The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) has decided to hold its final ‘Road to London’ preparation training camp in Cardiff.
The camp will be based at Cardiff University’s Talybont Campus, which has been included in the London Olympic Games Organising Committee (LOCOG) Pre-Games Training Camp Guide.
Over 100 selected boxers and coaches from emerging nations throughout all Road to London preliminary training camp programmes will be based at the University for up to 20 days leading into the Games. For example, before the AIBA World Championships Milan 2009, a total of 94 boxers and 25 coaches from 66 countries took part in the Road to Milan program held in the city of Assisi, Italy.
AIBA’s decision is the result of a partnership approach between the Welsh Assembly Government, Welsh Amateur Boxing Association (WABA) and Cardiff University and a reflection of the range and quality of international standard sporting facilities in the capital and the quality of people and services available to visiting teams. The camp will bring economic, educational and cultural benefits to Wales as well as provide a tremendous sporting legacy opportunity for Welsh Amateur Boxing.
Assembly Government Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones, said:
“AIBA’s decision is a tremendous result for Wales and for Welsh Amateur Boxing. Having Olympic boxers and coaches making final 2012 preparations in Cardiff will be inspirational for people associated with the sport in Wales. We are also delighted that Cardiff will provide the opportunity for AIBA to conduct various seminars for coaches, referees and judges from around the world.”
In addition to the L2012 preparation camp which will take place immediately before the Games, AIBA is also looking to stage a Pre-Olympic Qualifying Event training camp in Cardiff in January 2012 and coaching, refereeing and judging seminars.
“AIBA is proud to support boxers and coaches from emerging countries around the world leading up to London,” said AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu.
“We provide funding for their travel, accommodation and board, hoping to give the boxers training and opportunities that they could not afford otherwise including all expenses of their participation in the major Championships. As we have seen in past editions of the ‘Road to’ programs, it is very successful in developing boxers.”
Seb Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Olympic Organising Committee, said:
“This is great news for Cardiff and Wales. Cardiff will be a great training and acclimatisation base for these emerging boxing nations to make their final preparations prior to one of the most important competitions in their sporting careers. Hosting this camp will bring great benefits to the city such as an economic boost and the chance to develop sporting and cultural links. It is a great way for Cardiff to feel real benefits of the London 2012 Olympic Games and to get involved!”
WABA representative, David Francis, said:
“Welsh Amateur Boxing Association representation within AIBA is stronger than it has ever been, and we are pleased that the President of AIBA has the confidence in the WABA to stage this, as it is the biggest training event in the Olympic cycle. The support that we have had from WAG, Sport Wales and Cardiff University has been monumental.”
Stuart Vanstone, Head of Sport at Cardiff University, said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the University to work with elite sports men and women from around the world. We have been working extensively with the Assembly Government and the Welsh Amateur Boxing Association in producing the proposal and we are delighted that AIBA have chosen Cardiff as their training base for 2012 preparations. The AIBA training camp is in addition to the Australian Paralympic training camp that we are hosting at the University and will ensure that we are firmly engaged in the Olympic and Paralympic movement ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Legacy programs and associated benefits are being developed to ensure that we maximise the potential of our association with AIBA”.
