World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst has stressed that for the sport to return to the Olympics programme the entire boxing world has to unite. Van der Vorst was in New Delhi to garner support from the majority of the 45 Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) who were here to attend the 44th General Assembly.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) was derecognised by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) last year over failing to adhere to good governance principles, including questionable refereeing standards. Boxing was not included in the programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Speaking to the Tribune, the Dutch administrator said the new body has only till March next year to convince the IOC. “The IOC can only bring boxing back into the Olympics programme when there is an international federation that can take control of the sport,” van der Vorst said.
“World Boxing is the only pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympics. The programme of LA will be confirmed in the beginning of 2025, and in order to be re-included, there has to be an international body,” the honorary president of the Dutch Boxing Federation added.
“We have a very short time. We must have at least 50 national federations but that is not enough. We need to have diversity, so that’s why we are here to win more hearts in the Asian sporting world but also in Africa and in the regions that need to be developed,” he added.
“It is important to show that we can stand on our feet and not be dependent on the IOC funding. The governance statutes need to be good. In officiating, we need to show that the procedures are good for fair results and also explore modern technology,” he added.
The seasoned administrator was confident that boxing will stay in the Olympics. “The situation is unprecedented. After March, there won’t be any flexibility because the local organisers need to work with the venues. I am absolutely convinced that at the end of this year or early next year our hand will be raised and we will write one of the most remarkable comeback stories in the Olympics movement by getting boxing back on the programme for LA 2028,” he said.