TOKYO, (AP):

Karate is making a push to be part of the programme for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. New reforms by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have given karate officials renewed hope that the martial art could be added to the Tokyo games and the head of the World Karate Federation (WKF) is meeting with 2020 organisers to make his case for the sport's inclusion.

"Karate is a sport with Japanese roots," WKF President Antonio Espinos said at a news conference yesterday. Under the new reforms, known as Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC will limit the games programme by the number of events rather than number of sports, allowing new competitions to come in. Host cities will also be allowed to propose the inclusion of one or more additional events for their games.

The World Karate Federation says there are 100 million practitioners around the world. Karate is hoping to make it after bids for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics failed.

Espinos said that his sport doesn't require specially built venues and the competition could be held over three days, making it an attractive addition to the Olympic programme.

Because of their popularity in Japan, baseball, and softball, which were dropped after the Beijing Olympics, are considered to have the best chance of being added.