Boxing set to be included in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics programme | Sport-others News
The International Olympic Committee executive board recommended the return of boxing to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after the sport was initially left out of the programme. But the emergence of World Boxing, as well as many countries flocking to the new world body led Boris Van der Borst, including India, meant that boxing’s Olympic future was no longer in the hands of the International Boxing Association.
The decision to include boxing back into the fold will be likely formalised at the IOC session in Greece this week. “After the provisional recognition of World Boxing in February we were in a position to take this decision,” IOC president Thomas Bach said on Monday.”This recommendation has to go to the session, but I am very confident they will approve it so that all the boxers of the world then have certainty they can participate in the Olympic Games in LA.”
Once provisional status was awarded to World Boxing, it was only a matter of time before the sport was set to be included back into the Olympic fold. The IOC, under Bach, has strived to keep the IBA out of the Olympic charter citing the Russian leadership and money flowing into the organisation, as well as the issue of scoring in boxing that has plagued the sport since the 10-9 system was adopted from the 2016 Rio Olympics.
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President of World Boxing, Boris van der Vorst, welcomed Monday’s announcement.
“This is a very significant and important decision for Olympic boxing and takes the sport one step closer to being restored to the Olympic programme,” he said. “I have no doubt it will be very positively received everyone connected with boxing, at every level throughout the world, who understands the critical importance to the future of the sport of boxing continuing to remain a part of the Olympic movement. On behalf of everyone at World Boxing I would like to thank the Executive Board of the IOC for the trust they have placed in our organisation and we hope for a positive outcome when the IOC Session meets this week.
“World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege and not a right and I assure the IOC that if boxing is restored to the programme for LA28, that World Boxing is completely committed to being a trustworthy and reliable partner that will adhere to and uphold the values of the Olympic Charter.”
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