IOC looking to cut a sport from Olympics

by **jeffr_ideal** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 10:32 am

I was stunned to see paragraph 11 here. Are you kidding me?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/1 ... 61418.html

"The future of wrestling, badminton and table tennis have also been the subject of speculation."

by **quanon** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:04 am

Stan has talked about this before. Greco is apparently more endangered than freestyle.

Having said that, is wrestling considered to be one sport with two events, or are freestyle and Greco separate sports? In other words, would both be cut, or would they only cut one? The language of the article seems to suggest that both would be cut.

by **fullnelson** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:23 pm

But if history plays into the decision, what sport is more historical than wrestling. Biblical, in the original Olympic Games-BC, and in the Games since it was re-established in 1896.

by **The_Education** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:03 pm

If they get rid of greco, would they add a couple of weight classes to freestyle and women's wrestling?

by **rvr1406** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 3:44 am

Wrestling was dropped from the 2020 Olympics this morning in Switzerland according to the associated press.

by **The_Education** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:00 am

It's not official yet, but reports are that wrestling will be dropped.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130 ... mpics.html

by **pipewrench** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:01 am

AP Source: IOC drops wrestling from 2020 Olympics

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-source-ioc-dro ... --oly.html

by **DBCooper** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:19 am

The day of reckoning has arrived for our beautiful sport. What a sad, sad course of events. Really don't know what to say.

by **gwog** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:25 am

Mission
"USA Wrestling, guided by the Olympic Spirit, provides quality opportunities
for its members to achieve their full human and athletic potential."

We all know the above and most have the webpage bookmarked in our favorites. I'm stunned. Hurt. Speechless.

Feels like a kick in the stomach.

by **npope** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:25 am

If true, I view it as both a blessing and a curse. The IOC has been the driving force behind the reduction of weight classes in international competition; a move based solely on a desire to accommodate the number of competitors in the Olympics itself. If axed from the Olympics (which certainly bares some negative consequence) at least the sport would be free to govern itself once again as it sees fit, e.g. possibly expanding weight classes back to 10 weights per style, etc.

The IOC has never been wrestling's friend - maybe time to be happy we can take our ball and go home.

by **pipewrench** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:27 am

Well, at least the Modern Pentathelon fans wont be upset. All 9 of them.

This post was deleted by Richard_Immel on Tue Feb 12, 2013 1:16 pm. Top

This post was deleted by Richard_Immel on Tue Feb 12, 2013 1:16 pm.

by **FATMANROLL** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:35 am

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2013/02/1 ... -tells-ap/

by **jeffr_ideal** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 5:24 am

I am stunned. Talk about a sport that is popular across the globe, with the possible exception of Africa. The more I thought about it yesterday, I felt it was impossible that they would cut wresting due to many reasons. And now this. Anybody know if Stan was in attendance?

by **DuckFor2** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 5:34 am

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/ol ... story.html

"Wrestling will now join seven other sports in applying for inclusion in 2020. The others are a combined bid from baseball and softball, karate, squash, roller sports, sport climbing, wakeboarding and wushu. They will be vying for a single opening in 2020."

REAllY?? roller sports? wushu? wtf is WUSHU??? SQUASH??

by **nom** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 5:56 am

We need some influential leaders. I hope we get them. Need to rally. My check book is open and waiting for inspired direction. I know it will take some time ....

Who are the senior politicians that are friends of the sport today?

by **tec87** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 5:57 am

Hey but at least golf gets to be in the Olympics again......

by **no excuses** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 6:14 am

I guess I'll convert my son to twirling ribbon on a stick. What a great sport that is. Maybe he can realize the great Olympic dream of gold medal ribbon twirler!

by **Karelin** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:38 am

President of the Russian wrestling federation Mamiashvili said that his 99.9% certain that wrestling will remain an Olympic sport.

by **MadMardigain** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:43 am

I agree some other events with multiple disciplines and events can easily be consolidated. The Olympics really doesn't have to many historic events left. Plus eliminated a total event eliminates a core group of countries who use those events as their only medal chances.

by **TheOhioState** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:44 am

Karelin wrote:President of the Russian wrestling federation Mamiashvili said that his 99.9% certain that wrestling will remain an Olympic sport.

That sounds encouraging. Karelin, do you have links to any articles? Much appreciated if you do.

by **Karelin** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:05 am

here is a long interview with Mamiashvili (it is in Russian though) http://wrestrus.ru/news/fsbrnews/FILA_h ... cii_bor_bi

main points:

- Wrestling community needs to raise an issue of FILA leadership competence. FILA and Martinetti (FILA president) dropped the ball and did nothing to prevent this development

- Japan won 4 wrestling medals in London and If Tokyo wins bid for 2020 Olympics, Japanese aren't going to be happy about the expulsion of wrestling.

- We are going to do everything we can to have wrestling added back to the 2020 program.

by **Matburn155** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:25 am

I feel like I'm in a nightmare.

by **Karelin** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:27 am

If Turkey (Istanbul) wins bidding process for the 2020 Olympics, then there is no way wrestling is going to be eliminated in 2020.

by **buf87** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:41 am

I think we need to add more to wrestling. Syncronized wrestling, tag team wrestling and and have the wrestlers have pretty ribbons tied to their wrists and twirl around. It would be pretty!!