Port of Spain geared up for 1st AIBA Americas Olympic Qualifier

PORT-OF-SPAIN, T&T, March 10, 2008 - Trinidad and Tobago turned on a warm welcome on Monday to the athletes and officials who have arrived on the eve of the 1st AIBA Americas Olympic Qualification Tournament in the capital Port of Spain.

A total of 163 boxers from more than 25 countries are expected to participate in what is the fifth of 10 AIBA Olympic qualifying events and the first on the Americas continent. The second and final Americas qualifying tournament will be held in Guatemala from April 24-29.

After missing the opening Olympic qualification event - the AIBA World Championships Chicago 2007 - boxing heavyweights Cuba have sent a full line-up of 11 boxers to Trinidad and Tobago. Brazil and Ecuador are expected to be the only other two nations to also boast a full complement of boxers.

The 60kg division looks to be the toughest of the 11 different classes with 2005 world champion and 2007 Pan American Games winner Hernandez Yordanis Ugas (CUB) expected to face 2007 Pan Am Games silver and bronze medallists Everton Lopez (BRA) and Jose Pedraza (PUR) respectively.

The full list of competitors will not be confirmed until the official weigh-in and draw takes place on Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m.The opening ceremony will take place on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. while the opening bouts will start at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

A total of 23 Olympic vacancies are on offer at this tournament followed by a further 23 in Guatemala.

Total Olympic Qualification vacancies for the Americas (46)
Weight in kg	1st Qualifying Tournament	2nd Qualifying Tournament
Light Flyweight Up to 48kg	Gold, Silver	Gold, Silver, Bronze
Flyweight Over 48 to 51kg	Gold, Silver	Gold, Silver
Bantamweight Over 51 to 54kg	Gold, Silver
Featherweight Over 54 to 57kg	Gold, Silver,	Gold, Silver
Lightweight Over 57 to 60kg	Gold, Silver	Gold, Silver, Bronze
Light Welterweight Over 60 to 64kg	Gold, Silver, Bronze	Gold, Silver, Bronze
Welterweight Over 64 to 69kg	Gold, Silver	Gold, Silver
Middleweight Over 69 to 75kg	Gold, Silver	Gold, Silve
Light Heavyweight Over 75 to 81kg	Gold, Silver, Bronze	Gold, Silver, Bronze
Heavyweight Over 81 to 91kg	Gold, Silver	Gold
Super Heavyweight +91kg	Gold	Gold, Silver
Total	23 Places	23 Places