In the nick of time
Jamaican hopes for Olympic boxers in Paris get lifeline
Published:Wednesday | April 10, 2024 | 12:08 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
WHILE THERE is an ongoing saga over whether boxing will even be at the 2028 Olympics, the Jamaica Boxing Association (JBA) had found itself in a spot of bother over Paris later this year but may be seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
The Paris Olympics marks the last time the International Olympic Committee will oversee the administration of boxing and if a replacement organisation isn’t found by early 2025, the sport will be absent from the games in 2028.
But up to yesterday, the JBA has another fight on its hands, feeling great uncertainty over whether or not its boxers would even be given the chance to attempt qualification for the 2024 showpiece.
The last Olympic boxing qualification tournament will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 23 to June 3 and the JBA is woefully short on funds to send its representatives.
According to JBA sources, the association put forward the names of those boxers it intended to attempt qualification to the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA).
However, the trip is said to be extremely expensive and the JBA is relying on the JOA to fund the boxers’ trip to Thailand.
With a little over a month to go, there weren’t any JOA assurances, however, a late evening call with JOA general secretary, Ryan Foster, may have assuaged some of those fears.
“They are in the system as it relates from our side. As of today’s (yesterday) date, they have been registered, and hoping to qualify for the games.
“So two boxers have been registered. They are on course to go to the qualifiers, and once they are confirmed (by JBA) the Jamaica Olympic Association will assist them in whatever Olympic qualifiers they have,” said Foster.
Earlier in the day, JBA general secretary Leroy Brown confirmed that talks were ongoing but could not provide an update.
“As we speak, I am working on it. But I cannot give a final thing yet. It is a work in progress at this point.
“In a day or two I will be able to give something specific. But as we speak I am working on it,” said Brown.
Following the national championships in February, three boxers were selected to attend the IOC’s second world qualification tournament.
However, Sanji Williams and Jaden Eccleston missed the IOC world qualification tournament in Busto Arzizio, Italy, from February 19 to March 12.
Before that, the duo had missed out on qualifying through the Pan American Games, despite sending two athletes to Chile last October.