The Rio boxing Olympian has been named as one of ten athlete ambassadors to assist the IOC oversee the boxing program for Tokyo, in the wake of the suspension of the sport’s international governing body, AIBA.

In June this year, the IOC Executive Board determined that the boxing competition will definitely go ahead in Tokyo, with AIBA to remain suspended. The Board appointed a five-member IOC Boxing Task Force (BTF) that will guide the sport through qualification and to the Games themselves.

Shelley will take on the role of engaging with the boxing community and bringing the athlete’s perspective to the BTF.

The Task Force, chaired by IOC Member Morinari Watanabe, draws on expertise from previous Games, while the role of National Olympic Committees and National Federations remains unchanged in selecting boxing teams for qualifying events and ultimately through to the Games.  

The group of athlete ambassadors will provide advice to the Task Force that was established to conduct all aspects of the competition in Tokyo, including qualification, the Games’ technical requirements - such as anti-doping, and the split between men and women for the Games.

The ten ambassadors – five women and five men – are drawn from the five regions: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

AOC President John Coates says Shelley Watts has championed the cause to improve female representation at the Games.

“Shelley is an excellent choice. She’s on the AOC Athletes’ Commission, she a lawyer and she’s fought hard to lift the number of weight divisions available for female boxers and the number of quota spots for women in boxing. 

“Shelley had the opportunity to meet IOC President Thomas Bach at the AOC Annual General Meeting in May where she explained that the representation of women needed to increase to meet the IOC’s aims for equality.

“Since then she has been liaising with the IOC and now we are seeing a 25% increase in the quota places made available for women in Tokyo.”

“This confirms Shelley’s value. She’s a strong and forthright character.”

Australian boxers will qualify through a combined Asia/Oceania regional tournament in Wuhan, China, February 3-14 with a second opportunity in the world qualification event in Paris mid-May 2020.  

Shelley says she’s thrilled with both her appointment and the lift in the representation of women in the Tokyo boxing program.

“For the IOC to make a commitment to ensure our boxers can compete at Tokyo 2020 is a massive credit to the organisation and their values. The opportunity to assist and be a part of the road to Tokyo is not lost on me! 

“We will assist the IOC at the continental qualifying events and hopefully help boxers with any questions they have about this new path to Tokyo 2020.

“While I can't be in the ring in Tokyo, I cannot wait to play a small part in the IOC keeping boxing in the Games and for other boxers to experience the amazing sensation it is to step into the Olympic arena,” Ms Watts concluded.