As the new Olympic Cycle gets underway towards Tokyo 2020, an underlying theme of theHeadsUp initiative in 2017 will be the AIBA Year of Africa. With a view toplotting a course for the African Boxing Confederation (AFBC) to build on itssolid foundations, two days of workshops took place in Lausanne from 7-8November, designed to set achievable goals and strategies that will take thecontinent’s boxing forward using a dynamic template to then be adapted forother territories. “AIBA is takingimportant steps towards decentralising the decision-making processes andrealising its vision of empowering the expertise towards our Commissions, theConfederations and National Federations. Across two days of workshops withthose who know the present state of African boxing better than anybody, we havebeen able to finalise a positive, realistic course of action for our 2017 Yearof Africa initiative, creating concrete plans for the development of boxing inthe region that we can then tailor to benefit all our territories.” Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, AIBA President. “Thisrecognition is crucial for the future of African boxing and the AFBC has beenimpressed by President Wu and AIBA’s support. We are a proud boxing continentwith a rich history and a bright future and the Year of Africa reflects that.The AFBC is determined to use this opportunity to help all
of our 54 NationalFederations realise their potential, raising the standards of boxing, coachingand officiating so that we as a continent are in a better position to host thebiggest competitions and produce the greatest champions in the sport.”Mr KelaniBayor, AFBC President and EC Vice President. Six key members of theAfrican Boxing Confederation were in Lausanne for a series of AFBC Workshopsfrom 7-8 November, to begin AIBA’s Year of Africa knowledge-sharing and boxingdevelopment initiative that will run throughout 2017. Among the central pointsunder discussion were the implementation of numerous and regional courses andeducational seminars for coaches and officials at all levels, the maximisingof, and building on, the current competition schedule, improved communicationsand the growth of women’s and grassroots boxing. In light of the results of a survey sent to thecontinent’s 54 National Federations, a central goal for AIBA’s Year of Africawill be to instil greater consistency across a vast continent where the realityis a wide range of development and available resources. That consistency willbe underpinned by a more stable competition schedule allowing boxers andorganisers the time for considered and realistic preparations, and morecompatible with World Championship and Olympic schedules. The competitions will be used to host anincreasing number of training courses and seminars as part of AIBA’s ongoingcommitment to education and training in coaching techniques, officiating and AOB rules, aswell as increasing the pool of officials and coaches. Diversification of the NFsrepresented at the 3-star R&J and ITO level, ringside doctors and scoringsystem training are among the priorities, with the translation of coursecontent to reach a wider audience. With African boxing’sgrassroots development a key factor towards the greater inclusion of women intoboxing, a key target ahead of Tokyo 2020, the growth of Junior and Youthtraining and competitions on the continent will also be a priority. “A central part of our dutyas boxing’s governing body is to offer our support where it is most needed toensure that the world’s most talented boxers are able to fulfil theirpotential. African boxing has a rich history and a bright future, and AIBA willwork closely with the AFBC to help empower the continent’s 54 NationalFederations and provide them with the structure in which to flourish, beginningwith the Year in Africa but looking far beyond 2017,” concluded AIBA PresidentDr Ching-Kuo Wu. 

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