Boxing Road to Tokyo 2020 - Athlete Ambassadors Group announced

Ten Athlete Ambassadors have been appointed by the Olympic Boxing Task Force (BTF) to engage with and represent boxers in the lead-up to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. One female and one male Ambassador per region will take on the role of engaging with the boxing community both in person and digitally. They will also help the BTF take into account the athletes’ voice in all areas of its planning for the qualification events and the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

More information can be found on the Athlete365 boxing web page.

Morinari Watanabe, IOC Member and Chair of the Boxing Task Force, said: “In all of the work of the Boxing Task Force we want to put boxers first. We are delighted with this group of diverse and inspirational athletes who make up the Athlete Ambassadors, and look forward to working closely with them in all areas of our decisions and event planning to make sure the athletes are not only at the centre of our work, but also actively engaged in it.”

The creation of an Athlete Ambassadors Group was announced on 30 August 2019, and the first step for athletes to be selected by the BTF was a joint nomination by the respective National Olympic Committee (NOC), NOC Athletes’ Commission and National Federation (NF).

Other requirements included having competed at international competitions in the past four years; being born no later than 31 December 2001; being an amateur or professional boxer; and not having incurred any measure or sanction in relation to any violation of the Olympic Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics, the World Anti-Doping Code or other applicable regulations issued by the IOC, an International Federation (IF), an NF or an NOC.

The candidates had to have engaging personalities to be able to communicate effectively with the boxing athlete community, understand their issues and help the BTF ensure a memorable athlete experience.

“The role of the athletes is more important than ever in sport, and having a truly global and gender equal group of incredible boxers puts the athletes at the centre of our work on the Boxing Road to Tokyo,” said Aya Mahmoud Medany, IOC Athletes’ Commission member and Boxing Task Force member. “I am looking forward to working with them and engaging with boxers from around the world each step of the way to Tokyo.”  

The BTF is responsible for delivering a clear, fair and transparent pathway for boxers to qualify for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and ensuring a fair and just competition. Its creation followed the suspension of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and was recommended by the IOC Executive Board (EB) on 22 May 2019, approved by the IOC Session on 26 June 2019.

The BTF is working on the organisation of the four Continental Qualification Events and one World Olympic Qualification Event, which will take place from February to May 2020 as follows:

Asia/Oceania: WUHAN, China, 3-14 February 2020
Venue: Hongshan Gymnasium

Africa: DAKAR, Senegal, 20-29 February 2020
Venue: Dakar International Expo Centre, Diamniadio

Europe: LONDON, Great Britain, 14-24 March 2020
Venue: Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

America: BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, 26 March - 3 April 2020
Venue: CeNARD

World: PARIS, France, 13-20 May 2020
Venue: Grand Dôme, Villebon-sur-Yvette, Paris

Participation in the World Olympic Qualification Event is limited only to those NOCs that have not yet qualified an athlete via the Continental Olympic Qualification Events in the specific weight category.