EXECUTIVE NOTES By Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director
Incredible pride in USA Wrestling for its tremendous efforts in hosting 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas When I look back at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas in September, I am incredibly proud of USA Wrestling and the U.S. wrestling community for making the event such a stunning success. When United World Wrestling entrusted USA Wrestling with the opportunity to host the 2015 World Championships, we set some very high objectives. It was the goal of our entire organi- zation, including our national staff and our volunteer leadership, to host the very best World Championships ever held. Although it is for others to determine, I truly believe that we reached our goal. Looking at the overall impact of this year’s World Championships, I am confident we have raised the bar for international wrestling and helped strengthen our position within the Olympic community. As Executive Director, I challenged our staff to work together as a team on the World Championships. Our staff took on this project with a positive attitude and devoted a tremendous amount of additional time and effort in organizing the World Championships, beyond their regular duties and responsibilities. I believe that we have the best national staff in the Olympic movement, and that was truly displayed during the entire process. National Events Director Pete Isais spearheaded the effort, and the entire staff played important roles. The USA Wrestling volunteer leadership also made a commit- ment to help create an amazing event. From our Board of Directors and standing committees, to our state and local lead- ership, everybody pitched in to help promote the World Championships and provide the support needed. An operation this size can only succeed with a large team of event volunteers, who donated their time and expertise to help in a variety of ways during the tournament. Hundreds of volun- teers came from across the nation to Las Vegas, making sure that we could be helpful and gracious hosts to the world. We want to thank some key partners who made things hap- pen, including the U.S. Olympic Committee, United World
Wrestling, our hosts at Las Vegas Events and an incredible local organizing commit- tee led by Larry Barnson and Rob Cate. We had many sponsors who shared our vision for the World Championships and provided key support and resources. The U.S. athletes, coaches and team leaders did an amazing job preparing for competition. We not only take great pride in our four World champions and seven World medalists, but in all 24 wrestlers who represented them- selves and their nation so very well. Operationally, the event was magical, with an electric atmos- phere throughout the week. Our fans came out in big numbers, and provided fantastic support for Team USA. The feedback that we received from the delegtions from other nations was that it was a wonderful experience for them in all aspects. So many people left Las Vegas with memories for a lifetime. Hosting a World Championships on U.S. soil is a major honor.
As an American Olympic community, we also have a chance to help host a future Olympic Games. The USOC has named Los Angeles as its bid city for the 2024 Olympics. The USA has not hosted a Summer Olympics since the 1996
Atlanta Games. As a leader in the worldwide Olympic move- ment, the United States deserves an opportunity to host another Olympic Games. The leadership at the USOC, including presi- dent Larry Probst and CEO Scott Blackmun, have done a great job putting our nation in a strong position to win the bid for the 2024 Olympics. Los Angeles, which has hosted two previous Olympic Games, can provide everything needed to present another fantastic Olympic Games.
The wrestling community can help in this bid process. In June 2016, we host the Freestyle World Cup in Los Angeles for the third straight year. The 2016 U.S. Olympic freestyle team will be showcased at the World Cup, along with Olympians from other top nations. By filling the arena and putting on another world- class event, we can help the Los Angeles bid group show the IOC that Olympics should be there. Let’s put the same energy into the 2016 World Cup that we had in Las Vegas this year!!
4 USA Wrestler
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