(ATR) Plans for some of the operational details of boxing at the Tokyo Olympics are moving forward, despite warnings from the IOC that the sport could be suspended for 2020.
The IOC has raised concerns covering more than a dozen areas in the operation of AIBA, the International Boxing Federation. The IOC awaits a report on the outcome of the federation congress in Moscow Nov. 2-3 before deciding whether to take further action against AIBA.
This week AIBA Executive Director Tom Virgets, federation executive committee member Pat Fiacco and staff from the AIBA sports department took part in a three-day review of the ORIS operations in the works for Tokyo 2020. The working group met in Montreux, just east of Lausanne.
Others at the meeting included IOC results experts, a delegation from Tokyo 2020 and representatives from worldwide sponsors Omega and Atos. The Olympic Results Information Service is the backbone of the mass of data created by the competitions at the Olympic Games.
"The purpose of the meeting was to review and discuss the draft ORIS Document prepared by the ORIS team to support Boxing in Tokyo, working towards a final version to be used for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games," says a statement from AIBA headquarters in Lausanne.
The IOC has put the federation on its watch list since last December. The near bankruptcy of the federation, doubts about the integrity of judging and a leadership upheaval all have contributed to the IOC concerns.
IOC funding has been suspended as well as communications with the federation, except for matters relating to resolving the issues at hand.
For the just completed Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, members of the elected AIBA leadership were not granted credentials. Nonethless, AIBA officials, including executive director Virgets, were accredited to run the tournament. AIBA certified judges and referees handled the bouts, with the process monitored by accounting firm PWC. No incidents or irregularities have been reported.
The meeting of the working group for boxing is typical of planning of each sport in the Olympic Games. While there is a question about whether boxing will be included in Tokyo, the complexities and lead time needed to plan the results system cannot be put on hold for a possible IOC decision.
The IOC may also decide to keep boxing in Tokyo, but as was done in Buenos Aires this month, refuse to credential the federation leadership.
Reported by Ed Hula.
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