(AUG 5) In the 2012 Olympics in London
WBAN celebrated one of the most significant and important
history-firsts in the sport when for the first time female
boxers competed in the Olympics. There were three weight classes
that included flyweight (106-112 pounds), lightweight (123-132
pounds), and middleweight (152-165 pounds) division. The
success of the 2012 Olympics featuring these star athletics was
overwhelming.
AP/Jacksonville News:
Women's boxing a big hit in Olympics debut -Event draws rave
reviews and sold-out crowds in London - August 10, 2012
"LONDON — Women’s
boxing was a big hit in its first Olympics. It could get even
bigger in Rio. The debut tournament got rave reviews from
fans, boxers and Olympic officials who loved the sold-out crowds,
evenly matched bouts and the emergence of stars on the
international stage, including U.S. teenager Claressa Shields,
Ireland’s Katie Taylor and Britain’s Nicola Adams. IOC
President Jacques Rogge said he’s thrilled the competition
removed any doubt of the sport’s Olympic worthiness. AIBA
President Wu Ching-Kuo is determined to at least double the
Olympic field for the 2016 Games in Brazil."
Associated Press/Video -
Big Hit in 2012 London with Royalty, Celebrities Joining
"Enthusiastic" Fans in the Audience
he I.O.C. Olympic Charter
states: “The IOC encourages and supports the promotion of
women in sport at all levels and in all structures, with a view
to implementing the principle of equality of men and women."
So WBAN calls upon IOC President Rogge and AIBA President Dr. Wu
to meet as a matter of urgency and find a way to ensure that an
urgent solution is found before the next I.O.C. Executive Board
meets in Buenos Aires on September 4th.
Time is running out Gentlemen – those great women warriors who
served you so well and helped make London 2012 a huge success
wait to see if you can deliver those additional weights – for
President Rogge it would be a sad ending to his reign as I.O.C.
President if he is not able to convince his fellow EB members
and the AIBA’s Dr. Wu, who will well recall his own pride and
delight at the ExCeL a year ago today when he told waiting
journalists:
"It was always my great ambition to bring women's boxing to the
Olympic Games and now that is a reality." "It is a dream
come true for me and for our many women boxers who are here."
"It is a very proud moment for me." "All the effort I have put in to make this happen feels worth it
and I will continue to put all my efforts into helping improve
the sport and keeping it clean and transparent," said Dr. Wu.
So not for the first time in Olympic history, and probably not
for the last, the fate of those elite amateur female boxers who
delivered such stunning success at ExCeL lies in the hands of
the predominantly male International Olympic Committee and
especially the Presidents of the IOC and AIBA.
Women throughout the world will be waiting for a positive
announcement come September 4th, at the Hilton Hotel in
Buenos Aires.
“Where there is a will, there is a way”.
WBAN petitioned this issue entitled, "Increase weight classes
for female boxers in 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Let your voices be heard, go to:
WBAN Petition
WBAN
ON TWITTER -
