IOC ousts International Boxing Association from Olympic Movement but boxing remains in 2024 and 2028 Olympics

The extraordinary IOC Session held on June 22 in Lausanne (Photo by IOC/Greg Martin)

By Chibuogwu Nnadiegbulam - AIPS Media

LAUSANNE, June 22, 2023 – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has finally run out of patience with the International Boxing Association (IBA) after 69 members voted in favour of expelling the body of amateur boxing from the Olympic Movement on June 22 at an extraordinary IOC Session in Lausanne. There was one vote against and ten abstentions. However, boxing would remain on the sports programme of the 2024 and 2028 Olympics.

NO PROBLEM WITH BOXING “We do not have a problem with boxing, we do not have a problem with boxers,” IOC President Thomas Bach said. “On the contrary, we appreciate the boxers for living the values of their sport. If we had a problem with boxers there would not have been a competition in Tokyo. There would be no boxing competition in Paris.”

SUSPENSION IN 2019 Back in 2019, the IOC Session had suspended the IOC’s recognition of the IBA, then called AIBA, due to severe concerns over judging and refereeing, financial stability and governance amid countless allegations of corruption under its former president CK Wu.

According to the IOC, “such decision noted that, although there were sufficient grounds to withdraw AIBA’s recognition, for the protection of boxing athletes and the maintenance of boxing as a sport at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the IOC Session was willing to provide AIBA with an exceptional opportunity to restore its full compliance with OC Rule 25 and the IOC Code of Ethics.”

LACK OF DRASTIC EVOLUTION However, the IBA, led by Russian Umar Kremlev since 2020, has failed to address the concerns raised, the IOC said. In a 24-page report dated June 2 the Olympic body had established that the IBA had failed to fulfil the conditions it set for the IBA to regain its Olympic status. The report concluded: “The accumulation of all of these points, and the constant lack of drastic evolution throughout the many years, creates a situation of no-return.”

IOC EB RECOMMENDATION The IOC Executive Board approved the report, recommended to the IOC Session to withdraw recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA), and convened an Extraordinary IOC Session to discuss the matter and take a decision. "The IBA had already appealed to CAS concerning the recommendation of the IOC EB. The IOC successfully opposed this request. As there is now a new opportunity to appeal, the IOC is not in a position to comment further on the situation," the IOC stated.

Today’s seismic move brings the stand-off between the IOC and the IBA to an end. On June 20, the IOC released a statement condemning the “violent and threatening language used by the President of the International Boxing Association (IBA), Umar Kremlev, against a number of individuals from the IOC.”

"WE VALUE BOXING" The IOC President Thomas Bach said: "We highly value the sport of boxing but unfortunately we have an extremelyserious problem with the IBA because of their governance. We believe the boxers deserve to be governed by an international federation with integrity and transparency."

The IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper added: "The IOC has constantly and patiently tried to help in the three areas of concern. There has been a constant lack of drastic revolution throughout the many years. It is a situation of no return. The only conclusion is to withdraw recognition."

AIPS

Ghana will be presenting the youngest set of athletes (Under 17, 18, 21 year olds) in Open Water Swimming and fast emerging Teqball disciplines at the 2^nd African Beach Games in Hammamet, Tunisia.

Ghana has also brought the smallest contingent of just four athletes in line with *"The Future"* theme of the Games.

According to GOC Communications Director / Chairman of Ghana Beach Soccer, this is to allow Team Ghana to explore and learn as much as possible for the next Games by which time more qualification slots would be secured.

52 countries announce their presence in Hammamet in Tunisia, more than 1,100 athletes have confirmed their participation and 500 officials will be involved and 300 volunteers mobilized for the 2nd African Beach Games. From June 23 to 30, 2023, the Yasmine Hammamet station will welcome beautiful people for a very strong moment in sport and African Olympism

Daily updates on Team Ghana's participation and progress will be captured via *The African Beach Games Updates* across Television and Social Media platforms of the GOC plus media partners.

Source GOC Communications

GOC President Ben Nunoo Mensah inspires Black Meteors to qualify for Paris 2024

President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah has sent words of inspiration to the National Under 23 team, the Black Meteors who are competing for one of the tree places at the Afcon u23 to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games - Men’s Football slots.

Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah said he believes in the technical men as well as the players chosen because they are the best at the moment and they have the quality to win all their matches.

He advised them to take every match serious as a cup final and be courageous and positive minded.

He urged them not to be complasent, but concentrate for the whole duration of the games.

“Ghana has not qualified for football at the Olympic Games since 2004 and I will be happy and proud that in my era we won bronze in boxing in Tokyo 2020 and we will do well again in Paris 2024 with football” he said.

According to the GOC President if Football qualifies, there would be attention on the Olympic Team and hopes they make it.

Ghana will meet Congo, Morocco and Guinea at the group stage.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

With less than three days to kick-off of the TotalEnergies CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2023, the official poster of the competition has been launched amidst fanfare.

The opening match of the competition will be played in Rabat on 24 June 2023 between hosts, Morocco and Guinea.

The TotalEnergies CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations is a Qualifier for the Summer Olympics, Paris 2024. This is the second TotalEnergies CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations to be played in Morocco since the tournament was introduced in 2011.

The poster was carefully designed to illustrate the hand of a footballer holding the coveted trophy, which also embodies the quest to pursue continental supremacy.

The green rays of the illustration symbolise the lush green lawns of Africa, while the red displays the passion of the competing nations along with the colours of the host country’s national flag.

