IOC to Consider 33 Changes to Sports Before London 2012

The International Olympic Committee will consider the introduction of women's boxing and an overhaul of the modern pentathlon among possible changes to events in time for London 2012. The IOC sports director, Christophe Dubi, said today that the executive board would consider 33 changes to the 26 existing Olympic sports before the London Games.

The changes put forward by the relevant sporting bodies include a proposal from the International Boxing Association to allow women to compete for the first time. Under the plans teams would comprise 10 men and three women.

"They have provided documents concerning the medical elements of the women's discipline," said Dubi. "These documents have been supplied to the Commission, which is preparing a report."

Under the IOC's rules existing Olympic sports are allowed to propose changes to the format and rules of their events three years before the Games. The IOC has consistently pushed to have more women competing in the Olympics but ruled out an earlier request for women's boxing to be included in Beijing last year. However, it has said that the earlier decision will not prejudice its deliberations.

Modern pentathlon has applied to have a combined running and shooting event as the climax to the competition. If given the green light, the new format would be introduced in time for 2012.

Dubi said that all the requests would be considered by the IOC executive board meeting in Berlin on 13 August.