The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is actively seeking a new governing body for Olympic boxing, aiming to ensure its continuation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This development follows their decision to remove the International Boxing Association (IBA) from its role in the Tokyo 2021 and the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport recently backed the IOC's move to de-recognize the IBA, a significant turn in the governance of Olympic boxing. The backdrop to this decision involves criticism from the IOC towards the IBA's Russian leadership, particularly concerning the use of threatening language, which further strained their relationship.
Despite these challenges, the IOC is determined to keep boxing as part of the Olympic sports family. It underscores the need to pair up with a reliable International Federation by early 2025 to maintain boxing's Olympic status. The initiative underscores the sport's universal appeal and its role in promoting social inclusivity.
### Emergence of World Boxing
In response to the current governance vacuum, World Boxing, a new faction that boasts membership from 27 nations, has started to organize tournaments. This group is taking proactive steps to ensure boxing remains a cornerstone of the Olympic movement. They are also positioning themselves as potential candidates to partner with the IOC.
### Legal Challenges Ahead
The IBA, on its part, has signaled intentions to appeal the Court of Arbitration for Sport's ruling to the Swiss supreme court. The IBA has expressed frustration over what it views as the IOC's disregard for its recent reform efforts. These reforms, according to the IBA, demonstrate a commitment to improve, which they argue, has been overlooked in the decision-making process.
### Key Quotes from Stakeholders
Reflecting on the situation, an IOC representative highlighted the importance of boxing in the Olympic Games: "Because of the universality and high social inclusivity of boxing, the IOC wants it to continue to feature on the program of the Olympic Games."
However, the IOC also pointed out the complications involved in maintaining boxing's Olympic status: "Unfortunately, this is far from certain for the Olympic Games LA 2028 because, for governance reasons, the IOC is not in a position to organize another Olympic boxing tournament. To keep boxing on the Olympic program, the IOC needs a recognized and reliable International Federation as a partner, as with all the other Olympic sports."
World Boxing expressed the urgency of the situation: "This is an urgent situation and the clock is ticking." They also made a call to action for support: "We urge every one of them that cares about boxers and the future of the sport to apply to join and support World Boxing in its efforts to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement before it is too late."
Conversely, the IBA voiced its grievances, feeling that improvements made recently have been unjustly ignored: "The IBA feels that disregarding these and other improvements suggests a biased view."
### Looking Ahead
The future of Olympic boxing is at a critical juncture. As World Boxing steps up in an attempt to secure the sport's position in the Olympics, and the IBA fights its de-recognition, the coming months will be pivotal. The IOC's desire to include boxing in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics underscores the sport's importance to the Olympic tradition and its global fanbase. However, for boxing to continue its storied Olympic legacy, a resolution to the governance issue must be found swiftly. This episode serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between the operational management of sports and their broader Olympic aspirations.
