IOC President Hails Women's Boxing Gold, Says Bolt Not Yet "Living Legend"

(ATR) Jacques Rogge says the IOC’s decision to include women’s boxing in the London Olympic program has been vindicated following the ecstatic scenes that greeted Nicola Adams’ gold medal for Britain.

Adams, 29, was all smiles Thursday as she became women’s boxing’s first Olympic champion, defeating China’s Ren Cancan in emphatic style at the ExCeL arena. With a flurry of big punches in five rounds, she won 16-7.

"I think it was fantastic. I am a very happy man," Rogge told a small group of reporters including Around the Rings soon after the bout.

"There has been some criticism of whether women should box and there was a lot of criticism of the level of their technique.I think we have been vindicated that it was a good decision – and it’s only the beginning."

Minutes after Adam’s victory, a smiling boxing federation chief C.K. Wu said he was "very happy", describing it as "the most important moment in AIBA history".

IOC vice president Nawal El Moutawakel was also in attendance along with Swedish IOC member Gunilla Lindberg.

El Moutawakel said: "The combat was fantastic, highly skilled. I am so happy that a U.K. girl won."

She said it was a "huge step" forward for the Olympic Movement, a reminder of what her historic win in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1984 LA Olympics did for women in sport.

Lindberg was delighted, too: "We have been looking forward to having the same [numbers of] men and women [in boxing] so now we have it."

Rogge and his wife Anne sat next to C. K. Wu to watch boxing history being made. They were joined by a galaxy of other IOC members and star names from the worlds of sport and entertainment. Among them were Princess Anne, Thomas Bach of Germany, LOCOG chief executive Paul Deighton and sports director Debbie Jevans.

Adams, who lists Olympic Gold medallists Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammed Ali among her heroes, was roared to victory by GB fans and the vast hordes of Irish fans crammed into the arena. The Irish contingent was in jubilant mood, too. When Katie Taylor beat Russia’s Sofya Ochigava in a hard-fought 10-8 win to seal Ireland's first gold medal of the 2012 Olympics, the crowd was in raptures.

Rogge said the first golds in women’s boxing would send a positive message to girls and women around the world. He also highlighted the reaction to Saudi Arabia’s female runner in the 800m who received a standing ovation.

"We are fighting a right course," Rogge said referring to the IOC’s push for gender equality at the Olympics.

"I think it is a strong message that will reverberate around the world. More women will start in sports clubs… sports organizations will take women more seriously."

He said the introduction of women’s boxing would be part of his legacy as IOC leader.

Echoing comments made in his opening ceremony speech, he said the fact that all 204 NOCs had sent women to compete at London 2012 – a first for the Olympics – was a major positive.

The London Olympics are Rogge’s sixth and final Games before he steps down in September 2013. He described them as "very successful". Rogge was asked to rate the Games but said he would reserve final judgement until the closing ceremony.

But the Belgian admitted that the many athletes he had spoken with in the Olympic Village had told him they were "ecstatic about the village and venues".

Rogge singled out Ben Ainslie’s gold as his standout moment. The Brit won gold in the Finn class to earn the highest praise from Rogge who called him the "greatest sailor of all time".

Having visited all 26 Olympic sports and chatted with their respective federation presidents, Rogge said "none has complained whatsoever. On the contrary many have said that these were the best venues they have ever had".

Rogge also admitted surprise at the smoothness of Games operations, the way LOCOG and transport bosses have coped with huge crowds and the enthusiasm of fans.

"The enthusiasm of the crowds exceeds my expectations. I did not expect such a response," he said.

In comments about Usain Bolt, which came just hours before the Jamaican won the 200m to claim an unprecedented double double – winning the 100m and 200m titles in Beijing and London – Rogge was quick to emphasize that the sprint great was not yet a living legend

"The career of Usain Bolt has to be judged when it stops," Rogge said, noting the achievements of US star Carl Lewis across five Olympics.

"Let Usain Bolt be free of injury, let him keep his motivation which I think will be the case. Let him participate in three or four Games and [then] he can be a living legend. Already he is an icon."

Reported by Mark Bisson.

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.