UCI's Olympic quota increase "still under discussion" by IOC

By Carlton Reid, bikebiz.com

Women's boxing has been KO'ed by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Association - it will not feature at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 - but no final decision has been made by the IOC over the UCI's "quota increase" request. Earlier this year the UCI decided to axe the men's kilo and the women's 500m time trial in favour of BMX. The kilo is as old as the Olympics, the women's 500m is a recent addition to the Games. The UCI decided to drop the women's 500m even though the IOC wants more women participants at the Olympics.

On Thursday morning, the Executive Board (EB) of the IOC announced which sporting federations would have their requests met in regards to changes or additions to events and quotas within their respective sports for the programme of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The EB based its discussion on the recommendations of the Olympic Programme Commission. Using 'positive discrimination', the EB agreed to changes which will lead to an increase in the number of female athletes by about 80.

Among the requests by international federations accepted by the EB was an increase of two female teams - from 10 to 12 - for football at the Olympics, a request from FIFA. However, women's boxing will not be seen in Beijing, decided the EB.

But the UCI request to "increase their quotas for the 2008 Olympic Games" are "still under discussion," said a statement from the IOC.