2020 Olympic organisers working for boxing at Games despite freeze

The organisers of Tokyo's 2020 Olympics said Saturday they would continue working to stage a boxing tournament at the games despite a freeze by the International Olympic Committee.

On Friday, the IOC said it was freezing preparations for boxing at the 2020 Games and launched a probe into the sport's troubled governing body -- the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

It said it wanted the sport included in 2020, but warned its inquiry could see boxing excluded.

On Saturday, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said that while "official level contact" was halted by the IOC's decision, working-level contact with AIBA would continue.

"Working level contact is allowed, that's our understanding. So we will liaise, we will keep our collaboration, coordination," he told reporters after a meeting with the IOC's executive board in Tokyo.

"We will make efforts in preparation so that we have no delay in responding to the eventual decision which might come to implement the competition (of boxing)," he added.

"Venue preparation will proceed accordingly."