IOC Approves World Boxing, Enlisting Boxing for 2028 Games in Los Angeles

The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved boxing for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28) sports program.

IOC President Thomas Bach announced the new at Monday's IOC EB Press Conference in Costa Navarino, Greece.

The IOC will now vote to approve the EB's proposal this week.

Bach said: "After the provisional recognition of World Boxing in February, then we were in the position to take this decision."

"This recommendation is of course to go to the session but I am very confident the session will approve it so that all the boxers of the world then have certainty that they can participate in the Olympic Games in LA."

The decision still needs to be approved by a full IOC Session of about 100 members later this week, but that is expected to be a formality. 

The IOC stepped in to organize the boxing tournaments at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the Paris Olympics last year after breaking with the International Boxing Association over financial, and governance matters. 

Founded in 2023, World Boxing received official recognition from the IOC last month, then released a statement welcoming the decision quoting its president, Boris van der Vorst.

"This is a very significant and important decision for Olympic boxing and takes the sport one step closer to being restored to the Olympic programme. I have no doubt it will be very positively received by everyone connected with boxing, at every level throughout the world, who understands the critical importance to the future of the sport of boxing continuing to remain a part of the Olympic Movement," said van der Vorst. "On behalf of everyone at World Boxing, I would like to thank the EB of the IOC for the trust they have placed in our organization and we hope for a positive outcome when the IOC Session meets this week. World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege and not a right and I assure the IOC that if boxing is restored to the program for LA28, World Boxing is completely committed to being a trustworthy and reliable partner that will adhere to and uphold the values of the Olympic Charter."