Latest news with #AngelesGames
New Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
World Boxing apologizes for naming Olympic champion Imane Khelif in sex test policy
The president of World Boxing has apologized after Olympic champion Imane Khelif was singled out in the governing body's announcement to make sex testing mandatory. Algerian boxer Khelif, who won gold at the Paris Games last summer amid intense scrutiny over her eligibility, was specifically mentioned when World Boxing released its new policy last Friday. On Monday, its president Boris van der Vorst reached out to the Algerian Boxing Federation to acknowledge that was wrong. 'I am writing to you all personally to offer a formal and sincere apology for this and acknowledge that her privacy should have been protected,' he wrote in a letter seen by The Associated Press. Van der Vorst added he hoped by 'reaching out to you personally we show our true respect to you and your athletes.' Khelif and fellow gold medalist Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan were in the spotlight in Paris because the previous governing body for Olympic boxing, the International Boxing Association, disqualified both fighters from its 2023 world championships, claiming they failed an unspecified eligibility test. However, the International Olympic Committee applied sex eligibility rules used in previous Olympics and cleared Khelif and Lin to compete. World Boxing has been provisionally approved as the boxing organizer at the 2028 Los Angeles Games and has faced pressure from boxers and their federations to create sex eligibility standards. It said there will be mandatory testing for all boxers from July 1 to 'ensure the safety of all participants and deliver a competitive level playing field for men and women.'
The Age
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Olympic Games 2028: Could $700m quarterback Patrick Mahomes be an Olympian? The NFL thinks so
Patrick Mahomes could be an Olympian in 2028 after the NFL gave its players permission to try out for the US flag football team for the Los Angeles Games. It means the $US450 million ($700 million) quarterback could add Olympic gold to his trophy cabinet, alongside his three Super Bowl rings, if the NFL's most marketable man decides to try his hand at the five-a-side game. Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill and Patrick Mahomes could all try out for the 2028 US Olympic flag football team. Credit: Graphic: Michael Howard, Monique Westermann Flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028, and will consist of six men's teams and six women's team, with 10 players per squad, and five on the field at a time. The NFL has been mulling over whether to let players try out for the past couple of years, but the motion was finally passed 32-0 at a meeting on Wednesday morning (Australia time), opening the door for the likes of $US140 million wide receiver Justin Jefferson or $US90 million Tyreek Hill to participate at a home Olympics.
Asharq Al-Awsat
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
American Athletes Will Relish LA Olympic ‘Home Games', Says Felix
American athletes at the Los Angeles Games in 2028 will have the rare opportunity to compete at an Olympics on home soil and those considering retirement may not be able to resist sticking around for the chance, Olympic legend Allyson Felix said. Felix, the most decorated female track and field athlete of all time, has few regrets about an Olympic career that spanned five Games but said never getting the chance to lace up her spikes in the US is one. "What I would have loved most is to have a home Games," Felix, an LA native and now an LA28 board member, told Reuters. "We've worked really hard to bring the Games back to LA and more than anything, I'm excited the athletes have this opportunity to be on full display in America. That's huge. "I'm excited for Angelinos and the rest of the world too. We get to welcome them in and they get to see the Games up close." Gymnast Simone Biles said last week she had not yet decided whether to compete in what would be her fourth Games as she picked up her Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award in Madrid. Seven-time Olympic champion Biles saw first-hand the passionate reception French gymnasts received every time they were announced at the Bercy Arena during last year's Paris Games and it remains to be seen if the prospect of hearing roars of "USA! USA!" will entice her to return. Felix said that vision has undeniable appeal to all potential Team USA athletes. "If you can stick around to be involved in some capacity, you can't pass that up," Felix said. Felix was all smiles at a recent event with the Los Angeles Jets where she surprised members of the venerable youth track and field club with the children's snack food Danimals as part of a promotional campaign. "The Jets are such a powerhouse and a staple in the community and looking at these kids it's interesting because beyond '28, they are going to be the ones who are out there," she said. The mother of two has been a trailblazer for women in sports and said she saw glimpses of her younger self in the fresh-faced sprinters she lined up against. "We did a little relay and they wanted to race me for real," said Felix, who won 11 Olympic medals including seven golds. "I love to see that because yeah, you should!"
