The Venezuelan Olympic Committee supported a karate training event for officials in the South American nation ©COV

The Venezuelan Olympic Committee (COV) supported a karate training event for officials in the South American nation.

Organised by the Venezuelan Karate Federation, the COV backed a refresher course for referees.

More than 100 coaches and officials attended the event.

The aim was to pass on new rules which have been implemented by the World Karate Federation in both the kata and kumite disciplines.

Karate will make its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 after being put forward as an additional sport by Japanese organisers.

Antonio Díaz has won world titles for Venezuela in karate ©Getty Images
Antonio Díaz has won world titles for Venezuela in karate ©Getty Images

It was not proposed by Paris 2024, however, so looks likely to be removed from the programme in the French capital. 

Venezuela sent 12 athletes to last year's World Karate Championships in Spanish capital Madrid but did not win a medal.

They claimed two bronze medals at the previous edition in Linz in Austria in 2016, however.

Andrés Madera was joint third in the men's under-67 kilograms kumite division with Antonio Díaz sharing third in the men's kata.

Díaz has previously won two world titles, as well as two World Games gold medals.