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Thursday, March 28, 2024

IOC eyes new venue for boxing qualifier

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The International Olympic Committee Boxing Task Force has acknowledged the decision of the local organizing committee to cancel the Asian / Oceanian Tokyo 2020 Boxing Qualifying Event.

Mikee Cojuangco, the Philippine representative to the IOC, said this after she confirmed the cancellation of the qualification matches Task Force Head Morinari Watanabe.

Cojuangco has informed the Philippine Olympic Committee that the meet that was set from Feb. 3 to 14 in Wuhan has been canceled due to growing concerns in relation to the corona-virus outbreak that was reported in the city.

Because of this, the Task Force said in a statement that it will be working with the Chinese Olympic Committee and all partners to find an alternative venue for the qualifier.

POC spokesman Ed Picson said the Task Force will continue working closely with the Chinese Olympic Committee and all partners to explore alternatives.

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Picson said that with the Olympic qualification matches for Asia/Oceania called off, the Philippines could be one of its new hosts.

POC president and Tagaytay Rep. Abraham Tolentino has expressed interest in having the qualifiers held in the country, in support of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines’ efforts to make this happen.

The cancellation was made in response to numerous appeals from participating countries in order to protect the health and security of athletes and other attendees.

ABAP president Ricky Vargas has expressed his concern over the situation and was among those who have written a letter to the organizers.

Vargas said they are open to the idea of hosting the qualifiers.

The tournament was to be the first of the qualifying events for boxing being managed by the IOC, which suspended the sport’s world governing body AIBA last June over a range of issues including governance, ethics, refereeing and judging, as well as finance.

Besides being in charge of the qualifying, the IOC will also maintain control over the operation of the competition during the games in Tokyo.

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