International Olympic Committee Cuts Wrestling from 2020 Olympics

[RyFo18]

This is stupid if you ask me. 90% of the people on here probably don't care. But you have an event where people ride around on horses telling them to do stupid shit (Dressing) and you cut wrestling?

Source (http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/ioc-drops-wrestling-2020-olympics-18473870)


IOC Drops Wrestling From 2020 Olympics
By STEPHEN WILSON
LAUSANNE, Switzerland
abcnews.go.com


International Olympic Committee drops wrestling from the 2020 Olympic program

The Associated Press

IOC leaders dropped wrestling from the Olympic program on Tuesday, a surprise decision that removes one of the oldest Olympic sports from the 2020 Games.

The IOC executive board decided to retain modern pentathlon — the event considered most at risk — and remove wrestling instead from its list of 25 "core sports."

The IOC board acted after reviewing the 26 sports on the current Olympic program. Eliminating one sport allows the International Olympic Committee to add a new sport to the program later this year.

Wrestling, which combines freestyle and Greco-Roman events, goes back to the inaugural modern Olympics in Athens in 1896.

"This is a process of renewing and renovating the program for the Olympics," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. "In the view of the executive board, this was the best program for the Olympic Games in 2020. It's not a case of what's wrong with wrestling, it is what's right with the 25 core sports."

Adams said the decision was made by secret ballot over several rounds, with members voting each time on which sport should not be included in the core group. IOC President Jacques Rogge did not vote.

Wrestling was voted out from a final group that also included modern pentathlon, taekwondo and field hockey, officials familiar with the vote told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the voting details were not made public.

The board voted after reviewing a report by the IOC program commission report that analyzed 39 criteria, including television ratings, ticket sales, anti-doping policy and global participation and popularity. With no official rankings or recommendations contained in the report, the final decision by the 15-member board was also subject to political, emotional and sentimental factors.

The international wrestling federation, known by the French acronym FILA, is headed by Raphael Martinetti and is based in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland. Calls to the federation for comment were not immediately returned.

Wrestling featured 344 athletes competing in 11 medal events in freestyle and seven in Greco-Roman at last year's London Olympics. Women's wrestling was added to the Olympics at the 2004 Athens Games.

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.

The IOC executive board will meet in May in St. Petersburg, Russia, to decide which sport or sports to propose for 2020 inclusion. The final vote will be made at the IOC session, or general assembly, in September in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

It is extremely unlikely that wrestling would be voted back in so soon after being removed by the executive board.

"Today's decision is not final," Adams said. "The session is sovereign and the session will make the final decision."

The last sports removed from the Olympics were baseball and softball, voted out by the IOC in 2005 and off the program since the 2008 Beijing Games. Golf and rugby will be joining the program at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Previously considered under the closest scrutiny was modern pentathlon, which has been on the Olympic program since the 1912 Stockholm Games. It was created by French baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement, and combines fencing, horse riding, swimming, running and shooting.

Klaus Schormann, president of governing body UIPM, lobbied hard to protect his sport's Olympic status and it paid off in the end.

"We have promised things and we have delivered," he said after Tuesday's decision. "That gives me a great feeling. It also gives me new energy to develop our sport further and never give up."

Modern pentathlon also benefited from the work of Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., the son of the former IOC president who is a UIPM vice president and member of the IOC board.

"We were considered weak in some of the scores in the program commission report but strong in others," Samaranch told the AP. "We played our cards to the best of our ability and stressed the positives. Tradition is one of our strongest assets, but we are also a multi-sport discipline that produces very complete people."

[OmahaChief]

I don't really watch much of the wrestling but I think it is a terrible decision. It is a good bridge to the past Olympics and still a valid sport today. To see it lumped in with wakeboarding and sport climbing and whatever washu is dumb.

[RyFo18]

I saw a few tweets saying that this is basically China pushing their weight around because they suck at wrestling. They're doing what they can to get ahead in the medal count. The US has 124 medals in this sport since 1896.

[Deberg_1990]

Interesting...is it because not enough countries participate anymore? TV ratings for it are down? Heck, when they broadcast the games, you can barely find it. They put it on CNBC at Midnight.

[LOCOChief]

THIS FUCKING SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RyFo18]

Interesting...is it because not enough countries participate anymore? TV ratings for it are down? Heck, when they broadcast the games, you can barely find it. They put it on CNBC at Midnight.

