AIBA welcomes the decision to include boxing in the 2023 European Games program
February 3rd, 2021 / IBA
Boxing became a part of a program of the 2023 European Games in Kraków-Małopolska, Poland. Thus, it will be the third edition for boxing, after successful tournaments in Baku 2015 and Minsk 2019. In total, 50 nations will take part in the competitions.
AIBA President Mr. Umar Kremlev welcomes the decision to include boxing in the program and claimed that the competition has an important meaning for the sport.
‘Boxing has been a part of the European Games since the beginning; we enjoyed the brilliant performance of our athletes and top-level organization. We are happy to see our sport in the third edition of this prestigious competition. Our athletes are proud of being decorated with the titles of European Games champions,’ Mr. Kremlev said.
‘We hold AIBA Youth Men’s and Women’s World Championships in Poland this year. I am confident that it would be an excellent tournament, as I saw a lot of courage and dedication in the Polish Boxing Federation and the Organizing Committee. Therefore, I have no doubts in the high-standard organization of the European Games in the country,’ he added.
European Boxing Confederation (EUBC) President, Mr. Franco Falcinelli stated that EUBC is particularly pleased to participate with the best athletes in the III European Games.
‘Since Baku 2015 we have been fervent supporters of this long-awaited competition which has given continental Olympic sport an extraordinary message of innovation, capacity, and organizational sustainability. Also at the II European Games Minsk 2019, the EOC proved to make the European Games an attractive international event by combining sporting events with communication, tourism, and culture. I am sure that the EOC and the Organizing Committee of Krakow 2023 will be able to offer the best of the great Polish sporting culture and tradition,’ he said.
‘On behalf of EUBC, I thank the EOC President Neils Nygaard and the Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi for the considerable savings in resources that our National Federations will be able to allocate to the promotion of boxing, for the respect of all athletes, male and female, deserving of competing on the maximum continental levels. To make boxing at the III European Games 2023 more interesting, we will endeavor to have AIBA and the IOC consider Krakow 2023 as Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Tournament,’ concluded Mr. Falcinelli.