Wrestling Cut from Olympics

[Mean Green 93-98]

In a shocking move, the International Olympic Committee voted to drop wrestling from its schedule for the 2020 Games. The unexpected decision was made via secret ballot during a Tuesday meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland where officials were discussing ways to "streamline" the Olympics.

Though many assumed modern pentathlon would get the boot, the committee instead decided to eliminate wrestling, which has roots in the ancient Greece games and has been a part of every modern Olympics since they began in 1896. The vote was completed over several rounds and the final totals were not released to the public.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/ioc-cuts-wrestling-2020-olympics-125709336--oly.html

I'm not necessarily a huge wrestling fan, but this seems like a crazy move. I mean, ping pong and badminton are Olympic sports now, and they cut an event that has been in the Olympics since ancient times?

Edited February 12, 2013 by Mean Green 93-98

[Rudy]

Complete crap. The Summer Olympics have their roots in ancient Greece and wrestling had a role in ancient times. The IOC is a damn joke.

[KRAM1]

And they leave in the pentahelon....I think that's how one spells it. Puzzling move...puzzling move.

[golfingomez]

this is dumb...how can you cut wrestling? it is the one time i would ever watch the sport

[Mean Green Matt]

They need at add baseball and softball back as well.

[oldguystudent]

The thing I used to enjoy about the Olympics when I was a kid was that I got to watch sports that I otherwise couldn't, like ski jumping and track. Modern IOC wants all LeBron, all Tiger, all Williams Sisters, all the time. Follow the money.

[mattmartin817]

How much do you want to bet that to replace wrestling they add skateboarding? $10,000 bet? Any takers?

[FirefightnRick]

How much do you want to bet that to replace wrestling they add skateboarding? $10,000 bet? Any takers?

Wouldn't surprise me at all if they did.

It'll just give me more of a reason not to watch at all.

Rick

[gksmith]

Actually Golf and Rugby are to replace Wrestling.

Wrestling is one of the original sports for the Olympics dating back to the original games. This is so wrong.

[mattmartin817]

Rugby?! I like rugby, but I thought the purpose was to get an event that is a little more popular worldwide, there's only like 5 countries that play rugby!

[KRAM1]

Good article in today's (2/13/13) Wall Street Journal as to the reasons why wrestling got the axe...at least some good speculation as to why and some ways it might can "get back in".

Sorry...cannot post a link.