On the Scene -- Baku World Championships "Worst in History" Says Boxing Official

(ATR) A high-ranking official with the International Boxing Association AIBA tells Around the Rings the 2011 World Championships in Baku are "the worst in history."

The official, who asked not to be named, said that on the opening day of competition, many vital services related to the championships were missing, including a very critical one for a combat sport –an ambulance.

"You can have everything else but without this, you cannot start."

Indeed, the competition, originally scheduled to start at 3 p.m., instead began at 3:30 p.m.

Luiz Boselli, AIBA’s international technical official for the event, said he couldn’t remember a championship ever being delayed.

The onus for finalizing these details falls to the local organizing committee. However, when asked about the LOC’s involvement, the official said: "They aren’t here."

In what may be a sign of the LOC’s lack of involvement, AIBA secretary general Ho Kim was seen arranging ad placards and ensuring ringside necessities were in place, tasks normally fulfilled by individuals in substantially lower positions.

While AIBA officials may lament the lack of organization, event organizers see nothing wrong with the championships.

Aghajan Abiyev, secretary general of the Azerbaijan NationalOlympic Committee and a top official with the national boxing federation, said all is well when asked about the criticism.

"I have been in this field since 1953," he told ATR. "I think these championships are the best one.

"The organization is perfect."

Boselli said he hopes the tournament improves as it progresses.

"It’s very difficult. I hope the organizing committee works very hard to improve.

The poor level of organization surprised Boselli, he said. He was in Baku last year for the AIBA junior world championships, he added, and they were well-organized.

"For me it’s a big surprise because the people have a lot of experience with big events. For today there may be some internal problems, I don’t know. I know these people, they’re the same."

When asked if he could pinpoint what specifically was the problem with the event, he said to ask the LOC.

"For me I have only the problems," he told ATR."The answer is with the organizing committee.

"I don’t know why."

Adding to organizers' woes, not even 200 spectators were present for Monday's matches, and many in the seats were napping or yawning.

Written and reported in Baku by Ed Hula III.