About 300 delegates from 20 countries, including Albania, Algeria, Bosnia & Herzergovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Monaco, Morocco, San Marino, Serbia & Montenegro, Syria, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey, around the Mediterranean are taking part in the 14th Mediterranean Karate championships being held this weekend at the University Sports hall at Tal-Qroqq.

This event is being organised by the Mediterranean Karate Federation Union (MKFU). The MKFU is affiliated to The World Karate Federation (WKF) has 172 member countries and is thus the largest Karate organisation in the world.

The WKF is also a member of the International Olympic Committee, and consequently the MKF is a member of the Malta Olympic Committee.

The event, which is being held at the SAS Radisson Bay Point Resort, St Julian's, is being sponsored by the Kunsill malti ghall-iSport (KMS), through the latter's International Participation - Local Scheme, specifically designed to assist sport organisations to hold international competitions such as these championships here in Malta.

The Maltese national squad has had some intensive training and prepared seriously for this competition under the direction of the national team Kumite coach, Sensei James Galea, and national team Kata coach Sensei Joe Tanti.

The competition will offer a spectacle worth viewing as the level of the participants is very high. The public is more than welcome to attend this show of competitive martial arts and support the local participants. It is aimed at developing the competition skills in Kata (Forms) and Kumite (sparring) of the up and coming youths, namely the 16 to 17 year olds (Cadets) and the 18 to 20 year olds (Juniors).