OpEd - A Tale of Two Boxing World Championships

(ATR) In 2007 and 2011, two boxing world championships were used to kickstart summer Olympic bids in Chicago and Baku, Azerbaijan. However, their similarities end there.

In 2007, the International Boxing Association, AIBA, heaped praise upon Chicago, who had just six months of prep time, Moscow failed to meet deadlines for the tournament.

Despite the short schedule, Chicago staged what can only be described as an excellent championship.

"This tournament will go down as the greatest world championships in the history of AIBA," said AIBA president C.K. Wu at the time.

Contrast that with Baku, with a top-ranking official telling Around the Rings the Baku world champs are "the worst in history." The statement was even more telling as competition had not begun.

Chief among the complaints, echoed by AIBA staff members who spoke to ATR, was a non-existent organizing committee. The official insisted that reporters write "the truth" about the event, meaning AIBA’s constant frustration with tournament organizers.

Seemingly little was done to make the Heydar Aliyev sport complex ready for the tournament.

On the night of the opening ceremony, wood cuttings were left in the grandstands and woodchips were strewn about on the seats. Litter from preparations was piled in the halls, and apathetic stadium staff ignored the mess. By the start of competition, all of it remained undisturbed.

Journalists were blocked from entering the venue for the opening ceremony by security. After a brief negotiation with someone who seemed to be a manager, they were let in.

During competition, substantial sections of the concourse and hallways were unlit. The only light spilling from cracks in the doors and security guards’ lit cigarettes as they stood off to the side.

Foreign teams became quickly acquainted with Azerbaijani business practices. Namely that even if given a pledge that a job will completed, usually no one will show up. The United States ambassador allegedly spoke to the U.S. team before competition began and warned them of the practice.

Baku 2020 is a sponsor of the event and nearly had a highly embarrassing protocol breach at the opening ceremony. A large banner covering a section of seats bore the emblem of the Baku 2020 Olympic bid —along with the OlympicRings. The 2020 campaign is still in the Applicant City phase, and bid cities at this stage are not allowed to use the rings with their logos. AIBA staff had the banner removed, saving the bid from a bit of ignominy.

In contrast, at the 2007 world champs, Chicago 2016 was cognizant of the restrictions placed on their promotion and only had a presence from World Sport Chicago, an organization dedicated to promoting Olympic sport in the Windy City.

Chicago organizers were also boosted by strong, vibrant crowds, thanks to the city’s multi-culturalheritage. Mongolian crowds were most memorable, with their chants of "Mon-Go-Lia" rocking the stands. The few spectators in Baku were napping or yawning.

Four years ago, the University of Illinois Chicago Pavilion was the paradigm of a good venue. Everything was well-lit, clean and clearly organized making it easy to navigate.

Chicago was a complaint-free tournament from the athletes as well. Wu told ATR following competition he did not receive a single complaint in any aspect from a boxer.

Following the 2007 world championships, Chicago 2016 used the event as a key selling point for the Olympics. The bid was quick to emphasize the success of the event with a short organizational timeframe. The boisterous international crowds were cited as proof that Chicago was Olympic-ready, ready to welcome the world.

It is unclear what, if anything, Baku 2020 will objectively be able to stand on following the tournament. With competition running until October 10, there is still plenty of time to right the ship, and erase concerns.

However, organizers seemed oblivious to the obvious faults with the tournament.

Aghajan Abiyev, secretary general of the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee and a key organizer of the Baku world championships dismissed the criticism saying: "I have been in this field since 1953. I think these championships are the best one.

"The organization is perfect," said Abiyev.

Written in Baku by Ed Hula III.