(APR 17)  The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has announced a comprehensive consultation with its major stakeholders

As part of its ‘New Foundation Plan’; whose main objective is to build a solid base for the future development of the organisation, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has invited its main stakeholders to voice their opinion on the future development of the organisation and the sport of Olympic Boxing.

This is something that most followers of the ‘former Amateur sport’ will welcome as many have said that for so long they were not being ‘heard’ by the organisation’s former regime – indeed some said that major were rarely if ever discussed let alone be agreed. Now is that opportunity and it would be most unfortunate if the ‘powers that be’ do not listen and take note of the recommendations agreed.

The AIBA confirms that :Stakeholders to be surveyed include the AIBA Executive Committee members, the AIBA Commissions members, the AIBA staff and all AIBA’s 203 National Federations. The survey results will serve as the basis for the ‘New Foundation Plan’ whose recommendations will be discussed during the AIBA Executive Committee meeting in July 2018.

Gafur Rahimov, AIBA Interim President (himself a controversial choice as Interim President) said: “As we entered a new era after the Extraordinary Congress, aiming to improve in many areas, we have a vision of a more prosperous AIBA that will benefit to all our stakeholders. It is therefore vital to involve our main stakeholders in the reshaping process of our organisation to make sure it reflects their opinions as accurately as possible.”

Tom Virgets, Executive Director, AIBA commented : “Involving all of AIBA’s main stakeholders is a big step towards more transparency and a better governance of our organisation. We believe that, by doing so, we will not only get valuable knowledge for the successful development of Olympic Boxing worldwide but we will also send the signal that we are making considerable positive changes in the way AIBA functions.”

The invitation to fill in the online questionnaire has been sent out to AIBA stakeholders on Thursday, 12th April 2018. The online survey will close on Sunday, 29th April 2018 and will be followed by a round of individual interviews and focus groups”.

That all sounds very positive and let us hope that the National Federations in all AIBA regions also seek out and listen to the views of members, not just their own President and Executives but also ‘rank and file’ members including boxers, coaches and most importantly clubs for these NOT the National Federation Executives, NOT the Continental Executives, are the ones who make boxing such an attractive sport for young men and increasingly women.

There must also be better ‘gender balance’ with many more females on National Federations board and on those of the various Commissions and International Executive Councils and NOT just the Women’s Commission.

WBAN fully supports all that we hope will be included in the forthcoming discussions but it is equally important that when final decisions are reached they are communicated to ALL the stakeholders in a timely fashion.

There are some extremely reliable experienced officials with the National Federations but they have remained silent for far too long – or felt there was little point in putting their views as they’d be ignored by the AIBA or Regional Federations.

This is a ‘once only’ consultation – failure to put forward your views now
or simply agree with your local Federation even if you disagree is NOT what the world of AIBA needs – it needs complete and total honesty from ALL its stakeholders.

Remember too that insofar as the Olympic Games is concerned the International Olympic Committee also needs to be convinced and it may well be that further changes in the AIBA hierarchy are expected, indeed demanded.

An Olympic Games without boxing is ‘unthinkable’ in the eyes of boxers, clubs and National Federations but the I.O.C has the final call as to whether boxing will be on the cards for Tokyo 2020 or indeed Paris 2024 is still very much in the ‘melting pot.