(JAN 10)  Great news for Canada’s boxing stars and administrators with confirmation tonight that women’s boxing will be included in the 2023 Canada Games to be held on Prince Edward Island (P.E.I).

It is the first time that women’s boxing has been included in the Winter Games and Boxing Canada has been fighting hard for its inclusion. A statement from the Canada Games organisers tonight confirmed the news and the process.

“The Canada Games Council (CGC) is pleased to announce the final sports and disciplines selected for the 2023 Canada Winter Games that will be hosted in Prince Edward Island (PEI).

The CGC’s Sport Committee adhered to a transparent and objective sport selection process in which it analysed all sports and disciplines that wished to be included in the 2023 Canada Winter Games. The total number of sports/disciplines selected for the Games are based on a participant quota that each Games must follow.

“The Canada Games play a vital role in the growth of Canadian sport and have evolved to the point where more sports vie for inclusion than any specific Games could possibly include,” says Tom Quinn, Chairman of the Canada Games Council. “The Canada Games looks forward to continuing to build great partnerships among the governing bodies of the sports on the program as we plan towards the 2023 Canada Games.”

The CGC ran a sport selection process that included a core sport review following the 2015 Canada Winter Games, and an assessment sport selection process, in order to determine the final sport program for the 2023 Canada Winter Games.

The core sport review is designed to ensure that the Core sports remain aligned with the mission, vision and values of the Canada Games and the Canadian sport system. Core sports generally meet all of the goals of the Canada Games sport program and provide the Canada Games and the Provincial/Territorial Governments with a stable sport program. The core sport program accounts for up to 70% of the overall Games quota.

The assessment sport selection process is designed to identify sports that generally meet most of the goals of the Canada Games sport program, but that lack alignment in a minority of areas that don’t allow it to achieve core status. The assessment process provides sports not previously on the Canada Games sport program the opportunity to be selected for the program through an objective evaluation. The assessment sport selection process is used to select the remaining 30% of the Games quota.

The two new events are the women’s boxing program and mixed Curling. More news here on WBAN when we have it as to which weights will be on the program for these prestigious Championships. You will recall that P.E.I. last hosted the Games in 2009 for the summer edition. Those Games left the Island with a legacy of new and improved facilities, enhanced volunteer resources, financial returns from more than 15,000 visitors, and $81.5 million in economic activity.

“Hosting this prestigious national event creates numerous lasting benefits for a community,” said Tom Quinn, Canada Games Council chairman.

In addition to the Canada Games, 2023 also marks Prince Edward Island’s 150th Anniversary in joining the Confederation.

“2023 will be a year of celebrating our history and our culture in true Island style,” said Premier MacLauchlan. “The 2023 Canada Winter Games will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this important moment in our history, and a great way to kick off the yearlong anniversary celebrations.”

So WBAN congratulations not only the Games organisers and the people of Prince Edward Island but also Pat Fiacco and his team at Boxing Canada in recognising the ever increasing popularity of women’s boxing which will bring new hope to Canadian women of today and those who will by then be preparing too for the 2024 Olympic Games at a venue yet to be announced.