AIBA President Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu gave the preparations for the boxing competition of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing the thumbs up following the completion of the Good Luck Beijing International Invitation Test Event in Beijing on Thursday.

"The AIBA delegation has left Beijing feeling extremely heartened by the performance of the organizing committee throughout the duration of the test event," Dr. Wu said. "The Beijing Workers Stadium is an impressive stadium and never in the history of boxing at the Olympics has AIBA had such a stadium of this capacity while the competition organisation this week has been very impressive, from the transport to the accommodation right through to the tournament itself. Of course there are some areas which need improving but we have more than enough time to solve these issues and I am confident that the Beijing Olympic Games will take boxing forward to a new level never seen before."

AIBA's two Technical Delegates for the event Mr. Rudel Obreja and Mr. Terry Smith concurred with the president.

"The organization of the test event over this past week has been nothing short than exemplary," Mr. Obreja, who is an AIBA Vice-President and former Romanian Olympic boxer, said. "Everything ran smoothly and the attitude of the local organizing committee has been first class, we are tremendously pleased with how things are at present."

"Never in my experience, which dates back to the 1992 Olympic Games, have preparations been so advanced," Mr Smith, who is chairman of the AIBA Refereeing and Judging Commission, said. "We are looking forward now to the next seven months to iron out the little problems which need addressing but we are well on track."

The next item on the agenda on the Road to Beijing is the first of nine continental Olympic qualifying events which will be held in Algiers, Algeria from January 22-31, 2008.

Click here for the full agenda and conditions
Beijing Test Event website