Boxing’s Road to Olympic Inclusion: A New Era for the Sport in LA 2028

The Path for Boxing to Return to the Olympic Games in 2028

The inclusion of boxing in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games has been a long and contentious journey. After years of uncertainty regarding the sport’s place in the Olympics, the creation of World Boxing, a new global governing body, has brought hope that the sport will be reinstated for the 2028 Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is now set to review this recommendation, with many involved in the boxing community hopeful that the sport will once again be part of the Olympic program.

The ongoing efforts to restore boxing’s Olympic status have been complicated by governance issues, and the lack of a unified global body to oversee the sport. However, after much deliberation and restructuring, World Boxing, which was established in April 2023, has been recognized by the IOC and is poised to take on the responsibility of governing the sport globally. This is a significant milestone in boxing’s bid for inclusion in the next Summer Games, with the IOC poised to make its final decision soon.

The Creation of World Boxing and its Impact on Olympic Boxing

Boxing set to be omitted from 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games

The key to boxing’s potential return to the Olympic fold lies in the formation of World Boxing. The new body was created in response to the issues that plagued the previous governing organization, the International Boxing Association (IBA). The IBA’s suspension by the IOC in 2019 was due to several concerns, including governance, financial irregularities, refereeing issues, and ethical concerns. As a result, the IOC has been running boxing at the last two Olympic Games, with the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2028 Los Angeles Games hanging in the balance for the sport’s future inclusion.

The Russian-led IBA faced significant challenges over its handling of the sport, especially with the exclusion of certain boxers due to issues related to gender eligibility tests, which came to the forefront during the 2023 World Championships. This contentious situation, involving athletes like Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, further solidified the IOC’s decision to sever ties with the IBA and pave the way for a new organization to take over.

World Boxing has since filled this void, and now with 84 members across five continents, including major countries like Great Britain, the organization has demonstrated its potential to oversee boxing in a manner that aligns with the Olympic movement’s standards. The IOC’s recent provisional recognition of World Boxing marks a turning point for the sport, setting the stage for boxing to return to the Olympic Games in LA 2028.

IOC’s Provisional Recognition of World Boxing and its Importance

Boxing is excluded from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

In response to the creation of World Boxing, the IOC has acknowledged that the organization has met several key criteria necessary for provisional recognition. This recognition is an important step forward in the process of boxing’s return to the Olympics. Boris van der Vorst, President of World Boxing, has expressed his excitement and optimism regarding the future of the sport. He stated, “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.”

Van der Vorst further emphasized that World Boxing is committed to maintaining the values of the Olympic Charter and acting as a trustworthy and reliable partner should boxing be reinstated in the Olympic Games. The decision to reintroduce boxing in LA 2028 will have a profound impact on the global boxing community, and the new governing body aims to ensure that the sport adheres to Olympic standards moving forward.

The provisional recognition by the IOC is the result of World Boxing’s continued efforts to reform the governance of boxing, as well as its commitment to transparency, ethical conduct, and fairness in the sport. These efforts have helped build trust between World Boxing and the IOC, a crucial factor in boxing’s road to Olympic inclusion.

Challenges That Boxing Has Faced and the Role of World Boxing in Overcoming Them

Sport of boxing must have new global body to get into LA Games

The road to boxing’s reinstatement in the Olympic Games has not been without its challenges. The most significant obstacle was the failure of the IBA to implement the necessary reforms that would allow the organization to meet the IOC’s standards. The IBA’s leadership, under Russian influence, proved to be a major source of contention, particularly regarding issues such as governance, finance, and ethical concerns surrounding the sport’s management.

In June 2023, the IBA was stripped of its status as the world governing body for boxing due to its inability to enact reforms. This decision by the IOC highlighted the ongoing issues that had plagued the IBA for years and raised questions about the future of boxing in the Olympics. During the 2023 World Championships, the IOC’s stance on certain boxer eligibility issues, such as the cases of Khelif and Lin, made clear the tension between the IBA’s rules and the IOC’s more progressive approach to inclusion and fairness.

With World Boxing now recognized by the IOC, the sport has a new governing body that aims to overcome these past issues. World Boxing’s creation provides a much-needed sense of stability and accountability for boxing, ensuring that the sport can be governed in a way that is aligned with the values of the Olympic Games. This is a crucial factor for boxing’s successful reintegration into the Olympic program in 2028.

What Does This Mean for Boxers and Their Participation in LA 2028?

For boxers around the world, the reinstatement of boxing in the LA 2028 Olympics holds great significance. The IOC has stated that only athletes whose national federations are members of World Boxing by the time the qualification events for the 2028 Olympics begin will be eligible to participate. Although the dates for the qualification period have not yet been confirmed, this requirement ensures that boxers competing in the 2028 Games will be subject to the same high standards of governance, transparency, and fairness that are expected of all Olympic sports.

This decision is likely to have a significant impact on the way national federations approach boxing in the coming years. Countries will need to ensure that their boxing organizations are aligned with World Boxing’s standards in order for their athletes to participate in the Olympics. This may lead to increased collaboration between national and international bodies, as well as improved development programs for boxers around the world.

For athletes like Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, whose Olympic dreams were once clouded by the IBA’s controversial eligibility rules, the decision to create a new governing body offers hope for a more inclusive and fair system in future Olympic Games. The fact that both boxers won gold medals at the 2023 World Championships under the IOC’s guidance speaks to the potential for the IOC to act as a more impartial authority in managing boxing at the Olympic level.

What’s Next for Boxing and World Boxing?

While World Boxing’s recognition by the IOC is a major milestone, the journey to full inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympics is not yet complete. The next crucial step will be the formal approval of boxing’s Olympic inclusion at the upcoming IOC Session. Once this approval is granted, boxing will officially be restored to the Olympic program, and boxers will be able to compete for a place in the 2028 Games.

In the meantime, World Boxing will continue to work closely with the IOC to ensure that all the necessary criteria for Olympic inclusion are met. The organization will focus on maintaining high standards of governance, promoting the values of the Olympic Charter, and fostering the global development of boxing. This will help secure a bright future for boxing at the Olympic Games, ensuring that the sport remains an integral part of the Olympic movement.

The creation of World Boxing has brought a renewed sense of optimism to the sport, and the hope is that boxing will return to the Olympics stronger and more unified than ever before. The road to LA 2028 is still underway, but the sport is now on the right path towards securing its place in the Olympic Games once again. For boxers worldwide, the potential for Olympic glory is within reach, and the future of boxing in the Olympics looks brighter than ever.