Interview with Mr. Ted Tanner

Interview with Mr. Ted Tanner

President of the Oceanian Boxing Confederation (OCBC) and Australian Boxing Federation Mr. Ted Tanner answered our questions during the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event which is holding in Qian’an, China and where he is following the actions and the performance of their boxers.
– What is your opinion about the organization of the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event?
– Chinese Boxing Federation has presented a first class venue for the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The behind the scene organization has been perfect and the Chinese public and tournament volunteers have been very friendly and welcoming.
– Oceania joined to the Asian Olympic Qualification Event at the very first time. What are your feelings about it?
– At a meeting with AIBA today to discuss Oceania issues I advised I shall be pressing for Oceania to have a quota of boxers guaranteed for entry to the 2020 Olympic Games so as to ensure our Sport is well represented by boxers from all confederations.
– Who are your favorites in Qian’an?
– I always want the best boxers to win – but, I do cheer for the Oceania boxers.
– There are always big rivalry between Australia and New Zealand. What do you think about these countries’ boxing life?
– Australian and New Zealand sportspersons have traditionally had a very competitive rivalry. Since the mid-1990’s the Australian boxers have generally been more successful but in the last two years there has been a resurgence in New Zealand boxing. Australian boxers now know, as their fathers knew, that if they are drawn to box a ‘Kiwi’ they will have to fight strongly.
– How many Olympic quota places is the target of the Oceanian boxers for Rio?
– No specific target has been set but we would like to see at least one Oceania boxer competing in every weight category at Rio.
– Australia will be hosting the important 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. Where are you with the preparations of this huge multisport event?
– Mr. Paul Thompson, the person appointed as Competition Manager of the 2018 Commonwealth Games Boxing Tournament, and I met with AIBA yesterday to discuss arrangements for the tournament. Planning for the tournament is well advanced. The tournament will be held at Universal’s Movie World Film Studios on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. I am confident the tournament will live up to its goal of being second only to the Olympic Games Boxing Tournament as the best boxing tournament in the world.
– What are your biggest specific strength in the Oceanian region?
– Because we are so far away from the rest of the world and the difficulties associated with the necessary long travel, our boxers always have had to try harder than everyone else – this becomes a strength.
– What do you think about Oceania’s chances in the qualification events and in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games?
– It is a long time since an Oceania boxer medaled at an Olympic Games. But, the rest of the world had better not take us lightly because we have a new generation of determined and skilful boxers competing in the Olympic Games Qualifying tournaments.