Europe to Debate at AIBA Forum

(ATR) The next AIBA Continental Forum, this one for Europe, will convene this Saturday, February 27, virtually.

An update of the reform process promoted by its new Russian president, Umar Kremlev, will be a relevant point on the agenda.

The online appearance of the president of ASOIF, the Italian Franceso Ricci Bitti, with a dissertation on governance in sports organizations has been announced.

It is not ruled out that issues such as the new AIBA Committees, the development plan for the National Federations, and the competition calendar will occupy the attention of the delegates of the 50 member countries of the European Confederation.

However, it is also likely that the Olympic qualification process for Tokyo will be debated after the suspension of the Final World Qualifier that was to be held in Paris in June and the relocation of last year's interrupted European Qualifier in London to an as yet undetermined city.

AIBA has been excluded from any link with the organization of the pre-Olympic qualifiers and the Olympic tournament in Tokyo after the IOC withdrew its recognition in 2019.

Unlike official statements from previous IOC meetings, the AIBA issue was not included in the summary of the Executive Committee meeting this past Wednesday publicly revealed by President Thomas Bach in his online appearance.

The Forum of Europe will be held three days after Umar Kremlev sent a letter to Nenad Lalovic head of the IOC Special Monitoring Committee on the situation of AIBA, in a new chapter in the correspondence between the IOC and AIBA.

Kremlev's letter, to which Around the Ringshad access, was sent to all National Federations.

This exchange of correspondence confirmed the serious differences exposed by the Olympic body.

The election of Kremlev heads the list of IOC concerns. In this new letter, Kremlev responds to that and other considerations of the IOC. As was the case at the Forum of the Americas, the battle with the IOC could occupy the attention of the European meeting.

"The European continent is a leader in the development of boxing, which is a great responsibility for the entire world. I am sure that Europe will share its experience with other countries, and not only will the continent continue its progress, but it will also become a platform for the global development of boxing," said Kremlev in the lead up to this new Forum, a process scheduled for all five continents, interrupted in 2020 by the pandemic.

Europe is preparing to host two major AIBA competitions in 2021: the World Junior Championships in Kielce, Poland and the World Men's Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

"The first two AIBA World Championships will be hosted by Europe after the pandemic. The continent has been successful in hosting international tournaments during these challenging times, and I am confident that the major competitions will be carried out in the best possible way and all necessary security measures will be taken," added the AIBA President.

AIBA celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

"I'm sure we are on the right track," he said.

Homepage photo: AIBA

Reported and written by Miguel Hernandez

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