Saturday, August 15, 2009

Olympic Games: Doctors oppose women's boxing at Olympics

PanARMENIAN.Net/ British doctors protested against IOC’s decision to include women’s box in the Olympics. They find popularization of that form of sport harmful to women and not only to them.

The British Medical Association (BMA) does not approve of the International Olympic Committee’s decision to include women’s box in 2012 Olympic Games program.

“The BMA is disappointed by the decision of the International Olympic Committee's executive board to introduce women's boxing to the 2012 Olympics as it is likely to encourage more people to take up this dangerous sport,” Reuters reports, quoting organization’s release.

“Irrespective of their gender, during the course of a fight, boxers can suffer acute brain haemorrhage and serious damage to their eyes, ears and nose,” doctors warn.

By the decision of International Olympic Committee, women will compete at three weights in London - flyweight (48 - 51kg), lightweight (56 - 60kg) and middleweight (69 - 75kg) - with 12 boxers taking part at each weight.

Under IOC regulations, the overall number of boxers remains unchanged – 286, with 250 being men and 36 – women.

IOC President Jacques Rogge “rejoices” about IOC’s decision as he considers that “women’s boxing has progressed a tremendous amount in the last five years, and it was time that it be included in the games.”

I have been a boxing fan since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. However, there is no place for women's boxing in the Olympics. Amateur boxing even for males has turned into a money-driven farce to the extent that it has ceased to be of interest to genuine boxing fans. I am not surprised however, that Mr Rogge rejoiced at the decision.