LAUSANNE, Switzerland, 28 October 2005 — A bid to introduce women’s boxing at the 2008 Beijing Games was rejected by the International Olympic Committee yesterday.
But the IOC continued its drive to increase the number of women competitors by raising participation in other sports. Women’s teams were increased from 10 to 12 in soccer, hockey and handball while a women’s 3,000 meters steeplechase will also be added to the program.
An open water 10km swimming race for men and women was also added to the Beijing line-up. “The decision was purely based on technical merit,” the IOC’s director of sport Kelly Fairweather said of the boxing ruling.
“The IOC did not feel it has reached the stage where it merits inclusion.”
The IOC left the door open for women’s boxing to be included at the London Games in 2012. Fairweather said boxing’s governing body could make a new bid in 2009.
