Olympic Qualification System confirmed for Paris 2024

(1 April 2022) – The International Boxing Association (IBA) is proud to welcome the IOC Executive Board’s confirmation of the Olympic Qualification System (OQS) and categories for boxing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The IOC’s confirmation follows months of work aimed at ensuring this OQS is the fairest ever for boxing. 

IBA President Umar Kremlev commented: “IBA is very pleased with the results of our cooperation with the IOC in the development of this Olympic Qualification System, and for the IOC’s approval of the categories for the tournament. We are certain that all boxers aiming to reach Paris 2024 will benefit. The proposed Olympic Qualification System offers fairness, clarity and accessibility. They will have multiple opportunities to qualify. And there is flexibility because we have all learned the importance of this from the pandemic. We are also very grateful to the trust shown in IBA by the IOC in inviting us to develop a system that is based on performance at IBA events.” 

In developing the OQS and the categories for Paris 2024, IBA worked closely with the IOC Sports Department, the IBA Competitions, R&J and Athletes Committees, and Continental Confederation leaders. The OQS also defines the categories for Paris 2024, with the IOC having previously allocated 124 boxers for seven events on the men’s side and 124 boxers for six women’s events.  

IBA Secretary General and Olympic boxing champion István Kovács stated: “I would like to thank the IOC for the way in which they have given us this opportunity and for their cooperation of the past few months. They have enabled this operation to go as smoothly as it could, and for that we are immensely grateful. I am confident in saying we have created the fairest Olympic Qualification System possible for the best possible categories. We took many variables into consideration, to allow athletes from all continents the chance to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.” 

IBA continues to deliver further improvements to be in governance, sporting, and financial integrity, with elections due to take place in May 2022.