Minister Byrne meets with World Boxing
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From: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
- Published on: 19 May 2023
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
The Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne, has this week met with representatives of World Boxing. Boris van der Vorst, President of the Dutch Boxing Federation and Matt Holt, CEO of GB Boxing, both of whom are serving as directors of World Boxing, were on a visit to Dublin.
Following the meeting, Minister Byrne said:
“I am acutely conscious of the unprecedented challenges that boxers and boxing associations are facing in navigating the geopolitical scene. Earlier this year, the Irish Athletic Boxing Association took a courageous decision not to participate in the IBA World boxing championships due to the continued involvement of Russian and Belarussian athletes in IBA events. I believe this was the correct decision and commend it.
"My meeting with representatives of World Boxing this week was constructive and I was glad to hear how they are progressing their plans to set up a new international boxing federation. As our most successful Olympic sport, I believe it is imperative that we get boxing back on the Olympic programme for Los Angeles in 2028. I fully support efforts to keep boxing within the Olympic Movement and will continue to monitor developments in this area and offer whatever assistance I can to the IABA, along with Sport Ireland, in this regard."