The postponement of the Tokyo Games for one year changes nothing: the AIBA will not see the next Olympic boxing tournament. The international body has been suspended since last year by the IOC. But the list of his troubles cannot be reduced to this single exclusion. Its accounts are in the red, its image is very damaged and its governance is more than shaky.
Interimly chaired by the Moroccan Mohamed Moustahsane, AIBA will proceed to the election of its president next December. The vote will take place online, during a congress organized virtually.
First declared candidate, Azeri Suleyman Mikayilov (photo below) will have to face competition whose contours remain unclear. He answered questions from FrancsJeux.
FrancsJeux : What is the main reason that pushes you to apply for the presidency of AIBA?
Suleyman Mikayilov : I decided to run for president because I believe I can make a difference. Above all, I can help boxers around the world to be able to count on a trusted authority, of which they could be proud. I want AIBA to once again be equipped with real governance at the global level, based on stricter ethics. Our body must regain the right to organize boxing competitions at the Olympic Games. I want to restore unity and solidarity within the boxing family. I will show my determination to initiate this reform process by constituting a group of international ethics and integrity experts, responsible for ensuring that the new AIBA meets the expectations of our national federations and the strictest criteria of the IOC.
What support can you count on to win the election?
I am convinced that there is a very strong desire for change on the part of all national federations, all boxers and the boxing family. This desire for reform is consistent with all my principles. I can therefore count on the support of the majority of national federations. They are waiting for a leader who perfectly understands our sport. I was a boxer, a coach, then a member of the executive bodies of my national federation and AIBA. I know that the national federations will support the candidate who presents the best program and will be able to respond to the IOC's expectation of in-depth reform. I want to rebuild unity. To do this, I will invite all my colleagues to play a role in this reconstruction process. I trust their insight and wisdom.
How do you plan to fill AIBA’s $16 million deficit?
This figure of $16 million deficit was publicly announced by one of our colleagues, but it is not accurate. But even if the deficit is not that high, we cannot hide that AIBA has significant debts, the result of loans and investments inherited from the past. There are concrete solutions to erase our organization's debts and start cleaning up our accounts. I am currently working on how to resolve all financial matters, relying on a team of external experts. A detailed plan of measures intended to close our deficit and restore transparent financial management features prominently in my candidate manifesto.
In your opinion, what needs to be done to restore the image and credibility of AIBA, particularly with the IOC?
The only way to achieve this is to implement all the necessary changes. Only they can guarantee a future for our sport, not only in the eyes of the IOC. This future will depend on our ability to be united, to bring about real changes in governance, integrity, gender equality and financial management. Once we accomplish all this, our lost image and credibility can be restored. The IOC is waiting to see how far our reforms will go in order to evaluate them and lift our suspension after the Tokyo Games. If I am elected, I will begin the reform process with our national federations and with the contribution of international sports experts, independent and external to the world of boxing. The IOC President recently spoke about AIBA, repeating the importance of the reconstruction work necessary to regain our credibility, particularly in the area of governance. Rebuilding our governance is vital for the future. But it is also necessary to completely review our rules and our competitions, to bring them more in line with the current trend in international sport. I am thinking in particular of the contribution of technology to the judging system, but also of a new training model for officials. In my manifesto, I will announce a number of other technological advances that I want to bring to fruition. The IOC also calls for future Olympic revenues to be used only for boxers and national federation development programs. I completely agree. AIBA cannot succeed by ignoring national federations and their financial constraints. We must help them solve their problems.
Can AIBA still regain its place in the Olympic movement before the Paris 2024 Games?
This is one of the essential points of my manifesto. I believe it is possible for AIBA to regain the support of the IOC. I hope we can play a role at the Tokyo 2020 Games and then assume our full responsibility at the Paris 2024 Games. The IOC will make its decision to lift our suspension after the Tokyo 2020 Games, so in a little more than a year. year. I have already prepared reform programs. If I am elected in December, I will implement them immediately to satisfy the IOC with actions, and no longer just words. I am 100% in favor of the Olympic Games being the ultimate stage for AIBA-affiliated boxers. I fully support the IOC, I personally have every confidence that it will do everything possible for the success of boxing at the Tokyo Games. If I am elected, I will ensure that the entire boxing family supports the IOC. AIBA will always be part of the Olympic movement. I want to prove that we bring added value to the Olympic Games. We want to be back for Tokyo 2020, and certainly for Paris 2024.
