Compiled By Shylo Adams
Marine Corps Sergeant Greg Gibson wrestles Yoshihiro Fujita of Japan in the Greco-Roman wrestling competition at the 1984 Summer Olympics. COURTESY OF KEN HACKMAN, U.S. AIR FORCE
The International Olympic Committee is planning to hold a vote about
whether it will scrap wrestling and seven other sporting events at future summer games starting in 2020.
The potential moves do not affect the next summer games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
“In an effort to ensure the Olympic Games remain relevant to sports
fans of all generations, the Olympic Programme Commission
systematically reviews every sport following each edition of the
games,” the IOC said in a press release.
The IOC announced Tuesday that 25 sporting events in the summer games would maintain their status as core sports, excluding wrestling.
The news sent shockwaves through the wrestling community involved in
the Olympic games, and many Facebook groups popped up in an attempt to
save the sport.
“We are deeply surprised by the recent recommendation of the Executive
Board of the IOC to withdraw the sport of wrestling from the Olympic
Programme,” said Don Ryan President of Wrestling Canada, in an online
statement.
The governing body of Olympic wrestling, the International Federation
of Associated Wrestling Styles, also shared their concerns with the
decision.
“FILA was greatly astonished by today’s recommendation of the IOC
Executive Board not to maintain wrestling among the 25 core sports for
the 2020 Olympic Games,” said the International Federation of
Associated Wrestling Styles.
The other seven sporting events looking to be included in the 2020 games are:
• Baseball/Softball
• Karate
• Roller sports
• Sport climbing
• Squash
• Wakeboarding
• Wushu
This coming May, the IOC executive board, which added Golf and Rugby to the
2016 Olympic programme, will be meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia. The meeting will bring together groups
representing the eight sports, including wrestling, in danger of being removed. Wrestling is one of the oldest Olympic sports, along with athletics.
Wrestling was introduced to the ancient Olympic games in 708 BC.