Boxing To Feature Again At LA 2026 Olympic Games After IOC's Approval

After not being a part of the initial programme, Boxing has found its way back into the program for the Summer Olympics 2028 in Los Angeles. IOC President Thomas Bach has endorsed the sport's inclusion. The IOC is yet to make the final approval, with the council's executive board set to present their opinions on the inclusion.

Boxing To Be A Part Of LA Olympics 2028 

The implementation of Boxing is remarkable, given that several boxers worldwide receive a chance to display their talents on a global stage. The IOC President expressed that the provisional recognition of world boxing in February allowed the Council to think about the sport's inclusion. He also expressed confidence that the proposition would be approved in the session.

"After the provisional recognition of world boxing in February, then we were in the position to take this decision so that ... this recommendation of course has to go to the session. I am very confident that the session will approve it so that all the boxers of the world then have certainty that they can participate in the Olympic Games L.A. 2028 if their national federation is recognised by world boxing," IOC President Thomas Bach said.

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Why Has Boxing Been a Controversial Sport In The Olympics?

Back in 2022, Boxing was not considered a part of the initial programme for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The International Boxing Federation and IOC have been at loggerheads for quite a while, and they were also banished from the Olympic family. But the sport was still a part of the 2024 Paris Games, with the IOC running the sport in the mega quadrennial event.

But Boxing did not steer clear of a controversy, as a gender equality dispute erupted over the participation of Imane Khelif of Algeria and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting.

The IOC also revealed that the athletes whose boxing federations would be a part of WB at the beginning of the qualification events for the LA Olympics would be eligible to be a part of the qualifiers. The dates are yet to be announced by the council.   

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