Women's boxing added to London Olympics

BERLIN, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Women boxers will compete in the 2012 Olympics in London, the International Olympic Committee announced Thursday.

The IOC said women's boxing "has made substantial progress in universality and technical quality of the athletes" since 2005, when the sport was last considered for inclusion in the Olympics.

Three women's boxing events will be added to the program. There will be 10 men's boxing events.

Other changes in London will include a new run-shoot format in the pentathlon, elimination of placement matches in handball and new sprint events in canoe racing.

The IOC is considering the addition of mixed doubles in tennis, and new events in cycling, swimming and wrestling.