The International Boxing Association (IBA) has officially opened its first IBA Fit boxing and fitness centre, with an opening ceremony held today in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The event was attended by IBA President Umar Kremlev alongside some of the region’s most decorated boxers.

Covering approximately 400 square metres, IBA Fit offers training programmes for children and adults, from complete beginners to national team athletes. Subsidised access is available for low-income families, large families and orphans. The centre is part of IBA’s efforts to develop grassroots boxing and to make the sport accessible to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

The launch marks a new milestone in the development of the IBA ecosystem. Alongside the centre, IBA also opened its first offline equipment store in Uzbekistan, following the two stores already operating in Moscow. The store offers boxers, coaches and fans direct access to IBA’s own range of apparel and equipment.

Guests at the ceremony included Rio 2016 Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov, former world champion Israil Madrimov, Emin Chagaev and Aitym Zhakupov, who joined the IBA leadership to mark the occasion.

In a further boost for grassroots and Uzbek boxing, IBA will build a sports hall in Andijan, Hasanboy Dusmatov’s hometown, in honour of the Olympic champion.

The project marks the next step in IBA’s investment in the foundations of the sport, giving young athletes in the region access to modern training facilities and a clear pathway into boxing. IBA President Umar Kremlev presented Dusmatov with a certificate for the new facility at the IBA NOMAD 16 tournament.

Speaking at the opening of IBA Fit, Mr. Kremlev outlined IBA’s wider vision for the sport and its athletes.“Our main goal is to build a complete boxing system, where boxing is not only something people love, but also a source of jobs for coaches and athletes. We are launching a clothing brand and creating the IBA ecosystem.

“When I was boxing, none of this existed. There were ten pairs of gloves for 100 people. God willed that I did not become a great boxer, but I became a sports administrator. I want to make sure boxers never go without anything – that they can simply prepare, deliver results and bring joy to the people, and be able to provide for their families,” Mr. Kremlev said.

The IBA President also addressed the wider debate around athlete pay in Olympic sport, where IBA has positioned itself as a leading advocate for greater financial rewards. “I am not competing with anyone. The Olympic Games will slowly die within five to ten years if the money the IOC earns is not given to the athletes. If that does not happen, the Olympics will die. In Central Asia people still watch the Olympics, but in Europe the focus on them has already faded. Athletes give half their lives to the sport, go to the Olympics and receive nothing but a metal medal – and it is not even pure gold – unless their own countries support them. This should not be the case.

“The Olympics should unite people. The money earned should belong to coaches and athletes. When there is proper prize money, rather than half-measures like the current USD 10,000 [the grant the IOC introduced in June for every Olympic athlete], things will change. What we have now is wrong.

“We need to create competition. An Olympic champion should receive at least one million dollars. That is exactly what IBA is doing at its World Championships. Olympic medallists will earn qualification for the IBA World Championships,” Mr.Kremlev added.