Post by Dee Williams on Mar 8, 2009 20:57:15 GMT -5
The fight goes on for women’s boxing
Sunday, March 01, 2009
By Linda Maher
Sunday Business Post (Ireland)
Irish boxing star Katie Taylor received a boost last week with the news that the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) has voted to send the International Olympic Committee (IOC) a proposal to include women’s boxing in the 2012 Olympics.
However, the proposal is still a long way from becoming a reality, as it also includes a recommendation to streamline the men’s weight categories. This is because, if women’s boxing is allowed, it must have the same weight categories as the men. For that to happen, the men’s categories will have to be cut, rather than the women’s categories being increased, and this is likely to meet huge opposition.
“I’m not as confident as I was before,” said Pat Hickey, president of the Olympic Council of Ireland.
“I didn’t know about these weight categories at the time. It all only happened in the last month. If the men are threatened to be cut any more, the AIBA will have to call its own AGM to ask each country if they are prepared to accept that. So it’s much more complicated.
“I thought it was a clear thing, that whatever weight categories proposed would be accepted. But if they don’t provide the same weight categories as the men, that’s seen as discrimination.”
Ironically, Ireland could be one of the countries that would oppose a reduction in the men’s weight categories, as we always send big and varied teams to the Olympics. The OCI will, however, fight to win the decision on behalf of Taylor. The decision will ultimately be made by the IOC’s executive committee, which is not thought to contain many – if any – supporters of amateur boxing. So Taylor is back in limbo with regards to competing in London.
Go to link below for more ...
www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=NEWS+FEATURES-qqqm=nav-qqqid=39955-qqqx=1.asp
Sunday, March 01, 2009
By Linda Maher
Sunday Business Post (Ireland)
Irish boxing star Katie Taylor received a boost last week with the news that the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) has voted to send the International Olympic Committee (IOC) a proposal to include women’s boxing in the 2012 Olympics.
However, the proposal is still a long way from becoming a reality, as it also includes a recommendation to streamline the men’s weight categories. This is because, if women’s boxing is allowed, it must have the same weight categories as the men. For that to happen, the men’s categories will have to be cut, rather than the women’s categories being increased, and this is likely to meet huge opposition.
“I’m not as confident as I was before,” said Pat Hickey, president of the Olympic Council of Ireland.
“I didn’t know about these weight categories at the time. It all only happened in the last month. If the men are threatened to be cut any more, the AIBA will have to call its own AGM to ask each country if they are prepared to accept that. So it’s much more complicated.
“I thought it was a clear thing, that whatever weight categories proposed would be accepted. But if they don’t provide the same weight categories as the men, that’s seen as discrimination.”
Ironically, Ireland could be one of the countries that would oppose a reduction in the men’s weight categories, as we always send big and varied teams to the Olympics. The OCI will, however, fight to win the decision on behalf of Taylor. The decision will ultimately be made by the IOC’s executive committee, which is not thought to contain many – if any – supporters of amateur boxing. So Taylor is back in limbo with regards to competing in London.
Go to link below for more ...
www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=NEWS+FEATURES-qqqm=nav-qqqid=39955-qqqx=1.asp
