World number one Alisa Theresa Buchinger has said that karate's inclusion in the European Games has allowed the sport's competitors to feel "like an Olympian".
Unlike other martial art events like taekwondo and judo, karate is currently not part of the Olympics, having narrowly missed out on enough votes to be included in London 2012.
The Austrian karateka told reporters: "The opponents are the same but from the feeling and the atmosphere here it's much better, it's like an Olympics, I imagine. It's really nice, amazing, every athlete feels like an Olympian.
"It's nice to be a part of the European Games."
Buchinger will compete in the semi-finals of the women's -68kg kumite class later today.
