Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/03/08
By: Christie Chen

Taipei, March 8 (CNA) The Taiwanese chief of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) said Tuesday that the scheduled opening of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics to professional boxers could significantly boost attendance at Olympic boxing matches.

Since the AIBA revised its constitution at an extraordinary congress June 1, professional boxers will be able to compete in the Olympics if they are selected by their national federations and earn their places through qualifying tournaments, AIBA President Wu Ching-kuo (吳經國) told reporters in Taipei.

Wu, who is also Taiwan’s sole member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), called the opening a “significant decision” as boxing is one of the last remaining Olympic sports still restricted to amateurs.     [FULL  STORY]