IOC Shapes Boxing for Tokyo Olympics

(ATR) The boxing competition for the Tokyo Olympics is taking shape under the control of the IOC.

With international federation AIBA suspended over an array of governance and operational issues, a task force of IOC members along with the IOC sports department, is handling organization of the Tokyo tournament.

Sports director Kit McConnell reported to the IOC Executive Board Wednesday on the extraordinary preparations for the sport in Tokyo.

"We’ve moved forward a lot," McConnell said at a press conference in Lausanne.

He says engagement with NOCs and athletes about the qualification process has been carried out at the Pacific Games, All Africa Games and Pan American Games.

AIBA, with offices nearby the IOC headquarters is reported to be down to staff of three. The federation accounts are heading to empty with IOC revenues suspended and sponsor and event income lagging.

Nonetheless, McConnell says AIBA staff and officials have been a help to the IOC in organizing the Olympic tournament.

"AIBA has been very supportive when needed on information we sought such as refereeing, judging, technical and rules. We have to recogniz AIBA staffing has been reduced significantly but when we have gone to them they have been supportive," he said.

The EB meeting, led by IOC President Thomas Bach, is the first formally scheduled session for the panel at the new headquarters in Lausanne which opened in June.

The two day agenda,while covering a range of issues, only includes updates from organizers of the Tokyo Olympics and the Lausanne Winter Youth Olympics. Both presentations will be made by video link. Beijing 2022, Dakar 2022, Paris 2024, Milan 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 are not included in this meeting.

The selection of host cities for future Olympics is on the agenda for Thursday. Two permanent new IOC commissions, one for winter bids and another for summer bids, are due to be named. Those new panels will oversee new procedures for selecting host cities.

The new EB meeting room, more spacious than the one in the previous headquarters, maintains the same subdued décor with wood paneled walls and a salubrious view of Lake Geneva from the top floor of the headquarters. The location of the EB room is adjacent to the IOC President’s office, proximity not possible since 1982 when the IOC was entirely housed in Chateau de Vidy, the heritage building preserved alongside the super-modern 21st edifice.

Bach will hold a press conference Thursday at the conclusion of the EB meeting.

Reported by Ed Hula.