Olympic Games:Katie Taylor's dream of fighting for a gold medal at the Olympics in 2012 was granted today after a meeting of the executive of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Berlin rubber-stamped the inclusion of women's boxing in the programme for the London Games.
Golf and rugby sevens have been proposed to join the schedule in 2016, with a final vote on their inclusion to take place in October.
Boxing had been the only Olympic sport not to include female participants, but the IOC executive board have announced that they will include three weight divisions in 2012 at the expense of one men’s weight division.
After admitting the wait before the decision was made had been a hard one, Taylor today expressed her delight that she will get to fulfil her ambition.
“I'm absolutely thrilled. This is a dream come true, not only for me, but for female boxers throughout the world who have worked so hard to gain Olympic status,” said Taylor.
"Our sport has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and this decision has added a whole new dimension to the sport as we now have the chance to compete in the Olympic Games,” she added.
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Martin Cullen, welcomed the decision, saying: "This certainly augurs well for the future of women's boxing. Ireland's Katie Taylor, who has been a dominant force in this field in recent years, will no doubt excel in this arena. Katie has numerous European and World titles to her name and I have every confidence that in 2012 she will add an Olympic Gold to her cache."
"Having proudly watched the achievements of our boxers in Beijing, last year, I am personally delighted that athletes such as Katie will have an equal opportunity of representing our country on the world stage," he added.
A series of secret ballots were taken at this morning’s meeting, with the sport gaining the fewest amount of votes not being considered for the next round.
When all the votes had been tallied, golf and rugby emerged as the candidates for the 2016 Games.
Asked if he was concerned that golfers might consider the Olympics a lesser event than the four majors, IOC president Jacques Rogge felt that wouldn't be an issue.
“We don’t believe that’s going to be the case,” he said. “We have received a lot of comments from golfers that they all want to go to the Olympic Games.
“The same question was raised about tennis and ice hockey. Ask Nadal, ask Federer, ask the players from the NHL (National Hockey League). They all want to go to the Olympic Games.”
International Rugby Board (IRB) president Bernard Lapasset welcomed the news, but knows there is more work to do before its inclusion is finalised.
“We would like to thank the IOC Executive Board for selecting Rugby Sevens from what are seven strong and diverse sports. We recognise the significance of this milestone in our campaign but are also mindful that the ultimate decision rests with the IOC members when they meet in Copenhagen on October 9, 2009,” he said.
“The Olympic Games would be the pinnacle of the sport for all our athletes and the Rugby family, providing the opportunity for the best men’s and women’s players in the world to showcase their talent on the world’s greatest sporting stage. The international Rugby community is united behind Rugby Sevens’ campaign and we now look ahead to October.”