OFFICIALS HOPEFUL WOMEN CAN FIGHT

[StingLikeABee]

British boxing officials were "quietly confident" on Monday that women's boxing would be allowed in to the ring at the London 2012 Olympics.

It could mean a men's weight category would have to be dropped to fit into International Olympic Committee (IOC) quotas for the number of boxers in the Olympics, according to Rebecca Gibson, the Amateur Boxing Association of England's (ABAE) national women's boxing development manager.

She said: "I think the IOC would have to have a really good reason not to allow women to compete at the Olympics because it is the only Olympic sport in which women can not compete - and AIBA (the international boxing association) has done all they can."

Women's boxing came tantalisingly close to inclusion in the 2008 Games only to be rejected when the IOC ruled it would not offer added value to the Olympic programme.

Fears were that the sport was not competitive in enough countries which could lead to potentially dangerous mismatches. Participation has also boomed with 120 global federations having female boxers.

A "balancing act" would have to be struck for women boxers to make it into the 2012 Games.

Gibson thinks the IOC could go for the option which drops a men's weight division opening up 36 boxing places which could be filled by 12 female competitors fighting at three different weight categories.

Part of Gibson's confidence stems from the positive noises that seem to have come from IOC president Jacques Rogge ahead of Thursday's decision.

"I clapped like a seal when I heard," said Birmingham-born Gibson, 31.

"It is quite surprising. I have heard he is a character that keeps his cards close to his chest."

Pointing out there is still time for things "to go horribly wrong, but I am quietly confident", she added: "I feel that one of the main messages of the London 2012 Olympic bid was that it would be an inclusive Games, but how can you have an inclusive Games if there is a sport where people can not compete?"

But the politics of women's boxing is such that traditionalists - often men - and new potential female spectators are still having to be won over.

"People are now looking at it as a creditable sport and not some sort of freak show," according to Gibson.

"There is resistance. I would ask all those people and the general public 'Why is it that only women are not allowed to box and is that right?'

"Sometimes it is about people who want to protect women but there is a lot of research about the safety of women's boxing. It is also about people seeing images of girls who have not got black eyes and that sort of thing. There are strong ideas in society about what women should do and look like.

"There are worries about participation and doing sport, having muscle and that warped image society has about what is beautiful and about being an individual.

"There are still people who do not think it is right, including people within the sport.

"I think that perception is still within the sport but they are quieter now. They realise they can not change it.

"There are still people who can not agree with it but for me it is about changing things and that will not happen overnight."

Gibson's career began in Stratford as a district sports development officer in 1999, followed by seven years as Nottinghamshire council's principal officer for sport and disability.

She is a key link between the national coach, the clubs and boxers in a job calling for her to promote and improve participation, both in and outside the ring, for women in amateur boxing. There is also emphasis on developing grass roots participation.

She said: "The problem is not within women's sport it is within sport itself. In sport we are still not equal but we are getting there."

The numbers of female coaches and sports leaders at elite level - although UK Sport chair Baroness Campbell and Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson spring to mind

- are limited.

"In terms of women watching sport and wanting to take part, the Olympics is the most popular event.

"If we get women's boxing into the Olympics they would see that women can box and be great athletes. Perhaps they might even want to do it themselves."

British boxers could be in the mix at the 2012 Games competing against opponents from powerhouse women's boxing nations including India, Turkey, Poland and Russia.

Britain sent just five boxers to the European Union Championships, each came back with a medal and the squad was voted team of the tournament.

There is also the dominant force of Ireland's world lightweight champion Katie Taylor who is a hot favourite to win whenever she turns up at a contest.

"We have been working very hard in the last couple of years to improve and other countries are starting to notice that," said Gibson.

Natasha Jonas, who fights at 64kg, is already looking to trim down to 60kg as this is a division which is more likely to be included in the Games.

Without the pull of the Olympics, the strength in depth being built up for 2012 and beyond by the fledgling sport looks likely to falter.

"A lot of girls will retire or go to the professional circuit. I think it will not massively increase participation like we want it to do," Gibson said.

The sport would also be left with this "bizarre two-tier level" of fighters - those who are world class and those who are novice.

Plans have already been drawn up with the ABAE on how to get it fit in time for the Games.

It would be bolstered by UK Sport funding and athletes would also be able to get funding.

"If we do not get it (into the Olympics), they will stagnate," Gibson predicts. "I just cannot wait for the result."