The future of Boxing at the Olympic Games after Paris was thrown into doubt last week when the sport did not feature on the list of initial sports approved to be a part of the Los Angeles Games.

The sport has a rich tradition at the games and is Ireland’s most successful sport but integrity issues around scoring and judging, together with governance issues at the Amateur International Boxing Association.

There is still hope that the sport will make it back onto the agenda before the final list is drawn up but that requires evidence of meaningful progress on both fronts.

Yesterday was a positive day on that front with a package of governance reforms approved by an overwhelming majority of 84 votes to one at the Association’s Extraordinary Congress held in Switzerland and virtually.

On the basis that a new beginning requires a new identity, this also changed so that the AIBA is now no more and has morphed inter the IBA or International Boxing Association.

The reforms include an agreement that a clear majority of the existing Board be replaced and that a mutually appointed and trusted liaison Officer be appointed to work between the Association and the International Olympic Committee.

A restructure of the Finance, Audit and Strategy Committees was also approved to take place in 2022 alongside the introduction of a new integrity unit.

A major sponsorship deal with Russian energy company Gazprom has cleared the outstanding debt and restored the financial good standing of the organisation, at least for now. Auditor EY has signed off on the company until June 2022.

The change of identity to that above was approved by 80 votes to five.

The race to ensure that the IOC is happy enough with the reforms it has demanded to see the boxing ring built in LA is at least now underway, with the first six months of next year being crucial in making sure that the reforms are not only approved but also implemented.

 

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