Boxing qualification for Olympics 2024

The Olympic Qualification System (OQS) for the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, newly developed and recently approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), defines the categories for Paris 2024. There will be 124 places for seven events on the men’s side and 124 places for six women’s events. IBA has combined most of the IBA’s 13 men’s and 12 women’s weight categories into the respective Olympic categories. 

The Olympic qualification period will run from 1 January 2023 to 31 May 2024. Qualification will take place in four phases and will see the finalists of the IBA Men’s and Women’s World Championships in 2023, the top fighters in the IBA and Olympic world rankings, and the winners of the last-chance Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The OQS has been designed to be the fairest ever. 

“As an International Association, we have had to take many viewpoints into consideration when formulating this system. I am sure, that after months of discussion and consultation, we have created a qualification system that provides a fair and equal chance to all would-be Olympic boxers. Importantly, it will be based on success at IBA events.” 

IBA President Umar Kremlev

While developing the OQS, IBA worked closely with the IOC Sports Department, IBA Committees, the continental confederations, athletes and the host country’s national federation.   

“We are very happy with the Olympic Qualification System that has been approved. It was very important to us that the system provided the athletes with flexibility, as well as multiple opportunities to qualify for the competition. And we are determined to ensure fair fights at the qualifying events on the road to Paris.” 

IBA Secretary General Istvan Kovacs 

Due to ongoing concerns raised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board, boxing is still facing an uphill battle to be included on the Olympic program for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

As the International Boxing Association (IBA) has already been stripped of the right to host qualification events and competitions, the IOC has approved a new qualification system that will be implemented for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Commonwealth Games - Boxing - Men’s Over 60kg-63.5kg Light Welter - Round of 16 - The NEC Hall 4, Birmingham, Britain - July 31, 2022 Bahamas' Rashield Williams in action during his round of 16 fight with Namibia's Jonas Junias Jonas REUTERS/Phil Noble

“Designed by the IOC in close collaboration with boxing experts, the new qualification system is based on direct qualification through selected competitions, including the use of National Olympic Committee (NOC) regional multi-sport events as Olympic boxing qualification tournaments,” the IOC stated after the Executive Board meeting on Thursday.

The qualification tournaments will be part of multi-sport events, where “the responsibility for the boxing competitions in the events will therefore not lie with the IBA, and alternative arrangements will be put in place with the respective event organizers,” the IOC said.

As a result, the IOC has decided to make the Asian Games and the Pacific Games as qualifying events for Paris 2024.

Likewise the 2023 Pan American Games - set to take place in Santiago, Chile, as well as the 2023 European Games in Poland, will also be designated as qualifying competitions.

The IOC outlined a similar competition structure for Africa to be confirmed after consultation with the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa.

The IOC also reviewed an updated report regarding the progress made by the IBA regarding ongoing concerns of governance, judging and financial structure.

“The IOC EB today received a report on the issues related to competition management and refereeing and judging processes highlighted by independent experts during the boxing competition at the recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Commonwealth Games - Women’s Over 70kg-75kg (Middleweight) - Final Bout - LocationThe NEC Hall 4, Birmingham, Britain - August 7, 2022 Canada's Tammara Thibeault in action during her fight against Mozambiques' Rady Adosinda Gramane REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

“It also noted that no clear efforts have been made by the IBA to respect and fully implement the roadmap set out by the IOC EB in December 2021 with regard to the IBA’s governance,” the IOC said in a release.

The IOC noted that the financial situation of the IBA is still not ideal due to its dependence on a state-owned Russian oil company.

The IOC also accused the IBA of hindering their own effectiveness by not establishing a proper administrative office in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The suspension of the IBA will continue, and the IOC will also send another formal letter to the organization informing the IBA of the concerns. The letter will also be shared with the national boxing federations and other national Olympic committees.

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