Daily Times

TOKYO: Tokyo 2020 organisers welcomed on Thursday the International Olympic Committee’s recommendation to include boxing at next year’s Games. The IOC executive board recommended on Wednesday that boxing should keep its place at the Tokyo Games but recognition of AIBA, the governing body of the sport’s amateur version, should be suspended. The recommendations came as the IOC published a 30-page report following an inquiry into the finances and governance of AIBA which has been in turmoil for years. The IOC have instead set up a task force, led by IOC member and International Gymnastics Federation head Morinari Watanabe, to organise boxing in Tokyo. “Of course it is the most important thing for the athletes who have been training and preparing for this,” said John Coates, the man entrusted by the IOC to oversee the smooth running of the Games, following meetings in Tokyo. There is obviously much work to be done by Mr. Watanabe’s committee but we have got no doubt that with the cooperation of the organising committee we can meet the expectations and dreams of all athletes.” The IOC has made gender equality a priority leading into Tokyo 2020 yet at the last two Olympics there have been three boxing medal events for women and 10 for men.