The 2028 Los Angeles Games schedule will see Boxing added to it after the International Olympic Committee unanimously voted for it to be included in the programme.
Boxing was not part of the programme for the next Olympics when the schedule was first announced in 2022 However, the IOC granted provisional recognition for World Boxing as the sport’s global body last month before voting for its inclusion at the organization’s 144th session in Greece.
The sport has featured at every Olympic Games since 1904 except 1912, but the IOC has been administering the sport at the past two editions after the International Boxing Association (IBA) was suspended in 2019 over governance, finance, refereeing and ethical issues.
Russia-led IBA was subsequently stripped of its status in June 2023, over a failure to implement reforms. New governing body World Boxing has recently taken over the organisation of the sport in the Olympics, since the suspension of the International Boxing Association.
Outgoing president of the IOC Thomas Bach said: “I thank you for the approval of having boxing back. We can look forward to a great boxing tournament.”
World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst also added: “This is a great day for boxers, boxing and everyone connected with our sport at every level across the world.”
“World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege and not a right and we are determined to be a trustworthy and reliable partner that will adhere to and uphold the values of the Olympic Movement.”
World Boxing which was formed in April 2023, now has 84 members across five continents.
The IOC stated that only athletes whose national federations are members of World Boxing by the time of the start of the qualification events for the 2028 Olympics can take part in the Los Angeles Games.
The dates for the qualifying period are yet to be confirmed.