Women's boxing to make bow at 2012 Olympics

Women's boxing will make its first appearance on the Olympic programme at the London 2012 Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Thursday.

"It is a great addition to the Games," said IOC President Jacques Rogge. "Boxing was the sole sport where no women were involved [in the summer Olympics]."

The IOC said the current 11 men's events will be replaced by 10 men's and three women's events at the London Games.

The introduction of women's boxing, rejected in the past because of what the IOC said was a limited global appeal, does not need an IOC session approval as the sport is already on the Olympic programme.

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) made a similar request in 2005 but it was turned down as the IOC considered the women's event would not offer added value to the programme.

"This is an historic day for boxing," AIBA chief Ching-Kuo Wu said. "It was a very important task to bring it into the Games. We are all just delighted."

The IOC also agreed on several changes to the events schedule of canoe competitions, replacing the men's C2 500m with women's K1 200m and replacing the three remaining men's 500m sprint events with 200m sprint events.

It said in a statement it would also consider including a mixed doubles tournament in tennis for the 2012 Games "pending guarantees from the International Tennis Federation that top players in the singles rankings would also be able to participate."

It said a final decision would be taken in December.

Photograph: Reuters