It came down to this or Penthathlon apparently. If it was because of countries that participate, well wrestling had 71 countries participate in London. Pentathlon: 26.

[Deberg_1990]

Hard to believe they cut this over Equestrian?? Does the horse get the medal or the rider?

[LOCOChief]

This will no doubt hurt the sport, still have the NCAA tourny but this sucks. Hurts the Russian wrestlers more, now they have nothing but FILA.

[Marco Polo]

This is one of the oldest sports in the entire world. The Olympics are becoming nothing more than a money-making industry than for the glory of sport- which basically is a hypocripsy of the true Olympian spirit.

[threebag]

Hard to believe they cut this over Equestrian?? Does the horse get the medal or the rider?

Come on man, Mitt Romney can't relate.

[Radar Chief]

One less reason to waste any time watching the Olympics.

[Radar Chief]

This is one of the oldest sports in the entire world. The Olympics are becoming nothing more than a money-making industry than for the glory of sport- which basically is a hypocripsy of the true Olympian spirit.

Take heart, as long as the cameras can keep showing chicks in tight bikinis sporting a wedgy sand volleyball will remain an Olympic sport.

[ptlyon]

W.T.F?

[suds79]

One less reason to waste any time watching the Olympics.

This.

If you want enough swimming to fill two lifetimes, then just tune in.

Otherwise if you want to watch other sports you're interested in, you have to do it online.

I'm not a wrestling fan by any means but I don't understand how that shouldn't be in the Olympics.

[ptlyon]

Are they at least going to add another sport, like the weight lifters throwing the gymnasts for distance?

[Prison Bitch]

Can't say I've ever met a wrestling fan in my life, at least legit and not WWF. Watching two guys wrestle bores me to tears. Lame.

[Sorter]

Unfucking believable.

Seriously shocked right now.

[loochy]

This doesn't make sense. Wrestling is a valid sport with historical significance. WTF?

[tooge]

They'd have more viewers if the guys weren't wearing tights

[Sorter]

I don't think this is a done deal though. I think they have to have a meeting to discuss it further in St. Petersburg...the Russians will fucking go crazy if the IOC tells them there is no more wrestling.

[Frazod]

Can't say I've ever met a wrestling fan in my life, at least legit and not WWF. Watching two guys wrestle bores me to tears. Lame.

Apparently you're not from Iowa. LMAO

[Graystoke]

This seems pretty lame.
And yes, I am from Iowa

[Easy 6]

Terrible idea, get rid of one of the olympics founding sports?

Water ballet and curling? gets to stay... true olympic sport gone, whut.

[ChiefsHawk]

Terrible idea, get rid of one of the olympics founding sports?

Water ballet and curling? gets to stay... true olympic sport gone, whut.

curlings rocks!

[LoneWolf]

Can't say I've ever met a wrestling fan in my life, at least legit and not WWF. Watching two guys wrestle bores me to tears. Lame.

Well I'm glad that the measure of something being lame or not is your uninformed opinion. I guess if it was up to you the Olympics would be nothing but the "cool" sports like equestrian, field hockey, and pentathlon. Wrestling is a sport that dates back to the original Olympics a couple thousand years ago, but we don't need that in the Olympics because people who have never competed in the sport or taken the time to learn about it think it's lame.

Is the "Prison" in your username silent?

[Rain Man]

Wrestling IS the Olympics. Wrestling, running, and throwing the javelin are the survival skills that generated competitive sports. They can't cut wrestling. That would be insane.

Do they still have solo synchronized swimming? That one kills me.

http://www.harveyabramsbooks.com/pankratiast1.jpg

[ottawa_chiefs_fan]

I saw a few tweets saying that this is basically China pushing their weight around because they suck at wrestling. They're doing what they can to get ahead in the medal count. The US has 124 medals in this sport since 1896.

And we all know the Chinese excel at golf and rugby....

[ptlyon]

If they drop badminton, a lot of people are gonna be PISSED

[Pablo]

Don't watch it. Don't care.

[Groves]

Come on man, <s>Mitt Romney</s> John Elway can't relate.

You meant.

[Sorter]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IJgiKN_tYNY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Such a boring sport.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Wrestling is going to die in the U.S. :(

[Iowanian]

And yet they'll still have F'ing ribbons....and water polo......

[GloryDayz]

Wow, the Olympics have created one MORE reason to not watch! Fucking stupid!

