WORLD BOXING has appointed Tom Dielen as its new secretary general, tasking him with overseeing the organisation’s day-to-day operations as it builds towards the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 (LA28).
Dielen was selected following an open recruitment process and will assume the role in February. He will be based at World Boxing’s headquarters in Lausanne and will report to the Executive Board and World Boxing President Gennadiy Golovkin.
A dual Belgian and Swiss national, Dielen brings close to three decades of experience across senior leadership roles in Olympic sport. Most recently, he served as secretary general of World Archery from 2005 to 2025, a period during which he led the implementation of a long-term strategic vision that reshaped the federation. Under his leadership, World Archery transitioned from a sport facing potential Olympic exclusion into a respected, financially stable and innovation-driven international federation, earning recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), per the media release.
Earlier in his career, Dielen held senior positions at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Fédération Internationale de Tir à l’Arc (FITA), further strengthening his credentials within global sport governance.
He has also contributed extensively to the wider Olympic Movement, serving on committees and boards of several major organisations, including the Association of Summer International Olympic Federations (ASOIF), the International World Games Association (IWGA) and the Association of Paralympic Sport Organisations (APSO).
Dielen holds a Master’s degree in Engineering (Computer Science) from the Catholic University of Leuven, along with a Sport Management qualification from the Belgian Olympic Academy. He is a recipient of the Sport Merit Award from the Catholic University of Leuven and an Honorary Member of the Compagnie des Archers de Lausanne. A former national-level competitor in field and 3D archery, he remains actively involved in sport, including tennis, curling, skiing and cycling.
Golovkin said, “Mr Dielen’s background in international sport aligns well with the responsibilities and expectations of our organisation. I am confident that this experience will strengthen our work and support its future development.”
Dielen added, “I am really thrilled to start a new challenge in the Olympic Movement as Secretary General of World Boxing. From the first contact with Mr Golovkin, the President, there was a good feeling between the two of us and I thank him and the Board for this opportunity. I am looking forward getting to know the athletes of this truly universal sport. There are exciting moments ahead this year with events for young athletes in Thailand and of course Senegal. Then there will be the World Boxing Cup series events in Brazil, China and Uzbekistan for the athletes as they start their road to LA2028. In the coming months, I will start to expand the team to ensure a bright Olympic future for the sport. Let’s get in the ring and work on inspiring and engaging people to pursue a passion for boxing through integrity and excellence.”
