It could be good news for the Bermuda Boxing Federation as the International Boxing Association (AIBA) have unveiled a diversity in Boxing programme which they claim will be used to help national federations access various initiatives in the coming years.
A total of $1.05 million will be made available for federations each year, although an additional $209,000 is set to be on offer this year to ensure a positive start to the programme.
AIBA said the programme will be financed by one of their sponsors.
National federations will be able to apply from April, with AIBA then set to review and make final decisions on the applications.
The governing body stated that the financial support will be closely monitored with full disclosure given over allocation of the funds.
The initiative will mainly support schemes focused on good governance and organizational ethics programmes, AIBA said, with the organization’s own politics currently in turmoil.
Focus will also be placed on developing youth and women's boxing initiatives.
The latter is significant, with AIBA claiming that they will significantly increase the number of female boxers competing, having come under pressure from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to achieve greater gender equality.
The governing body’s assertions came after the IOC removed two weight categories from the men's competition to make way for two women's at Tokyo 2020.
AIBA had requested to the IOC that they maintain the 10 men's divisions at Tokyo 2020 by reducing the number of boxers in each weight category.
They requested five women's categories with 60 boxers and 10 men's categories with 226 boxers.
It would keep the number of female boxers in each division to 12, rather than 16.
A difference in ability between female boxers was cited as a possible health risk, and it is claimed it could reduce the quality of the event with possible mismatches.
AIBA claimed that the Tokyo 2020 tournament would be reflective of the number of registered male and female boxers, with 79 per cent currently male and 21 per cent female.
Despite AIBA’s protestations, the IOC maintained that their decision was final.
The diversity in boxing programme, perhaps, could be viewed as an attempt by AIBA to satisfy the IOC with boxing's place on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic programme currently in doubt.
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