Boxing at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Last Olympic boxing competition to exclude women.
The 2008 Summer Olympics boxing competition took place at the Workers Indoor Arena in Beijing, China. Eleven weight classes for male boxers each offered a medal. These Games marked the last time women were excluded from Olympic boxing; female events were approved for the 2012 London Olympics. As in other Olympic combat sports, two bronze medals were awarded—both losing semi-finalists received a bronze, with no further bout. This meant the quarterfinal effectively decided the bronze, the semifinal decided the silver, and the final decided the gold. In total, 44 medals were available, including 22 bronze medals. Each National Olympic Committee could enter up to one athlete per event. Nine host-nation places were reserved, but China could use a maximum of six; any host athlete who qualified via the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships reduced that guaranteed quota. Remaining slots were allocated by the Tripartite Invitation Commission. Qualification events included the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships (eight spots for weights under 81 kg, four for those over 81 kg), continental Olympic qualifying events in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe during 2008, and the 2008 Oceania Boxing Championships. Continental quotas were set, and two additional places came from the Tripartite Invitation Commission, bringing the total athlete quota to 286.
Quick Facts
- Event
- Boxing
- Games
- 2008 Summer
- Venue
- Workers Indoor Arena
- Dates
- 9–24 August 2008
- Competitors
- 283
- Nations
- 77
- Prev
- 2004
- Next
- 2012
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The 2008 Summer Olympics boxing program featured eleven weight divisions for male boxers, ranging from light flyweight (under 48 kg) to super heavyweight (over 91 kg). Each National Olympic Committee could enter up to one athlete per event, with nine places reserved for the host nation, of which it could use a maximum of six. The remaining places were allocated by the Tripartite Invitation Commission. Qualification events included the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships and various continental qualifying events held in 2008, as well as the 2008 Oceania Boxing Championships.
Reader's Guide
The 2008 Olympic boxing competition is historically significant as the last to exclude women, with female boxing events introduced at the 2012 London Olympics. The medal system awarded two bronze medals to both losing semi-finalists, meaning the quarter-final effectively served as a bronze medal match, the semi-final as a silver medal match, and the final as a gold medal match. A total of 44 medals were available, including 22 bronze medals. The host nation, China, had reserved places but lost a guaranteed spot for each athlete who qualified through the World Amateur Boxing Championships. The athlete quota was set at 286, with two additional places awarded by the Tripartite Invitation Commission.
Did You Know?
- The boxing program was held at the Workers Indoor Arena in Beijing, China.
- Two bronze medals were awarded in each event, with both losing semi-finalists receiving a bronze medal.
- The 2008 games were the last Olympic boxing competition to exclude women.
- A total of 44 medals were available, 22 of which were bronze medals.
More in Boxing at the Summer Olympics 1-24
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