AIBA Pleased With Reform Process -- Federation Focus

(ATR) The AIBA executive committee bureau says it is pleased with the boxing federation’s progress on the reforms that will keep it in the good graces of the IOC.

AIBA’s interim president applauded the efforts of the bureau.

"I continue to be impressed by the dedication and commitment of the members of the Executive Committee Bureau, and how well these individuals are assisting the AIBA Headquarters in meeting IOC mandates and offering quality customer service to our AIBA family," Gafur Rahimov said in a statement.

Rahimov reported on the current status of the settlement between Benkons and AIBA. Benkons had loaned AIBA $10 million and the boxing federation admits it would have faced bankruptcy had the two sides not reached an out-of-court settlement in January. The two sides have since been working on what AIBA calls a "win-win" solution.

The EC bureau calls AIBA’s financial situation "challenging but manageable".

This week’s meeting also touched on topics such as the mixed doubles boxing initiative, the next report due to the IOC, and the current situation AIBA faces with WADA regarding the 2019 World Championships.

The EC Bureau also agreed to forward a proposal to name an ethics commission chair for ratification at the next Executive Committee meeting, scheduled for next month.

FIS Issues Safe Sport Policy

FIS reveals the Snow Safe Policy, setting out the international ski federation’s guidelines to ensure safe sport for all.

The FIS, in a statement, says the Snow Safe policy aims to "promote good practice; provide all athletes with appropriate safety and protection whilst involved in activities under the jurisdiction of FIS, NSAs and Organisers of FIS major events; and to allow staff and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific safeguarding and athlete/child protection issues."

FIS says it is strongly encouraging all NSAs to adopt the general principles of Safeguarding by defining their own Policies and Procedures in accordance with their own national legal framework.

The kick-off workshop to support NSAs with their own policy will be run at the FIS Technical Committee Meetings, in conjunction with the Youth & Children’s Seminar on September 26. All nations are strongly advised to send a representative to this workshop.

IAAF Runs Miles Worldwide

Elite runners will be working to clock their fastest miles starting in Auckland, New Zealand and ending in Vancouver, Canada to celebrate Global Running Day.

The International Association of Athletics spearheaded an event in 24 cities across 15 time-zones worldwide to organize the 24:1 run. Each hour a team captain will run one mile in cities across six continents. The goal of the campaign is to "outrun the sun" to celebrate Global Running Day, the IAAF says.

"Running is accessible to everyone," Seb Coe, IAAF President said in a statement about the event. "It can be fun, competitive, social or solitary. Together with our Member Federations and our athletes we want to find new ways to inspire individuals and communities to get involved with athletics."

The day started in Auckland, New Zealand before going to Melbourne; Tokyo; Beijing; Bangkok, Thailand; Delhi, India; Minsk, Belarus; Ramallah, Palestine; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Johannesburg, South Africa; Nice, France; Berlin; London, Rabat, Morocco; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Cape Verde; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Buenos Aires; Havana, Cuba; Toronto, Canada; Lima, Peru; Mexico City; Los Angeles; and finally to Vancouver.

New Bodyweight Categories for IWF

The International Weightlifting Federation is closer to determining new bodyweight categories for both men and women.

The final phase of the project to determine 20 new weight classes, divided equally between the sexes, began in Budapest late last week.The IWF says the effort is designed to "provide greater athletic opportunities, improve inclusivity and enhance competition".

The IWF Bodyweight Categories Working Group reviewed a wide range of proposals submitted by IWF stakeholders and reached agreement on the 10 categories for each gender through a number of factors based on scientific and statistical evidence.

The group’s proposal will now be submitted to the IWF Committees and Executive Board at the next meeting in July.

"Over the course of our history we have made several changes to the bodyweight categories in order to adapt to the latest scientific understanding of the human body and the progress of the sport," IWF president Tamas Ajan said in a statement. "We think now is the right time for us to again review the bodyweight categories."

The seven men’s and seven women’s medal events for Tokyo 2020 will be drawn from the 10 men’s and 10 women’s bodyweight categories once they have been agreed.

Written by Gerard Farek and Aaron Bauer

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