Daily Tribune
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Boxing Champion Imane Khelif Targets Second Olympic Gold in Los Angeles
Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxing sensation who captured gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is already setting her sights on defending her title at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. In a bold statement, Khelif affirmed her determination to compete at the highest level, undeterred by controversies surrounding her gender eligibility. In the wake of a gender-eligibility dispute, Khelif's victory in Paris was met with both praise and criticism. The International Boxing Association (IBA) had initially disqualified her from the 2023 World Championships, citing concerns about her eligibility to compete as a woman. However, despite the challenges, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) cleared her to compete in Paris, defending her right to participate as a female athlete. The IOC's stance was a crucial moment for Khelif, and she expressed her confidence in continuing her journey, regardless of the obstacles. The 2028 Los Angeles Games will be a pivotal moment for Khelif, who aims to secure a second gold medal. "Second gold medal, of course. In America, Los Angeles... I will defend this gold medal with everything I have," she stated with unshakable resolve. Khelif believes that her experience and determination have strengthened her since Paris, noting that her current form far exceeds what she was capable of in the past. Khelif's resilience was recently tested when U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February 2025 banning transgender women from female sports. The controversial order led to Trump labeling Khelif as "a male boxer" in a speech. However, Khelif wasted no time in responding firmly, telling ITV, "I am not transgender. This does not concern me, and it does not intimidate me." Despite the challenges, Khelif remains focused on her goals. The inclusion of boxing in the 2028 Olympics is still subject to final approval by the IOC, with the recommendation receiving strong backing from the IOC's executive board. Khelif's aspirations remain undeterred, as she continues to push forward in her pursuit of Olympic glory. Reflecting on her journey, Khelif is resolute in her belief that the controversies and setbacks only serve to fuel her drive. 'If the old Imane operated at 50% of her potential, then the Imane Khelif of today is even more motivated and determined,' she remarked confidently. Khelif's defiance in the face of adversity has been a hallmark of her career. Her confidence, combined with her unwavering belief in fair play and Olympic values, positions her as a symbol of perseverance and strength. As the IOC prepares for its presidential elections, Khelif has expressed her hope for leadership that prioritizes the true spirit of sportsmanship. 'I hope the next president of the IOC leads with true sportsmanship, stays committed to Olympic principles, and upholds the values of fair play,' she concluded. As Khelif eyes her second Olympic gold in Los Angeles, the boxing world will undoubtedly be watching closely, as she continues to break barriers and redefine the future of women's sports.
The National
18-03-2025
- Sport
- The National
UAE Boxing Federation to submit request to join World Boxing with sport set to win Olympic reprieve
The UAE Boxing Federation has said it will submit a request to join World Boxing after receiving approval from the National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports. The decision comes after the International Olympic Committee's Executive Board recommended that boxing remains part of the programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, following an earlier decision on February 27 to recognise World Boxing as the sport's international federation. Hassan Al Hammadi, secretary-general of the UAE Boxing Federation, told the WAM news agency that they were among the first of the Arab and Asian federations to support the newly established international body. "We have obtained official approvals, and the membership application will be submitted before the end of this week in preparation for joining World Boxing," Al Hammadi said. 'The Boxing Federation is always striving to enhance the presence of the UAE in various international sports organisations and to participate in global events, including the Olympic Games, in accordance with the required rankings and standards, to fulfill every athlete's dream of representing their country with pride." The creation of a new global body was the biggest hurdle to the sport's inclusion in the next Games. The boxing tournaments at the last two Games were organised by the IOC, which suspended the International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2019 over governance issues and then withdrew recognition for it completely in 2023. The IOC had indicated boxing would only be included in 2028 if a new partner federation was identified. The executive board's decision will need to be ratified at the IOC Session, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday in Greece. On Monday, outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach said at a press conference: 'After the provisional recognition of World Boxing in February we were in the position to take this decision. 'I'm very confident the [IOC] Session will approve it, so that all boxers of the world then have certainty that they can participate in the Olympic Games in LA 2028 if their national federation is recognised by World Boxing.' The IOC later clarified that federations would need to be members of World Boxing at the time of the qualification events, with IOC sports director Kit McConnell saying he anticipated there would now be an 'acceleration' of national federations joining. The World Boxing website currently lists 84 federations as members. The IOC was at loggerheads with the IBA during last year's Olympics in Paris over the participation of two boxers, Algeria's Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting. The IBA had disqualified both fighters from the previous year's World Championships for allegedly failing gender eligibility tests. The criteria for women's boxing at Paris, overseen by the IOC, was on stated gender in passports, the same protocol that was used for the 2016 Rio Games. Both Khelif and Lin went on to win gold medals in Paris. Khelif is taking legal action over reports she has male XY chromosomes and insists she was born a woman and lives as a woman. The World Boxing website states that its sex eligibility policy is under revision by the medical committee. World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst described the IOC executive board's decision as 'very significant and important' and 'takes the sport one step closer to being restored to the Olympic programme'. He added: 'I have no doubt it will be very positively received by everyone connected with boxing, at every level throughout the world, who understands the critical importance to the future of the sport of boxing continuing to remain a part of the Olympic Movement. 'World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege and not a right and I assure the IOC that if boxing is restored to the programme for LA28, that World Boxing is completely committed to being a trustworthy and reliable partner that will adhere to and uphold the values of the Olympic Charter.'
