By Tom Degun

May 21 - The International Boxing Association (AIBA) have become the first world governing body to set up training facilities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after its President C.K. Wu signed a landmark agreement with Carlos Nuzman, President of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) and Mauro da Silva, President of the Brazilian Confederation of Boxing (CBBoxe).



A new training centre will serve up to 100 young athletes from the age of 12 upwards and will be based at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Park in Rio.

As part of their training programme, the young boxers will receive tuition in English, Spanish and computer science in addition to their boxing training.

Wu said: "We are delighted to create this project in South America, since our goal is to develop boxing worldwide.

"Some of these athletes may eventually become Olympic medallists in 2016 but what I find most important in the project is its social aspect.

"These young people have the opportunity to build a new life through sport."

Wu added that boxers who stand out in the project could graduate to AIBA’s International Academy of Boxing in Canada.

Brazil has already demonstrated its potential in boxing earlier this month after David Laurencio da Costa took the world welterweight title at the AIBA Youth World Championships in Baku and Nuzman believes that his success could soon be emulated following the agreement with AIBA.

He said: "I’m sure this is opening the door for the emergence of a new Brazilian boxing, a sport that can serve as an example for Brazilian youth.

"We will remember this day for the Olympic Games 2016."

Under the agreement, AIBA will provide equipment, coaches and instructors to the training centre.

The first deliveries of equipment are expected within the next 90 days and in the meantime, the COB will structure the Maria Lenk Aquatic Park while CBBoxe will select young male and female participants with the help of State Sports Federations.

Mauro da Silva said: "At first we will work with about ten young people from Rio de Janeiro during the structuring of the Training Centre.

"Then we will bring athletes from all over Brazil."

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