Calacus appointed to provide London 2012 support for International Boxing Association

July 18, 2012 - PRLog -- Calacus has been appointed by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) to provide local public relations support during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

This is an historic Olympic Games for AIBA, with 36 Women Boxers competing for the very first time and 50 WSB Boxers qualified out of 250 Men competitors.

Calacus will provide strategic counsel and media relations support for AIBA during the Games, using its wide range of sports and international contacts to promote AIBA’s vision and support communications around the boxing competition.

The account will be led by Calacus Managing Director David Alexander, a former sports journalist at the Sunday Telegraph and The Guardian among others, and Laura Peek, a former news journalist at The Times and Daily Mail.

AIBA Communications Director Sébastien Gillot commented: “Doing good for your sport is one thing but letting the people know about it is another. With the London 2012 Olympic Games being a watershed moment for AIBA, we are pleased to welcome Calacus as a partner. We are convinced that their support will greatly contribute to the promotion of the sport of boxing as well as all of AIBA’s activities.”

Managing Director David Alexander said: “Calacus is looking forward to being part of the AIBA team during London2012. Boxing has gone through some controversial times of late but under the leadership of President Wu AIBA is leading by example and I’m sure London 2012 is going to be very exciting.”

The London 2012 Olympic Games boxing competition will take place at the ExCeL in Docklands.

Calacus won a pitch process involving four other UK agencies.
ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

The first boxing competition at the modern Olympic Games was at the 1904 edition in St-Louis (USA) with bouts in seven weight divisions.

Several years later, representatives of the national associations of England, France, Belgium, Brazil and the Netherlands met in a preparatory conference for the foundation of an international boxing federation: The Fédération Internationale de Boxe Amateur (FIBA).

The official foundation of FIBA was celebrated on August 24th 1920 during the Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. International competition grew rapidly, allowing amateurs to compete in prestigious tournaments.

In November 1946, following controversy surrounding some leading officials during World War II, FIBA was dissolved and the English Amateur Boxing Association, in partnership with the French Boxing Federation, decided to create AIBA; the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur.

Almost 70 years later, AIBA continues to govern Olympic Games boxing with President Ching-Kuo (C.K.) Wu taking boxing into a new era, following his election as AIBA President in 2006.

One of C.K. Wu’s biggest achievements was spearheading a campaign that saw women's boxing confirmed as an Olympic sport in 2009. It will make its debut at London 2012.

President Wu has also established the AIBA Professional Boxing programme (APB), which aims to establish AIBA as the ultimate governing body for the sport of boxing. Boxers will keep the patronage of the same organisation throughout their career – from their first fight to professional bouts and Olympic boxing. APB is set to begin in early 2013.

For media inquiries please contact:
David Alexander, Calacus PR on 07802-412424 or david.alexander@calacus.com OR
Laura Peek, Calacus PR on 07970-176314 or laura.peek@calacus.com  

For more information about AIBA, please contact: AIBA PR & Communications Department on +41 21 621 80 02 or email communication@aiba.org