The Stadiums:

Two Stadiums will be used for the competition. They are the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium as well as the Ibn-Batouta Stadium, commonly known as the Grand Stade de Tanger

Groups:

Group A: Morocco, Ghana, Congo, Guinea

Group B: Egypt, Mali, Gabon, Niger

For more information on the TotalEnergies CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2023, kindly visit www.cafonline.com.

CAF COMMUNICATION

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This year's Women In Sports Association (WISA) Achievers Awards has been fixed for Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the Media Center of the Accra Sports Stadium.

32 outstanding sports Personalities and organizations will be honoured for their achievements and contributions to Ghana Sports in the year under review.

According to Madam Gloria Commodore, President of WISA, the awardees were specifically and specially nominated and selected by competent and well researched jury.

She said sports is an area that companies must invest in because it is a tool for advertising, marketing, social responsibility and recreation as well as entertainment.

“This is the ninth edition and we thank the National Sports Authority (NSA), SWAG, Ghandour Cosmetics and other sponsors for the support. We still need more sponsorship and support” she said.

Leticia Amanua Ankrah is a boxer,  one of the nominees for an award in Boxing.

WISA has been encouraging various sports disciplines, especially the least finance, and Madam Commodore appeals for sponsorship and support of any form to help carry out WISA activities.

Leticia Amanua Ankrah of Akotoku Boxing Academy is one of the amazing female boxers in James Town, Accra, Ghana.

She is very committed and dedicated to Boxing, which has propelled her to this great height.

After a brief amateur experience she joined the professional ranks and has since performed marvelously to attract many admirers.

She is an inspiration to many people with her courage and hard work, thus WISA will confer on her 'Best Female Boxer 2023'.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The African Beach Games is a continental multi-sport event held among athletes from the African continent.

Dubbed "The Future", these Games are organized under the governance of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA)

This year, the exotic and rejuvenated Eastern coastal town of Hammamet will host the Games from 23rd to 30th June 2023.

The event brings together over 1,000 athletes representing 49 African countries, competing in 15 Beach Sports disciplines.

The games will be supported by at least 1,000 volunteers and over 10,000 spectators a day.

A comprehensive Beach Tourism schedule of cultural and recreational programmes will be held alongside the beach sports fiesta.

Ghana will be presenting the youngest set of athletes (Under 17, 18, 21 year olds) in Open Water Swimming and fast emerging Teqball disciplines.

Ghana has also brought the smallest contingent of just four athletes in line with *"The Future"* theme of the Games.

This is to allow Team Ghana to explore and learn as much as possible for the next Games by which time more qualification slots would be secured.

Daily updates on Team Ghana's participation and progress will be captured via *The African Beach Games Updates* across Television and Social Media platforms of the GOC plus media partners.

By Yaw Ampofo Ankrah / Ghana Representative

Cristiano Ronaldo of  Portugal awarded by the Guinness World Record for the most international caps by a men’s international player – 200 matches.

Ghana is set to host the first African Open Jiu-Jutsu Championship, scheduled to take place in Accra on 15-16 of July, 2023.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) said they are ready to organize the prestigious event for the first time in Ghana to boost sports tourism.

Mr. Maxwell Borketey, President of the Ghana Jiu-Jutsu Federation and his members visited the Professor Peter Twumasi, the Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) to seek support for organizing the championship.

Over 16 African countries have expressed interest in participating, and the championship is poised to attract a strong field of competitors and officials.

The event is open to other athletes from around the world, extending beyond the African continent.

Mr. Borketey said Ghana’s potential for success in the championship, highlighting the privilege of having Mr. Daniel Earl, an experienced coach from the United States of America (USA), as part of the team’s coaching staff during the competition.

He appealed for support from the NSA to ensure a successful hosting of the championship, and a test for the nation as the 13^th African Games approach.

Prof. Peter Twumasi assured the Ghana Jiu-Jutsu Federation of their support.

“The NSA will collaborate with the federation in providing necessary guidelines to facilitate a smooth and successful hosting of the championship,” he expressed

By Sammy Heywood Okine.

Ibrahim Tanko says he is optimistic about the chances of the Black Meteors qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games by finishing in the first three of the upcoming U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The West African country is aiming to return to the global competition having last represented in 2004 and are preparing for the AFCON which serves as the qualification grounds for the championship.

Ghana narrowly missed out in 2019 when they lost their third-place playoff match to South Africa extending their absence in the renowned competition.

However, the team is poised to give their all to finally bring a possible end to their hiatus as they continue preparations for the tournament which will be held in Morocco later this year.

As part of their preparations, Ghana held Egypt to a pulsating 1-1 draw at the Alexandria Stadium.

On Tuesday, the team wrapped up their preparations ahead of the tournament with a 4-1 win over Egyptian side, Zamalek.

According to him, the performance of the players was enough to be hopeful of going a step further than in 2019.

“I think it’s a very good experience. We missed out on qualifying for [the Tokyo Olympic Games] Japan with one penalty but when I look at this squad I’m very hopeful that we are going to make it this time,” he stated after the game.

“And when I look at the game today and those who are yet to join us, I think this time we are going to make it.

“The target is to qualify to the Olympic Games but there is a cup also to win so we will do our best to win the cup but if by doing so but if we finish second or third and qualify, I think it is all good.

Ghana will arrive in Morocco for the tournament later today.

The Black Stars have been housed in Group A alongside Morocco, Guinea and Congo.

The U23 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2023 will take place between 24 June to 08 July 2023 in the cities of Rabat and Tangier.

From Elizabeth Alhassan Gyamfi