KEEP WRESTLING IN THE OLYMPICS
What you need to know about the Olympic effort
The sport of wrestling has received world- wide support in its quest to remain part of the Olympics in 2020 and beyond
By Gary Abbott
The international wrestling community received a tremendous shock on Feb. 12, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board made a recommendation that wrestling not be included among the 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympics. Worldwide reaction to this recommen- dation was immediate and overwhelming. Wrestling, a sport in the ancient Olympic Games which was also included in the first modern Olympic Games, has received considerable support from the international media, from governments across the globe, from leaders in the Olympic movement and from citizens in all walks of life.
For so many people, it seems incom- prehensible that the Olympic Games could be held without the sport of wrestling. USA Wrestling is asking all of those who support wrestling to remain involved and active in this issue over the next few months.
So much has already happened in the first two months since wrestling’s Olympic status became threatened. The best way to stay informed is to visit the website which USA Wrestling has created about the Olympic issue: www.
KeepOlympicWrestling.com. At this website, you can sign up, share informa- tion and make a donation to the cause. Your active involvement will make a big difference in our efforts to retain our Olympic status.
Three Key Background Facts • Wrestling is not out of the Olympics.
Wrestling legend Dan Gable speaks during the CPOW press conference at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Tony Rotundo photo.
The IOC Executive Board has made a recommendation that wrestling not be included among the 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympics. Wrestling will be included as a core sport at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is fair to say that this is a very powerful recom- mendation, and the challenge facing wrestling will not be easy. • Wrestling can remain a core sport on the Olympic program if there is an effec- tive and successful international effort to provide the IOC and the world with the facts about why wrestling belongs in the Olympic Games. The United States is a leader in this worldwide effort, and is working closely with our brothers and sis- ters in wrestling around the world.
• There are two key dates on the IOC calendar which are very important. The first date is in St. Petersburg, Russia, May 29-31. The IOC Executive Board will review wrestling, along with seven other candidate sports for the Olympic pro- gram, and will recommend two or three of those sports for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics as a provisional sport. The next key date is September 7-10 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, when the IOC General Assembly meets. There they will vote on which one provisional sport will be added to the program for 2020 and 2024.
They will also vote whether to accept the Executive Board recommendation of
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