188 boxers qualified for Paris 2024. GETTY IMAGES

A total of 188 boxers from 56 National Olympic Committees have already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Boxing Tournament at the first qualifying event in Italy and the continental qualifiers. The second event in Thailand will be the last chance for boxers to compete for the remaining 51 places.

188 athletes have already secured their place at the Paris 2024 Boxing Tournament, with 51 still to go. During the first World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy, 49 boxers secured a place. There is now only one more opportunity, the second and final Boxing World Qualification Tournament, which will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 25 May to 2 June.

This update was part of the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit's (PBU) report to the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Executive Board. The EB also discussed boxing in future editions of the Olympic Games.

The qualifying tournaments for Paris 2024 were organised under the auspices of the PBU. The PBU is an 'ad hoc' unit created by the IOC Executive Board. It was responsible for organising the Olympic Boxing Qualification Tournaments and the boxing competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, following the suspension and withdrawal of recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA) by the IOC Session.

There are still 51 places left for Paris 2024. GETTY IMAGES
There are still 51 places left for Paris 2024. GETTY IMAGES

The decisions were taken at the IOC Executive Board meeting last Tuesday. IOC Sport Director Kit McConnell said çafter the meeting: "The IOC EB made it clear once again that this must be the last time the IOC goes through such a process. Following the decision of the IOC Session last year, the inclusion of boxing in the LA28 Olympic Programme is on hold and not confirmed. We will not be able to include boxing in the Olympic programme unless there is a boxing body supported and driven by the national federations.

Boxing is an uncertain situation. "So it's now up to the national federations to drive this change and work to create a body that we can work in partnership with. We can't move forward in the current situation. The IOC meeting in Mumbai in 2023 also made it clear that if boxing is included in the sports programme at LA28, the IBA will not be involved in the organisation," McConnell added.

A total of 49 quota places (28 men and 21 women ) were awarded at the first World Qualifying Tournament in Busto Arsizio from 3-11 March 2024. One of these was secured by refugee athlete Cindy Ngamba, who is one of the 70 Refugee Athlete Scholarship holders.

Thailand will host the final qualifying tournament from 25 May to 2 June. GETTY IMAGES
Thailand will host the final qualifying tournament from 25 May to 2 June. GETTY IMAGES

The tournament was one of the biggest in boxing history, with nearly 600 athletes competing in 13 weight divisions. It was a crucial step on the road to Paris 2024 Boxing, following the continental qualification phase that will take place throughout 2023. 

The last chance for those who have not yet secured their passport is the second World Qualification Tournament. It will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 25 May to 2 June. More than 500 athletes are expected to compete for the 51 available quota spots. 

Under the Paris 2024 Olympic Boxing Qualification System, only NOCs that have not already qualified an athlete in a particular weight category at the respective continental qualifier can enter one athlete per weight category, as shown on olympics.com.