AIBA and Turkey sign hosting agreement for European Rio 2016 qualification event in Istanbul

By Philip Otuo,

C K Wu, President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), has signed a host nation agreement with Turkey for the European Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifying event, set to take place in Istanbul next year.

The document was also signed by Turkish Boxing Federation President Eyüp Gözgeç in the presence of Akif Çağatay Kılıç, the nation’s Minster of Youth and Sport.

“I am very happy that this prestigious event will be held in Turkey, and I am very confident that Turkish Boxing Federation will be able to organise the competition at the highest possible standard,” Wu said.

“I am deeply appreciative to the Minister for his great support rendered to our sport and our National Federation.”

The signing of the agreement comes after Istanbul was revealed as the continental Olympic qualifying tournament’s host city in July last year at the AIBA Executive Committee meeting, which was also held in Istanbul.

Istanbul was revealed as the host of the European Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifying event last year ©Getty Images

“Turkey is very keen on further developing and promoting boxing in our country and I am confident that hosting this event will help involve more people in the sport of boxing,” Gözgeç said.

The competition is due to take place next April and will produce a total of 30 Olympic quota places, with the top three ranked boxers in each of the ten weight categories earning the opportunity to represent their nation at the Rio 2016 Games.

As well as the European event in Turkey, Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé will host the African Olympic qualifying tournament, Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires will stage the Americas equivalent and the Chinese city of Qian'an will hold the Asian/Oceania edition.