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Boxing Secures Its Place in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

Boxing will be part of the Olympic program for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles following a unanimous decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reinstate the sport. This decision comes after a significant absence from the Olympics, as boxing was not included in the initial schedule announced in 2022.

Earlier this month, the IOC extended provisional recognition to World Boxing, the newly formed international governing body for the sport, which paved the way for boxing’s inclusion at the ongoing session in Greece. Upon the announcement, outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach expressed gratitude, stating, “I thank you for the approval of having boxing back. We can look forward to a great boxing tournament.”

Since its introduction in the Olympics in 1904 (with the exception of 1912), boxing has been a staple event. However, the sport faced governance issues leading to the International Boxing Association (IBA) being suspended in 2019. The IOC took over the governance of boxing in the Olympics during the last two Games, following the IBA being stripped of recognition in June 2023 due to inadequate reform implementation.

The relationship between the IOC and the IBA became particularly strained during the 2024 Paris Olympics, especially surrounding the cases of two athletes—Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting. The IBA had banned both athletes due to not meeting gender eligibility tests during the 2023 World Championships, but the IOC permitted them to compete, and both ultimately won gold medals in their respective categories.

World Boxing was established in April 2023 and currently encompasses 84 member organizations across five continents, including the United Kingdom. World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst celebrated the IOC’s decision, calling it a “great day for boxers, boxing, and everyone connected with our sport at every level worldwide.” He emphasized World Boxing’s commitment to upholding the values of the Olympic Movement, noting that participating in the Olympic Games is a privilege that they are dedicated to maintaining.

For athletes aspiring to compete in Los Angeles, the IOC has stipulated that only those from national federations recognized as members of World Boxing at the time of the qualification events will be eligible. The specific dates for these qualification events will be announced at a later date.

This reinstatement of boxing not only reinvigorates the sport’s place in the Olympic arena but also signifies a collective effort to restore integrity and tradition to the competition ahead of the 2028 Games.

Source
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