#ICYMI: USOPC Progress; Irish Athletes on Rule 50; AIBA Congress

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(ATR) One year after an independent commission report called for substantial changes throughout the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, a follow-up gives good marks.

The Borders Commission, named after chair Lisa Borders, was created in 2018 in the aftermath of the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal. Borders, former CEO of the WNBA, worked with a panel of athletes and sport experts to draft a report that would guide changes to the USOPC.

The report named five "top line" recommendations covering governance, athlete safety and welfare, supervising national governing bodies and oversight by the U.S. Congress.

In the year since the Borders Report was published, the USOPC seems to be on track addressing the solutions the report offered, according to the follow-up released August 18.

Out of 30 recommendations in the Borders Report, 24 are noted with a green symbol for progress and implementation. Just six carry a yellow mark to indicate where more work is needed.

None carry a red symbol, which the follow-up report says would indicate the "USOPC has rejected or ignored the recommended Implementation Step".

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Ireland Supports Rule 50 Reforms

Irish Olympians and Olympic hopefuls who responded to a survey say athletes should be allowed to protest but with some restrictions.

The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) Athletes’ Commission survey was prompted by an IOC Athletes’ Commission request for feedback that is part of a future review into Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which states "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas".

Interest in the issue among Irish athletes appears to be limited, with only 19 percent responding to the survey. Of those who did respond, an OFI statement revealed 62 percent "indicated some form of protest should be allowed but with a strong preference for forms of protest that would not involve or impact the podium".

Additionally, 67 percent of respondents indicated they would not be in favor of unrestricted protest.

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Virtual Reform Congress Expected for Boxing Fed

(ATR) The International Boxing Federation is expected to meet in December in a virtual Congress that will determine the future of the sport in the Olympic Games.

AIBA, currently based in Lausanne, has been suspended by the IOC over governance and ethical issues, the first time an international federation has been barred from organizing its sport in the Olympic Games. For the Tokyo Olympics, an IOC working group is handling organization of the qualifying and competition during the Games.

Official word is expected at any time from the interim Federation leadership about plans for the December Congress. Speaking to leaders of the European Boxing Confederation earlier this month, acting president Mohamed Moustahsane said that the extraordinary circumstances posed by the Corona virus will likely force of virtual Congress. Originally planned for Lausanne, the meeting was moved to Budapest, a decision taken before the pandemic laid waste to the international sport world calendar.

The Congress is supposed to elect new leadership of the Federation, one of the requirements laid out by the IOC in its roadmap for AIBA to follow.

Around the Rings is told there’s still uncertainty among the ranks of possible candidates for the presidency, as well as the Executive Committee. Moustahsane seems to have been wavering over seeking the post on a permanent basis. Russian federation leader Umar Kremlev is believed to be interested as is the Bulgarian boxing Federation president Emilia Grueva.

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