale. We now have 132 recognised members which is a clear indication of the strength of the Sport of Kickboxing in the world today. Welcome Benin and Bonaire to the WAKO family!”

The WAKO Gamechangers had their last module in Lausanne on 6 December. It was a successful event organized in the Olympic House (IOC Headquarter) and the day was packed with a designed module where contributors form WAKO was Zsolt Moradi, Daimi Akin and Espen Lund from WAKO and Maureen Ojong, Gaby Meyland and Jeremy Dodson from IOC. Topics was about inclusion of athletes and coaches, engagements through Olympism 365 and Athlete 365. IOC Executive Board Member, Ivo Ferriani dropped by to inspire the young leaders. Irina Gladkikh and Ella Bounous from the Sport Department welcomed the team in the morning. The Gamechanger team was engaged in breakout sessions and gave WAKO a lot of good advise to focus on. It is all about learn and share. WAKO future are bright.

PAN Hellenic Kickboxing Federation (WAKO Greece) has finished the elections and new President of Pan Hellenic Kickboxing Federation is Mr. Antonios Mavrommatis. WAKO President Roy Baker congratulated him for the new presidential mandate wishing him success not only in his organisation but in International relations committee of WAKO as well, where Mr Mavrommatis is a member.

Breaking news: Mr. Salim KAYICI, WAKO IF and WAKO Europe Vice President and the President of WAKO Mediterranean International Kickboxing Federation, was re-elected as the President of the Turkish Kickboxing Federation for the 4 year’s term by receiving the votes of the majority of the delegates at the General Assembly of the Turkish Kickboxing Federation, held in Ankara on 1st December, 2024. WAKO President Roy Baker commented on his re-election: “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate WAKO vice president Salim Kayici a successful re-election as a President of the Turkish Federation. Salim has shown great leadership in developing sport of kickboxing in Turkiye making it one of the strongest nations globally for the sport of Kickboxing in a very short period of time. Congratulations to Turkiye Federation, to Salim and his family and the entire Kickboxing community of Turkiye. I really look forward to working alongside Salim in the future, to build and develop a sport of Kickboxing on the global stage.”

Happy International Kickboxing Day! On this special day, we celebrate not only the incredible global sport of kickboxing but also the milestone of receiving full recognition as an Olympic sport on November 30th 2019. This achievement reflects the hard work, dedication, and passion of every national federation, athlete, coach, and supporter in our community. As the President of the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations, I am proud to witness the positive growth and development of our sport. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of governance and transparency, ensuring that our national federations thrive and that our athletes receive the support they deserve. Together, we are building a strong foundation for the future, empowering our athletes and coaches to reach new heights. With your continued support, we look forward to a bright future filled with opportunities, unity, and success in kickboxing on the global stage. Let’s celebrate this special day and our continued journey together and keep the spirit of kickboxing and WAKO alive! 🥊💪 Roy Baker President WAKO #InternationalKickboxingDay #KickboxingOlympics #GrowthAndDevelopment

The president of WAKO Peru and esteemed member of the WAKO Panam Board of Directors, Professor Ruben Lara, proudly carried the Olympic Torch for the Bolivarian Games 2024 in Ayacucho, Peru. This momentous occasion highlights not only WAKO’s growing presence in the Bolivarian Games but also our progress toward integrating kickboxing further into the official Olympic circuit across the continent. It’s a proud milestone for our athletes and affiliates, opening new doors for participation and recognition on the global stage. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Professor Ruben Lara for his tireless efforts in making this possible, as well as to all the leaders of the participating countries who have worked relentlessly to turn this dream into a reality. With each accomplishment, we edge closer to the ultimate goal: seeing kickboxing featured in the Pan American Games 2027. For a united and stronger WAKO Panam community. Together, we are unstoppable.Oss!

Under the patronage of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2026 , the Youth Festival - Festival Dakar En Jeux  showcased kickboxing as part of its vibrant program. This monumental achievement highlights WAKO’s continued strides toward global recognition. Espen Lund , WAKO 1st Vice President, visited Dakar for the second time, meeting key figures such as: Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye , NOC President Ibrahima Wade , YOG General Coordinator Balla Dieye , Sport Director Alongside WAKO Senegal President Yakhya Diop , they attended IOC YOG Coordination meetings, site visits, and exchanged ideas to further integrate kickboxing into Dakar 2026. The Youth Festival also featured a fantastic outdoor K1 showcase , thrilling the public with high-level fights and shining a spotlight on the world’s greatest combat sport. A special thank you to international delegates from South Africa, Italy, Ivory Coast, and Lithuania , who joined us in making history. A huge shoutout to WAKO Gold Sponsor RDX  for providing exceptional equipment and clothing, ensuring the event’s success. 🤝 Let’s continue to elevate kickboxing on the global stage! #rdxsports #onewakoonechampion #wako #kickboxing #youtholympics2026

Breaking News - re-inclusion of Belarus in WAKO activities from January 2025 Dear Members, We are pleased to inform you that following a WAKO Board meeting and interactions with various WAKO Committee, it was approved at the WAKO IF board meeting for the re-inclusion of Belarus in our WAKO activities starting from January 2025. WAKO has meticulously followed international developments regarding the inclusion of Russia and Belarus in sports. After careful consideration, we have decided to adhere to the IOC guidelines, allowing participation for individual neutral athletes, in line with practices adopted by many other sports and combat sports within the Olympic movement. Following a thorough investigation and subsequent meeting with the Belarusian authorities, we have granted access to Belarusian athletes, coaches, and referees under the condition that they comply with the individual neutral athlete principle. The Belarusian federation has signed an agreement outlining these principles and regulations. We acknowledge and deeply appreciate the Belarusian Federation's loyalty to WAKO’s past decisions and their amicable acceptance of our regulations. Key conditions include: - Athletes and support personnel must not be members of any armed forces or actively involved in the military conflict between Russia/Belarus and Ukraine. - Athletes and support personnel must comply with IOC and WAKO regulations, maintaining neutrality and refraining from any activity or communication associated with the national symbols of Belarus or support for the conflict in Ukraine, at any official venue or in the media (including interviews and social media) before, during, and after WAKO competitions. Any violations of the agreement will result in disciplinary investigation and action. Please note, this decision pertains solely to Belarus and does not extend to Russia at this time. Please join me in welcoming the Belarusian federation and its athletes and coaches back to our competitive calendar in 2025. Thank you for your attention and cooperation. Respectfully Yours, Roy Baker WAKO President