Paris 2024 boxing qualification system to achieve a fair process for all NOCs

06/12/2022

The delivery model for the Paris 2024 Olympic boxing competition and Olympic boxing qualifiers was discussed today by the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Achieving a fair process for all NOCs – with the same number of qualification events available to their boxers, regardless of weight category;
An increased number of qualification opportunities in comparison to Tokyo 2020;
Retaining the Athlete Eligibility Criteria successfully used in the Tokyo 2020 boxing qualification system;
Reviewing the quota place distribution per weight category in comparison to the International Boxing Association (IBA)’s proposal; and
Reviewing the quota place distribution per qualification tournament in comparison to IBA’s proposal.

The new qualification system was approved by the IOC EB in September and is based on direct qualification through selected competitions, including the use of NOC regional multisport events as Olympic boxing qualification tournaments. Following the continental phase of the quota place allocation, two world qualification tournaments are planned to be held in 2024, with the goal of providing a balance in terms of geographical opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Details can be found here.

This process puts boxers first, reducing the complexity of the qualification process by using existing regional events and giving up to three qualification opportunities, ultimately achieving a fair and equal pathway for all boxers.

The “Paris 2024 Boxing Event Regulations” for the qualification tournaments and the Olympic Games are due to be published as early as possible in 2023.

With regard to anti-doping, the testing at the Olympic qualification tournaments will be carried out in addition to IBA’s existing programme, in close collaboration with the International Testing Agency (ITA).

New boxing qualification system approved for Paris 2024

08/09/2022

A new boxing qualification system for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 was approved by the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today after a full update on the situation of boxing, including governance issues within the International Boxing Association (IBA).

Boxers’ pathway to Paris 2024 approved

After deciding last June that the boxing qualifying events and competitions for Paris 2024 would not be run under the authority of the IBA, the IOC EB was presented with an additional qualification model, which was approved during its meeting in Lausanne.

Designed by the IOC in close collaboration with boxing experts, the new qualification system is based on direct qualification through selected competitions, including the use of National Olympic Committee (NOC) regional multisport events as Olympic boxing qualification tournaments. The responsibility for the boxing competitions in the following events will therefore not lie with the IBA, and alternative arrangements will be put in place with the respective event organisers:

Pan-American Games – Santiago 2023
European Games – Krakow 2023
Pacific Games – Honiara 2023
Asian Games – Hangzhou 2022 (taking place in 2023)
ANOCA (Africa) multisport event to be confirmed

Following the continental phase of the quota place allocation, two world qualification tournaments are planned to be held in 2024.

The new Olympic qualification process puts boxers first, lowering the complexity of the qualification process by using existing regional events and giving up to three qualification opportunities, ultimately achieving a fair and equal pathway for all boxers.

Remaining concerns over IBA

The various IOC concerns around the governance of the IBA, including the refereeing and judging process and the IBA’s financial dependency on the state-owned company Gazprom, are still ongoing.

The IOC EB today received a report on the issues related to competition management and refereeing and judging processes highlighted by independent experts during the boxing competition at the recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

It also noted that no clear efforts have been made by the IBA to respect and fully implement the roadmap set out by the IOC EB in December 2021 with regard to the IBA’s governance.

As a consequence, the IOC EB has sent a letter to the IBA informing it of the IOC’s ongoing grave concern. Boxing is currently not included in the sports programme of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 and, considering the absence of any real evolution, the IOC Executive Board is not in a position to reverse its decision. This letter will be shared with the NOCs and national boxing federations.