(MAY 1) Just 463 days to the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and today comes news from the International Boxing Association (AIBA) of the final qualification details including deadlines:

Rio 2016 Olympic Games Qualification System and Boxers’ Eligibility.

April 25, 2015 – Completion of WSB Individual Ranking via 2015 Regular Season (males only)

April 2015 – AIBA to inform NOCs of their allocated quota places from the WSB Individual Ranking, not requesting their confirmation(s)

September 18 – 19, 2015 APB World Ranking Cycle I in 2015 (male & female)

October 5 – 18, 2015 – AIBA World Boxing Championships Doha 2015 (Qatar) (male only)

October 15, 2015 – IOC to contact all NOCs eligible to apply for Tripartite Commission Invitation Places

October 23 – November 20, 2015 – AIBA to inform each NOC with the list of qualified boxer(s) requesting its confirmation(s)

By December 4, 2015 at the latest – NOCs to confirm their use of allocated quota places from the AIBA World Boxing Championships, WSB Individual Ranking or APB World Ranking to AIBA (within 2 weeks)

January 15, 2016 – Deadline for NOCs to submit their requests for Tripartite Commission Invitation Places

February 1 – 14, – 2016 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships Astana 2016 (Kazakhstan) (First Qualifier for Women)

March 8 – 20, 2016 – AIBA American Continental Olympic Qualifying Competition for Men and Women (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

March 9 – 20, 2016 – AIBA African Continental Olympic Qualifying Competition for Men and Women (Yaoundé, Cameroon)

March 23 – April 3, 2016 – AIBA Asian & Oceania Continental Olympic Qualifying Competition for Men and Women (Qian’an, China)

April 20 – May 1, 2016 – AIBA European Continental Olympic Qualifying Competition for Men and Women (Istanbul, Turkey)

May 13 – 22, 2016 – APB /WSB Olympic Qualifying Event (Sofia, Bulgaria) (male only)

June 7 – 19, 2016 – Final AOB World Olympic Qualifying Event (Baku, Azerbaijan)

In relation to the end of the qualification period for each sport – The Tripartite Commission will confirm, in writing, the allocation of Invitation Places to NOCs

July 18 2016 – Rio 2016 sport entries deadline (by NOCs)

NOC = National Olympic Committee

Anyone requiring tickets (all events) or full information regarding the schedule of events (all sports) check here: (official ticketing site) Link 

Boxers and their family & supporters should also check with their own National Federation just in case your country is organising any
Special rates or tours for its members – no guarantee but worth checking.

There are also fully authorised (by Rio 2016) Ticket Resellers in many countries so another avenue to explore if you are planning to attend  Link

AIBA letter to National Boxing Federations (all countries) Link

As we know – and though it is painful to have to repeat it again and again - there will be but the three women’s weight divisions as in London 2012. Be assured that WBAN will continue to fight the good fight until true equality is achieved and then – and only then - can the IOC and AIBA truthfully say they have met their obligations as outlined in the Olympic Charter and Olympic Oath.

Both organisations received our invitation to put forward their proposals for the future of women’s boxing inc the ‘weights’ issue but thus far no response.

Sad but hardly a surprise. It would, we must admit,be difficult for any organisation to put forward a detailed response 'defending the indefensible'