Women's boxing admitted to 2012 Olympics!

BERLIN, Germany (CNN) -- Women's boxing will be included at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the president of the International Olympic Committee announced Thursday.

The decision came during a two-day IOC Executive Board meeting in Berlin, at which board members also decided to propose golf and rugby for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games.

"I can only rejoice about the decision of inclusion of women's boxing," IOC President Jacques Rogge told reporters.

"I think it's a great decision. Boxing was the sole (Olympic) sport with no women involved.

"The sport of women's boxing has progressed a lot, a tremendous amount, in the last five years and it was about time to include them in the Games."

A men's class will be axed to make room for three women's weight categories at London 2012, the UK Press Association reported.

When the IOC dropped baseball and softball from the 2012 Olympic program several years ago, it said it would consider adding new sports that had a clean reputation and a wide appeal.

Rogge pointed out that women's boxing has around 200 athletes who could potentially compete in 2012, while softball has only around 120. As a result, he said, the IOC considered women's boxing to be more popular.