Five additional sports - karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing and baseball/softball - were all proposed by organisers in the Japanese capital with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) then rubber-stamping the decision at their Session in Rio.

“It is incredible for karate," said Espinos.

"It is a moment of great joy and it will be on our minds forever.

“Who could have believed that when we had our first World Championships in 1970 in Nippon Budokan, that 50 years later we would come back to Nippon Budokan for Olympic Games.

“We would like to thank the Organising Committee of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games because without them it would have been impossible for us to be here and many thanks to IOC President Thomas Bach because we are only here for his Olympic Agenda.

"We will work as much as we can since we have the vocation to be Olympic sport, we are convinced that we will give added value to the Olympic Games."

In 2014, the IOC approved a new concept that allows the organising committees of each Olympic Games greater flexibility to propose which sports should be included.

The Tokyo 2020 committee, the first able to take advantage of the new rules, proposed the package of five sports in 2014.

WKF General Secretary Toshihisa Nagura also stated the historic significance of the decision and reflected as well on the outstanding assistance of millions of karatekas. 

"To be an Olympic sport has been our dream for so long, and it has now come true," he said.

"For all WKF family this is a great moment. 

"We are a great team and I am so pleased to be a part of this outstanding WKF Olympic team.

“Thank you all for your support and from now on we must make karate the perfect sport for Olympic Games. 

"Let’s work together."