Tag: IOC

Olympic qualifier for American boxers canceled due to coronavirus

The Olympics qualifiers for the Americas, the final leg for boxers hoping to make the 2020 Tokyo games, has been cancelled…

The Olympic boxing qualifier for the Americas, scheduled to take place March 26 to April 3 in Buenos Aires, has been canceled because of the coronavirus.

The government of Argentina decided to “restrict all types of international events in the country with immediate effect as a precautionary measure to COVID-19,” according to a statement by the International Olympic Committee Boxing Task Force, the organization that took over for AIBA to oversee all boxing events for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“We are searching for the appropriate solution for this unexpected situation and will immediately inform the National Olympic Committees, National Federations and other impacted parties as soon as further information is available.”

The tournament, which is open to all boxers from North, South and Central America, is the last qualifier for boxers hoping to make the summer Tokyo Olympics. It is uncertain whether the IOC will move ahead with the Olympics. The games are scheduled to start July 24.

The BTF organizes qualifiers in five regions around the world but is unlikely to complete them all. The European qualifier is still scheduled to take place in London March 13-23, but a delay or cancellation is still a possibility. The final qualifier is scheduled for May 13 in Paris.

The BTF’s announcement was made Wednesday shortly before the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic. Later that same day, the NBA decided to suspend its season “until further notice” after one of its players, center Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, tested positive for the coronavirus.

Among many drastic steps taken by sports organizations worldwide, the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will be played without fans.

 

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Embattled AIBA mulls name change as part of reform

AIBA is looking to change its name after missing out on organizing the boxing tournament for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

AIBA, the embattled organization that oversees international amateur boxing, is mulling a name change after losing out on the opportunity to organize the boxing tournament for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

“There is a wish to reform, and a change of the name is also a part of reform,” Mohamed Moustahsane, AIBA’s interim president, said in a statement to the Associated Press. “It will be discussed at the next (executive committee) meeting to be presented at the Congress in March.”

The International Olympic Committee suspended AIBA in June 2019 for issues related to debt and governance and assumed the reins for overseeing the boxing competition of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

AIBA is reportedly at least $16 million in debt. AIBA’s last president Gafur Rakhimov, who has had alleged links to organized crime and drug trafficking, stepped down last July amid an IOC investigation. The U.S. Treasury Department accused Rakhimov of being “one of Uzbekistan’s leading criminals,” according to the Associated Press.

Moustahsane, who was voted in as interim president last March, noted to AP that he is working with AIBA’s creditors.

“It’s a heavy heritage, but I am confident that the creditors are fully aware of AIBA’s financial situation,” he said. “Chinese and Azerbaijani companies are our main creditors, the good thing is these countries are deeply involved in the sport, especially in boxing. I am sure that we will reach an agreement for the best interest of the sport.”

The boxing competition at the Tokyo Games begins July 25 and runs through Aug. 9.