Assuming it is cancelled, an entire cycle of boxers will have lost their chance to market themselves to a wider public. Very few i imagine will stay on and wait another three years. A huge amount will suddenly be turning pro, I imagine Sky will be effected as they do profit most from the Olympic athletes. Incredibly unfortunate for amateurs in this generation.
Felt like this was GB's best squad for a long time. Pat Mckormack, Ben Whitakker, and Peter Mcgrail looked nailed on to secure at least a bronze. Considering the ages of the squad, I think all of them will turn over now. If they are cancelled, I feel sorry for Frazer Clarke the most. He has been waiting for several years to go to the Olympics.
Such a shame. Will really effect a lot of people's lives. Guaranteed some promising amateurs may even leave the sport, due to having to find a job which can pay the bills, instead of waiting around for a pro contract. Will effect a lot of people's mental health.
Yeah you would have to feel sorry for all of them who have dedicated themselves towards realising the Olympic dream But especially Frazer Clarke as you say. Especially looking forward to the McCormack brothers turning pro.
100% Not just here but all over the world, many of who don't get any funding and have to hold down full time jobs also, making HUGE personal sacrifices.
So true. I’ve been working with a handful of Team GB athletes (not boxers) and it’s not just their training, but their very lives exist around each 4 year Olympic cycle. Many athletes have lost their sponsorship incomes because of Covid, and amateurs rely on this to live. Like @Scissors posted, many train their entire lives with this as the pinnacle
There looks to be a bit of a battle going on between the Japanese and the IOC over this. I don't think the former want the expense with no tourism influx to offset it and no access to the vast tv money the IOC keep hold of. What should happen is the IOC pay Tokyo some of those revenues and we all watch our boxers compete for the honours they trained so hard for! Course anyone who knows anything about the IOC will see the flaw in that statement.... What a mess.
I thought they would have perhaps split it amongst different countries to make it easier to police. For instance have the boxing In UK, gymnastics in Japan, etc. Then push the Olympic offering back. So give Japan the 2024 or award them a future one or something. That way the olympics get the tv revenues amd the athletes still get to medal. Bunch of atheletes are going to miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity. If you’re 30-34 that’s you finished.
It’s a shame for those lads who have been training towards this moment - its not 3/4 years wasted its the best part of 10/15 as this is all they’ve been working for.
With apparently 80 percent of the Japanese public not wanting the games to go ahead I’d be amazed if the Olympics is on this summer barring some medical breakthrough.
Yep most will I think Because look at some of the ages they will turn this year... Cheavon Clarke 31 Frazer Clarke 30 Galal Yafai 29 Cyrus Pattinson 27 Scott Forrest 27 Pat Mccormack 26 Luke Mccormack 26 Callum French 26 Peter McGrail 25 It'll be good for the pro game though. Mark Dickinson, Jordan Reynolds, Carl Fail, Thomas Hodgson, Conor Loftus, Solomon Dacres have all left and turned pro recently too.