[alnorth]

At first I thought "well hell, if thats how they voted, there's nothing that can be done, even if it seems insane." However, after some research I am now convinced that this decision will not stand.

The IOC did not do this, it was a recommendation from the executive board that would still have to be ratified in September. And no, China did not do this, China only has 3 members in the entire IOC, I'm now convinced that this was the result of idiot groupthink from a small group isolated from reality. A lot of members of the IOC were equally shocked by this. There are about 120 members of the IOC, and I'd bet a lot of money that this decision will be overruled in September.

There are just 15 members of the executive board, so you only need 8 votes for modern pentathlon over wrestling. Sounds insane, but with that few people, perhaps you could get 8 stupid people.

After doing some research I found out where they came from:

Belgium
Singapore
Germany (x2)
Morocco
Great Britain
Australia
South Africa
Sweden
Taiwan
Switzerland
Ireland
Spain
Ukraine
Guatamala

One of those 15 members is like one of the lead people of modern pentathlon, too, so I'm sure he was yammering on about how his sport should be saved over drinks to the other 14. When you look at that list, I see a lot of potentially fruity Europeans who might not care about Wrestling.

Never mind the USA, we only won the 3rd-most wrestling medals last time around. Russia is absolutely pissed. Iran is outraged, India and Japan are angry, then there are a whole hell of a lot of former soviet and middle east countries who basically only do wrestling and almost nothing else. This thing is going to build into an enormous backlash which I can only presume that these 15 fools had no idea would occur. If they could do it over again, I bet they would come up with a different decision.

I'm not really concerned that wrestling will be dropped, I am pissed off because I wanted to see Karate make it in, and now they probably wont because Wrestling will have to be saved and that utterly retarded horse-jumping/swimmin/sword whatever sport stays on.

[Iowanian]

At least there is Equestrian....where the animal does the work......

Don't forget Synchronized swimming..............

[Prison Bitch]

Well I'm glad that the measure of something being lame or not is your uninformed opinion. I guess if it was up to you the Olympics would be nothing but the "cool" sports like equestrian, field hockey, and pentathlon. Wrestling is a sport that dates back to the original Olympics a couple thousand years ago, but we don't need that in the Olympics because people who have never competed in the sport or taken the time to learn about it think it's lame.

Is the "Prison" in your username silent?

I really don't have a strong opinion on a sport I've never spent one seco d watching. Course, that's the problem for the Olympics: how to get people to tune in. They will get a few rural folks in Iowa and Oklahoma to tune in. I guess.

[alnorth]

I really don't have a strong opinion on a sport I've never spent one seco d watching. Course, that's the problem for the Olympics: how to get people to tune in. They will get a few rural folks in Iowa and Oklahoma to tune in. I guess.

That argument doesn't wash either, wrestling is extremely popular around the world, especially compared to the alternatives. Russia and India, two enormously populated countries, watch it and its the national sport of several nations.

It does not make sense even from a "who cares about tradition", cold analytical point of view. Modern Pentathlon is garbage, but got saved by fruity Europeans and nepotism.

[LoneWolf]

I really don't have a strong opinion on a sport I've never spent one seco d watching.

Watching two guys wrestle bores me to tears. Lame.

You really need to shut the fuck up about this subject.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

It is preposterous, especially given amateur wrestling's international popularity and historical roots.

I never wrestled, but I had several close friends in high school who did. The passion of wrestlers for their sport surpassed any other sport I've seen, and it continues to do so.

[007]

there is tons of shit that should be cut from the olympics. Wrestling is NOT one of them. Wow.

[Chiefaholic]

Coming from a former high school wrestler, this pisses me off. Those of you who are lame ass b**ches who call the sport boring have no ****ing clue how much work and dedication wrestling takes. To watch it and understand it keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire match. This is a sport where one guy can totally destroy his opponent the majority of the match and lose with just one simple screw up. Dominant wrestlers have to have speed, strength, agility, quick actions and reactions, and YEARS of training to have a minute chance of achieving an opportunity to make the Olympics. But nooooo.... Let's pass up tradition and more passionate fans than many of the other lame ass reasons NOT to watch the Olympics.

[Brock]

This is mind boggling. And yet olympic bmx lives.

[GloryDayz]

I really don't have a strong opinion on a sport I've never spent one seco d watching. Course, that's the problem for the Olympics: how to get people to tune in. They will get a few rural folks in Iowa and Oklahoma to tune in. I guess.

