Despite uncertainty, Mexican Olympic boxing will retain support: Rommel

Although the future of boxing is uncertain in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic program, it will not stop receiving support, as it is one of the most prominent disciplines in Mexico, warned the new head of the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sports (Conade). Rommel Pacheco.

In the history of the Games, boxing is the second sport that has won the most medals for the country (14), only behind diving (17), but it also has deep roots in popular culture.

We are going to continue supporting boxing whether or not it is on the Olympic program. It is a discipline that has brought great glory to our country and we will closely monitor its work plan. Furthermore, it is a sport that can be practiced easily; Every week we see new fights, so we can implement strategies to get more people involved. Meanwhile, we will wait for the decision of whether or not he participates in Los AngelesPacheco said.

For now, both Rommel and other sports leaders clarified that although boxing is not on the Los Angeles 2028 program, it is not yet official that it has been left out for that edition, since its fate will be decided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) until March 2025.

For some years now, Olympic boxing has been facing a deep crisis due to irregularities by the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA). The situation led to the IOC not knowing about the organization, which had to take charge of the process towards Paris 2024.

The AIBA was repeatedly accused of corruption and mismanagement in its government; Hence, the IOC decided to first ignore it for Tokyo 2020 and then definitively set it aside for Paris 2024.

In fact, during the last Paris Games, Thomas Bach, president of the IOC, alluded to this issue and indicated that there will be no boxing in Los Angeles 2028 if there is no reliable international federation to organize it, but he will make the final decision until next year. anus.

Boxing is not officially out of Los Angeles 2028, it is only temporarily suspended. If a new federation or regulatory body is created for the discipline, it can return to the Olympic program. That could happen in 2025detailed the head of the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM), Marijose Alcalá.

The president of the Mexican Boxing Federation, Ricardo Contreras, clarified for his part that it was already known that this discipline was not on the Los Angeles program. And he warned that to make a decision of that magnitude official, the IOC executive committee is required to inform the nationals, who would notify each of the local federations. This, he assures, has not happened.

In addition, Contreras reiterated, the deadline established to define the situation of Olympic boxing is March 2025, when the governing body renews its directive.

The Mexican federation has not been notified through the COM, the only official channel for a decision of this magnitude.Contreras explained; In the chain of hierarchies, after the IOC, when a determination is made, the committees of each country are notified and these are notified to the federations. That is the procedure and an official decision on leaving out boxing would follow that procedure, which has not been given..

Mauricio Sulaimán, president of the World Boxing Council, who closely follows this dilemma that affects Mexican boxing, pointed out that there is still an option to save Olympic boxing heading to Los Angeles.

The option for it to remain is to join a new federation as requested by the IOC and World Boxing is taking the lead and more and more countries are joining. Mexico has not yet been integrated, but whether or not boxing is in Los Angeles 2028 depends on that.he commented.

Given the possibility that the discipline will not be considered for the 2028 Olympics, former Olympic team Óscar Valdez assured that it would be a shame due to the winning tradition they have in our country.

Removing it due to other people’s mistakes would be a bad decision because the only ones who would pay the consequences are the athletes who dedicate so much time to their preparation.

Athletes first

On the other hand, Pacheco assured that no athlete will see their scholarship reduced or the amount of their financial support modified until the reason for their sporting results is thoroughly analyzed.

I gave the instruction that everything related to scholarships be stopped until each case is reviewed individually. I have received several calls from selected people and we are not going to abandon them. To the extent permitted by law, we will give them everything they needsaid the former diver, who was a guest at the installation of the Senate Sports Commission, chaired by Ana Karen Hernández.

The Yucatecan, who had already been part of the Sports Commission in the Chamber of Deputies, assured that he had already contacted the middle distance runner Laura Galván, who a few days ago reported that her sports scholarship was withdrawn.

I talked to her to make her calm. What happened to him is a problem of the previous administration and for the moment it will not be applied until his case comes under review.

Pacheco has already begun to assemble his work team. The world long jump medalist Luis Rivera and the former pentathlete Óscar Soto will occupy the Subdirectorate of Sports Quality.

Both are prepared, have studies and have worked in public administration, I am sure that they will do a very transparent job.

Pacheco informed the senators about the need to reform the Physical Culture and Sports Law.

I hope to work hand in hand with you, because the Physical Culture Law requires an update for the benefit of those selected.said the world medalist.

Sports, he pointed out, should not be a privilege for the few.

I want to see all the people playing soccer, practicing diving, archery and many specialties. We must keep new generations away from vices because it is cheaper to prevent than to attack a vice.