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16/02/2009
Equality bid raises hopes for women's boxing in 2012
A drive for sexual equality in sport could see women boxers taking part in the 2012 Olympics.
Olympics minister Tessa Jowell has written to sports chiefs asking them to put pressure on the International Olympics Committee to end what she calls 'gender inequality'.
As well as opening the doors for female boxing, this would meant that sports traditionally seen as 'feminine', such as synchronised swimming competitions and rhythmic gymnastics, could taken to Olympic level by men.
If would also mean that female athletes would be able to take part in Greco-Roman wrestling and boxing, which are both currently men-only.
In a letter to Baroness Campbell, who chairs UK Sport, Jowell and Gerry Sutcliffe, the sports minister, said the government had an "obligation to GB athletes to pursue equality".
Tessa Jowell said that over a third of the 34 events across the 26 sports In the Olympic programme reflected some kind of gender discrepancy. In Paralympic sports this was nearer 50 per cent.