Boxing at the 2012 Summer Olympics
First Olympic women's boxing events; 286 boxers in 13 weight classes.
The boxing events of the 2012 London Olympics ran from 28 July to 12 August at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre. In total, 286 athletes competed across 13 weight categories. A historic first for the Games saw women enter the boxing ring, with three events open to female competitors. The first Olympic gold medal in women’s boxing was won on 9 August by Great Britain’s Nicola Adams in the flyweight division.
Men’s bouts were contested in ten weight classes: light flyweight (49 kg), flyweight (52 kg), bantamweight (56 kg), lightweight (60 kg), light welterweight (64 kg), welterweight (69 kg), middleweight (75 kg), light heavyweight (81 kg), heavyweight (91 kg), and super heavyweight (+91 kg). Women’s boxing made its debut in three categories: flyweight (51 kg), lightweight (60 kg), and middleweight (75 kg).
Each National Olympic Committee could enter a maximum of one boxer per event. Nine spots were set aside for the host nation, Great Britain, of which it could use up to six (five men and one woman). Any host athlete who qualified through the World Amateur Boxing Championships would reduce that guaranteed number. The remaining places were allocated by the Tripartite Invitation Commission. Continental quotas were determined through two major championships: Asia had 56 spots, the Americas 54, Africa 52, Europe 78, and Oceania 10. Qualification events included the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan (where ten athletes per category, and six in heavyweight and super heavyweight, earned Olympic berths), the 2012 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao, China, and various continental qualifying tournaments held in 2012.
Most competition days featured two sessions: an afternoon session starting at 13:30 BST (except on 9 August, when it began at 16:30 BST) and an evening session at 20:30 BST.
In September 2011, the BBC programme *Newsnight* reported evidence of $9 million (£5.9 million) in secret payments from Azerbaijan to World Series Boxing (WSB), a subsidiary of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), allegedly in exchange for two gold medals. AIBA denied the claim, stating the money was a loan from an Azerbaijani investor. Both AIBA and the International Olympic Committee launched inquiries.
Quick Facts
- Event
- Boxing
- Games
- 2012 Summer
- Venue
- ExCeL Exhibition Centre
- Dates
- 28 July – 12 August 2012
- Num Events
- 13
- Competitors
- 286 (250 men, 36 women)
- Prev
- 2008
- Next
- 2016
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The 2012 Olympic boxing program included ten men's events, from light flyweight (49kg) to super heavyweight (+91kg), and three women's events: flyweight (51kg), lightweight (60kg), and middleweight (75kg). Each National Olympic Committee could enter up to one athlete per event. Nine places were reserved for host nation Great Britain, from which it chose up to six (five male and one female). Remaining places were allocated via the Tripartite Invitation Commission. Continental quotas were set: Asia 56, Americas 54, Africa 52, Europe 78, Oceania 10. Qualification events included the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the 2012 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao, China, plus continental Olympic qualifying events in 2012. Competition sessions were held most days, with afternoon (13:30 BST, except 9 August at 16:30 BST) and evening (20:30 BST) sessions.
Reader's Guide
The 2012 Olympic boxing tournament marked a historic milestone with the inclusion of women's boxing for the first time. Nicola Adams of Great Britain won the first Olympic gold medal in women's boxing, in the flyweight division on 9 August 2012. The event also faced controversy: in September 2011, the BBC Newsnight programme reported that $9 million (£5.9 million) in secret payments were made to World Series Boxing (a subcompany of the International Boxing Association) by Azerbaijan in return for two gold medals. The AIBA denied the allegations, calling the payments a loan from an Azerbaijani investor, and both the AIBA and the International Olympic Committee launched inquiries. The AIBA later rejected any corruption, stating the suggestion was 'preposterous and utterly untrue'. The tournament's legacy includes the expansion of Olympic boxing to women and ongoing scrutiny of governance in the sport.
Did You Know?
- Women competed in Olympic boxing for the first time at the 2012 London Games.
- The first Olympic gold medal in women's boxing was awarded to Nicola Adams of Great Britain on 9 August 2012.
- A total of 286 competitors took part in 13 events.
- In September 2011, the BBC Newsnight programme alleged $9 million in secret payments from Azerbaijan to World Series Boxing in return for gold medals.
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