Wrestling No Longer Olympic Sport as of 2020

Phrost · 2/12/2013 10:01am

The International Olympic Committee has decided that Wrestling, the ancient sport and suggested root of all Martial Arts, will no longer be a part of the Olympics as of 2020.

The IOC's recommendation comes largely as a result of a business decision based on ticket sales, and the fact that Wrestling does not have a strong group of supporters on the committee, unlike Taekwondo and Pentathlon.

IOC spokesman Mark Adams explained the recommendation:

"It was a decision to look at the core sports, what works best for the Olympic games. This was the best program for the 2020 Olympics. This is not about what's wrong with wrestling but what is good for the Games."

All hope for the sport is not lost, as the recommendation must be put to a vote in September when the IOC reconvenes. However, experts do not believe a reprieve is likely.

How this affects the pushes to include Brazilian Jiujitsu and Mixed Martial Arts in the games, remains to be seen. There was a strong effort a little over a decade ago, to revive Pankration as an Olympic sport, which ultimately failed.

Observers have accused the IOC's politics on which sports are included in the games as being highly charged with nationalism, but the decision does not appear to have been as affected by this as much as other factors.

Regardless, it remains to be seen if Wrestling's 2000+ year Olympic history will come to an end, in September, and athletes like Aleksander Karelin, never to compete again for Olympic gold.

**erezb** · Posted On: 2/12/2013 10:24am

That is fucking outrageous. They keep all those less than interesting sports like women's basketball , women's boxing rowing etc.... but they want to take out wrestling???

**Bezmond** · Posted On: 2/12/2013 10:32am

Golf, rollerblading, wakeboarding....

But Karate might finally make it in, so that's great huh? I know you guys loves the point fighting.

**Mr. Machette** · Posted On: 2/12/2013 12:24pm

I'd say without wrestling the Olympics aren't "Olympic" anymore.

**judojeff** · Posted On: 2/12/2013 12:52pm

Of all the stupid **** they could have pulled, like say...golf or sailing or mother fucking table tennis they choose to pull wrestling. **** you IOC, thanks for getting rid of one of the few fun to watch olympic sports.

But on a small plus side we get rugby in the 2016 games, which is pretty fucking cool.

**Gluckmann** · Posted On: 2/12/2013 1:02pm

I know I'm just parroting what's been said, but this is seriously outrageous. The point of the Olympic Games is to be an international test of athleticism - a homage to the spirit of competition among men. To remove one of the most objectively competitive and historical sports in the Games is a slap in the face of everything the Games stand for. Especially when they're keeping golf and other such non-sports.

**ChuckWepner** · Posted On: 2/12/2013 1:11pm

Fantastic!

Now, they can replace discus with ultimate Frisbee, javelin with Pub darts, all the foot races with video game competitions. Soon, no original competitions will be left! Hurrah!

Or, if they just want to boost ticket sales for wrestling and save it, go back to the Athenian rules on uniforms. Think of the pay per view possibilities! The McMahons can help the IOC with planning; it would be a high class operation all the way, a real match made in heaven.