The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee has proposed boxing for inclusion at LA28 at the IOC Session taking place in Greece this week.
The sport had been omitted from the initial list of sports for the next Olympics amid concerns over governance within the sport and a breakdown of relationships with the International Boxing Association.
The decision from the IOC Executive Board follows the recommendation made by the Olympic Programme Commission and the provisional recognition granted last month by the IOC to World Boxing as the International Federation (IF) within the Olympic Movement governing the sport of boxing at world level.
The Paris 2024 boxing competition and its qualifying tournaments were organised under the authority of the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit, an ad hoc task force created by the IOC EB.
This decision was taken to protect athlete participation at the Olympic Games and deliver a clear, fair, and transparent pathway for boxers to qualify, ensuring a fair and just competition.
At Paris 2024, 68 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were represented in the boxing competition, with the IOC Refugee Olympic Team and 31 different NOCs medalling across the 13 events. This was the highest ratio of competing NOCs to medal in one sport at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Ireland was among them, and Kellie Harrington landed her second Gold Medal at the Games.
Ireland is not yet a member of World Boxing; however, retaining its affiliation with the IBA, which allowed Lisa and Aoife O’Rourke to win World Silver Medals at the weekend.
A vote on affiliation to the new body was defeated at the 2023 AGM of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association.
The pathway now is clear. If the IOC approves the motion this week, which is almost foregone, then World Boxing will begin the qualification process. If the IABA has not signed up by the time that starts, then Irish boxers will not be eligible to compete at the LA Games.
Further Reading for Sport for Business Members: The Complex Shadows Over Irish Boxers and LA28
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
The choice appears clear now for Irish boxing, whether it wants to stay with the IBA or switch allegiance to World Boxing. Only the sport itself can make that choice, and it fell five votes short of the required 75 per cent majority last time around. The world is moving now at a fast pace, and the clock is ticking loudly.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Phone calls and a fast decision on which path Irish Boxing should choose.
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