LOL, most schools across America have a wrestling program in them. I'm not sure how you get to your conclusion. I'm not saying it's the biggest sport in the world, but it's sure one that most US schools support.

[CrazyPhuD]

The Hulkster is not amused!

http://jmag77.typepad.com/photos/catch_hulk_hogan/hulkster14.jpg

[GloryDayz]

Coming from a former high school wrestler, this pisses me off. Those of you who are lame ass b**ches who call the sport boring have no ****ing clue how much work and dedication wrestling takes. To watch it and understand it keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire match. This is a sport where one guy can totally destroy his opponent the majority of the match and lose with just one simple screw up. Dominant wrestlers have to have speed, strength, agility, quick actions and reactions, and YEARS of training to have a minute chance of achieving an opportunity to make the Olympics. But nooooo.... Let's pass up tradition and more passionate fans than many of the other lame ass reasons NOT to watch the Olympics.

Well said. I coach it now, and both wrestled and played football "back in the day." Not that difficulty equates to a reason for the Olympics to have a sport (or they'd have a treadmill running event!!!), but it flat blows that these paid-off assholes would cut a sport that's actually done worldwide... i don't care if it's folk vs Greco vs freestyle, it's just wrestling. Still the most awesome sport in the world. And as much as I always loved it, words can't describe the rush I'd get watching my son.

[Rain Man]

Based on the article, it sounds like wrestling can get back in, but it has to compete with other iconic sports like wakeboarding, roller sports, and wushu. Wushu?

No wonder civilization is collapsing around our ears.

[rico]

I am speechless. Incredibly pissed off that this is even a mere consideration, let alone looking to actually unravel.

**** the Olympics. I am never watching them again. Seriously, **** fuck them and anyone who thinks this is a good idea.

[listopencil]

It's because Pope Benedict 16 is stepping down. Apparently it was his favorite amateur sport.

[Tribal Warfare]

Hard to believe they cut this over Equestrian?? Does the horse get the medal or the rider?

speed walking too

[CoMoChief]

So you take away the oldest and most original sport in the Olympics?

Good Job....almost as good as the Rio decision.

Wonder though if they get rid of boxing and open the door for MMA

[alnorth]

The Olympic committee for the Russian Federation has decided to formally appeal the decision to the full IOC. At the same time, the president of the IOC has also scheduled a meeting with the governing body of wrestling, and IOC officials are now starting to suggest that perhaps they might recommend 3 sports out of 7 to be included with the 25 core sports, not just 1.

I'm not surprised in the least, as I expected they are catching holy hell for this decision, and now they are trying to figure out a face-saving solution to this self-inflicted problem.

edit: the government of India also announced that they are going to do whatever they can to keep wrestling.

[Rausch]

So you take away the oldest and most original sport in the Olympics?

Good Job....almost as good as the Rio decision.

Wonder though if they get rid of boxing and open the door for MMA

Kenny Monday will be on a rampage next...

[Chief_For_Life58]

how the hell do you cut wrestling from the olympics? Its the oldest sport in the world next to running. Outrageous

[Rausch]

how the hell do you cut wrestling from the olympics? Its the oldest sport in the world next to running. Outrageous

Running - a small part of the training necessary to wrestle...

[alnorth]

Even though it now looks clear that wrestling will be saved, it still boggles the mind that we're even talking about this.

If we want to put in a lot of made-up sports to fill out the program, fine but we always have to have the primal things: people run, people jump, people throw things, people swim, and people fight.

Out of all the combat sports, wrestling is probably the most pure and honorable, in that no one is actually trying to hurt their opponent. In the other combat sports, you are trying to hurt your opponent, and we put in equipment and safety things so that you hopefully are unable to do it even though you try.

[-King-]

As long as I cut speed walking, I'm fine with it...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fsl53ft0byo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[ghak99]

I never wrestled and am not what I would call a fan, but I respect the sport for what it is.

I find it incredibly ****ing retarded that they would even consider removing wrestling from the Olympics.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Even though it now looks clear that wrestling will be saved

Link?

[houstonwhodat]

Roddy White calls IOC “retards” for dropping wrestling


http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/13/roddy-white-calls-ioc-retards-for-dropping-wrestling/

[cosmo20002]

Hard to believe they cut this over Equestrian?? Does the horse get the medal or the rider?

