The CPOW press conference during the NCAA tournament featured (from left): World champion Bill Scherr, Congressman Jim Jordan, Wrestling legend Dan Gable and Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs. Tony Rotundo photo.
Continued from page 5
the 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympic Games.
It is important to understand that this
campaign is being run on two fronts. First is the effort here within the United States, where we will put all of our resources and abilities to work to assist in the cause. The second is the international effort, which will be led by FILA, the internation- al wrestling federation, as well as all of the other national wrestling federations around the world.
There was big news within international wrestling just three days after the IOC recommendation. At a FILA Bureau meet- ing in Thailand, there was a vote of no confidence for FILA president Raphael Martinetti of Switzerland, who stepped down after 10 years in office. A new Acting President was elected, longtime wrestling leader Nenad Lalovic of Serbia. President Lalovic appointed FILA Vice President Stan Dziedzic of the USA as his top assistant. Added to the FILA Bureau was former USOC CEO Jim Scherr of the USA, along with three-time Olympic champion and Russian parliament member Alexander Karelin and Pedro Gama Filho, president of the Brazilian wrestling feder- ation.
Since that decision, there has been new leadership within FILA, which will be spearheading the international effort on behalf of Olympic wrestling. This new leadership has been making numerous
6 USA Wrestler
changes and improvements in the way that international wrestling is governed and managed. The International Olympic Committee has been very clear in their message that FILA must change, and positive steps are being taken to make wrestling a stronger sport moving for- ward.
The effort within the United States is being led by a committee formed by USA Wrestling called The Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling (CPOW). There are 21 major wrestling leaders on CPOW, each who has made a major impact on the sport in our nation. Bill Scherr, a World champion, Olympic medalist and leader within the Olympic movement is the chairperson. Jim Scherr is the co-chairperson, Mike Novogratz is the spokesman and John Bardis directs Development and Fundraising. Legends such as Dan Gable, John Smith, Bruce Baumgartner, Rulon Gardner and Clarissa Chun are on the team.
The regular Question and Answer col- umn in USA Wrestler this issue features an in-depth conversation with CPOW chair Bill Scherr about the Olympic effort. The mission of CPOW is to ensure that wrestling remains as a core sport of the Olympic Games. This group meets week- ly to oversee all aspects of the American effort to preserve Olympic wrestling. Through its structure of committees and subcommittees, CPOW is working along with USA Wrestling staff on a daily basis
on this issue, covering all of the aspects needed for a successful campaign. This includes integrating international rela- tions, grassroots involvement, public rela- tions, marketing and fundraising in a strategic and unified way. CPOW has officially launched the 2020
Vision national marketing and public rela- tions campaign to support its efforts. Entitled "2020 Vision: Wrestling, Keep The Dream Alive,” the campaign uses numerous media platforms, including a website, Twitter feed and Facebook page, banners, print and digital materials and TV/web PSAs to support the effort. There is a story on 2020 Vision in this edition of USA Wrestler. The Keep Wrestling In the Olympics Facebook page developed by USA Wrestling went past 100,000 likes in its first month of existence. The Facebook page has shown amazing growth and has expanded to an international focus. The Twitter handle, @wrestlingvision, has been launched as the official Twitter handle of the Keep Olympic Wrestling movement. USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender has been very active in interna- tional coalition-building among national wrestling federations behind the Keep Olympic Wrestling effort. He attended the Freestyle World Cup in Iran, the European Championships in Georgia and the Pan American Championships in Panama, meeting with Continued on page 7
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