For Immediate Release - November 18, 2019

 Every two years a group of athletes aged 12-18 to participate in Canada’s largest multi-sport event organized by the Ministry of Sport.  The OWG brings together 3500 athletes, 500 coaches/officials, 800 volunteers from 27 of the most popular sports for a 4-day competition. The event is recognized by the ministry of sport and provincial government. The WAKO sanctioning body-World Association of Kickboxing Organizations is approved by the International Olympic Committee which is one of only 40 sports globally with accepted Olympic status. Sophie Skoufis and Nathan Skoufis are mother and son.

The OWG resembles the Olympic Games with an Open Ceremonies, Athletes Village, Medal Ceremonies, and different sporting events each day! The OWG 2020 will take place in Orillia, Ontario this year starting February 27th 2020 through March 2nd, 2020.

Nathan Skoufis and Sophie Skoufis were selected due to their extensive experience in martial arts, Nathan Skoufis is the owner of Guelph Family Martial Arts. Nathan Skoufis and Sophie Skoufis are also sought-after coaches for their motivating and inspiring abilities.  They have both won nearly every major open martial arts tournament globally including victories in NASKA, NBL, IFMA, WKC, WKA, WAKO and NAFMA and are 5th degree black belts. They are both members of Team Canada and have both claimed international gold medals representing Canada. The pair has trained with a variety of professional fighters including George St. Pierre. The Skoufis family are also WAKO accredited coaches. Sophie Skoufis and Nathan Skoufis are both #1 rated NASKA Competitors in the world in their respective category.

Nathan Skoufis says “It is a huge honour to have been selected to be a coach for the 2020 Winter Games and is something I am really excited to be a part of. It is very special for me to see a sport I began nearly two decades ago to have come this far. Martial arts were viewed as only a combat focused sport but I believe the important aspects learned by martial arts such as respect, focus, discipline and perseverance are more understood now. To see it now as an accepted Olympic Sport is so special and is really difficult to put into any kind of words. I believe the Olympics is the pinnacle for a variety of sports. To help the next generation of martial artists reach their goals is rewarding. We will be working hard to get Team Ontario ready for the 2020 Winter Games. I would like to thank WAKO for this amazing opportunity and we look forward to the future.” 

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