I'm telling you, it is Mitt Romney's fault. He runs the dancing horsey world.

[cosmo20002]

Rowdy Roddy Piper better get his shit together for 2016. He'll be too old for 2024.

[alnorth]

Link?

Its all over the news. Russia and India are appealing it which is completely unprecedented, the IOC president is meeting with FILA, also completely unprecedented, they are now back-peddling talking about how maybe it wont be just one sport recommended to add to the other 25, but as many as 3.

Its clear by simple common sense that wrestling will obviously be saved, I don't need a link.

I'd even go so far as to say that it was obvious to anyone who was paying attention that wrestling probably wouldn't be cut like in my post from yesterday, the media just just lazily relied on what happened to baseball when they said it was over for wrestling.

[Beef Supreme]

They still have rhythmic gymnastics where women wave ribbons around. So we got that.

[redfan]

I blame the X-games.

[alnorth]

Interesting. I just read a story where 4 years ago one of the leaders of the US Olympic Committee was meeting with the IOC executive board to discuss why the Chicago bid failed, and he just happened to learn that wrestling was possibly in trouble. He immediately alerted FILA that they needed to get to work on wining and dining the IOC's executive board, but he was completely ignored.

[Valiant]

Interesting...is it because not enough countries participate anymore? TV ratings for it are down? Heck, when they broadcast the games, you can barely find it. They put it on CNBC at Midnight.

Ratings are not down. The stupid shit they force you to watch is down. Thete should be multiple channels showing every sport live then recapped. Hell create extra channels for it. All the cool shit is never shown.

[Valiant]

Its all over the news. Russia and India are appealing it which is completely unprecedented, the IOC president is meeting with FILA, also completely unprecedented, they are now back-peddling talking about how maybe it wont be just one sport recommended to add to the other 25, but as many as 3.

Its clear by simple common sense that wrestling will obviously be saved, I don't need a link.

I'd even go so far as to say that it was obvious to anyone who was paying attention that wrestling probably wouldn't be cut like in my post from yesterday, the media just just lazily relied on what happened to baseball when they said it was over for wrestling.

Thats good. It is an original sport. Thousands of years oldd and still relevant.

[crazycoffey]

Watch them replace it with MMA fighting. Only reason it would make sense. Otherwise WTF

[Sorter]

Interesting. I just read a story where 4 years ago one of the leaders of the US Olympic Committee was meeting with the IOC executive board to discuss why the Chicago bid failed, and he just happened to learn that wrestling was possibly in trouble. He immediately alerted FILA that they needed to get to work on wining and dining the IOC's executive board, but he was completely ignored.

Both FILA and the IOC are composed of some of the most moronic people on this planet. Fuck, FILA completely fucked over Kolat.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Its all over the news. Russia and India are appealing it which is completely unprecedented, the IOC president is meeting with FILA, also completely unprecedented, they are now back-peddling talking about how maybe it wont be just one sport recommended to add to the other 25, but as many as 3.

Its clear by simple common sense that wrestling will obviously be saved, I don't need a link.

I'd even go so far as to say that it was obvious to anyone who was paying attention that wrestling probably wouldn't be cut like in my post from yesterday, the media just just lazily relied on what happened to baseball when they said it was over for wrestling.

Fair enough. I was hopeful when learning of the IOC meeting. It's also nice to have Russians, Indians, and Iranians on your side. Who knows...might shake things up a bit with FILA and things turn for the better.

[Sorter]

Fair enough. I was hopeful when learning of the IOC meeting. It's also nice to have Russians, Indians, and Iranians on your side. Who knows...might shake things up a bit with FILA and things turn for the better.


FILA needs to be burned to the fucking ground.

[alnorth]

Fair enough. I was hopeful when learning of the IOC meeting. It's also nice to have Russians, Indians, and Iranians on your side. Who knows...might shake things up a bit with FILA and things turn for the better.

The USOC finally weighed in today with a sort of measured response disagreeing with the decision. Makes sense for us to not be first or too angry, to avoid having a situation where European OC's reflexively go against wrestling because the Americans are pissed. Now that Russia, Iran, and India are all howling (and Greece too, apparently) its probably safe for us to say something.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

FILA needs to be burned to the ****ing ground.

pretty much.

Ball grabs :facepalm:

[BlackHelicopters]

Badminton is still though right? ( wipes brow as a sign of relief)