After GB Boxing’s success at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – James DeGale won a gold medal, Tony Jeffries and David Price bronze – attention shifted immediately to the challenge of London 2012.

BABA – the British Amateur Boxing Association – was established in August 2008, with the three home nations of England (ABAE), Wales (WABA) and Scotland (ABS) as its shareholders.

The organisation was set up to manage the World Class Programme, initially for men, competing at all Olympic weights. The August 2009 IOC announcement that women will be invited to compete at three weights brings Britain’s female boxers into the fold.

UK Sport is the largest funder, with an expressed intent of achieving optimum medal success at future Olympic and World games.

At the first meeting of the new organization, Derek Mapp was nominated as Chairman of the Company.

BABA’s vision has medal success at the core, but stretches out beyond the podium to securing a lasting legacy for the sport beyond 2012:

We will be uncompromising in our pursuit of excellence and global success for British Amateur Boxing; committed to create a lasting legacy; immensely proud of the inspirational impact we can have in the community; open to anyone with desire, talent and will – whoever and wherever they are in Britain.

BABA’s headquarters and core facilities are at the English Institute of Sport, in Sheffield. The EIS is the perfect location for an ambitious elite programme, in terms of both location and facilities.