[golf stars video]  Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Women boxers will be able to compete in the 2012 Olympics in London and their participation in several other sports, including wrestling, cycling and swimming, as well as tennis doubles, is likely to increase following a decision by the IOC executive board on new sports for the Games. Boxing was the only Olympic sport without women competitors in the last Olympic games in Beijing in August 2008. There will be three weight categories, while the men will lose one of their 11 classes. The decision has been welcomed as a step forward for gender equality but also criticized by Headway, the brain injury association because of potential dangers.

Seven-a-side rugby and golf have been recommended for entry to the 2016 Games in South Africa and will now need the approval of the full IOC, which meets in Copenhagen in October. Golf and rugby federations are being invited to present their sports.

Softball, squash, baseball, karate and roller sports were hoping to be included but were not selected in the secret ballot by the executive board. The IOC, in explaining its decisions, notes that “The IOC Olympic Programme Commission analyzed all of the requests based on established criteria, and submitted its findings to the executive board. The key positive factors included whether the changes would increase universality, gender equity and youth appeal, and in general add value to the Games. Other considerations included the cost of infrastructure, and the impact on the overall quota and the number of events.”

Details: olympic.org

Related: International Rugby Board on the Olympics

Video from the International Golf Federation to support the Olympics bid, celebrity golf lineup

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.