Sports

Major Push to Allow Women's Boxing in London 2012 Games

by TFleming | February 19, 2009 at 09:59 am

180 views | 1 Recommendation | 3 comments

The International Amateur Boxing Association voted yesterday in favor of including Women's Boxing in the London 2012 Olympic Games. Boxing is the only sport out of the 26 summer sports that does not include female athlete's. AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu said they will be submitting their official application to the International Olympic Committee at the end of the month.

"The IOC understands the importance of women's boxing and knows the current developments and its popularity," Wu said. "We are the only sport without women in the Olympics. We are the only sport where women's rights are not fully respected. We have to work with the IOC to gain their understanding and support."

Wu said safety was a concern but pointed out that the 2008 World Championship in Ningbo City, China, had an excellent record of safety precautions and management.

When women's wrestling entered the 2004 Athen's Games, Boxing became the only Summer Olympic sport that does recognize female athlete's. In the Winter Olympic Games, women's ski jumpers are facing the same issues.