Wrestling dropped from 2020 Games

[bluedigger]

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- 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.

http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/id/8939185/ioc-drops-wrestling-2020-olympics

This is a travesty. Wrestling, swimming, and track & field ARE the Olympics.

[DinahMoeHum]

1. Wow. Finally, something the US, Russia, and Iran can agree on. . .

. . .that the IOC sucks. (all 3 countries are traditional wrestling powers)

Unfuckingbelievable.

IMO, if there was a "sport" that should be eliminated, it should be rhythmic gymnastics or synchronized swimming. As it is, if the IOC adds another event that scores on "style" points, I'll scream bloody murder.

Obviously, somebody's palms are getting greased.

[bluedigger]

3. I wonder if it is a result of adding women's wrestling in 2004?

There has to be more to it than "popularity". I could see pressure from conservative groups being brought to bear against the sport, I guess.

[DinahMoeHum]

4. Somehow, I doubt the IOC gives a rat's ass about. . .

. . .conservative groups here in the US. Or in Muslim countries.

The only thing they worship is $$$$.

[bluedigger]

5. I know what you mean.

But it isn't really true. Just mostly. They are obsessed with pentathlon after all. That can't be a money maker.

And some conservatives, like the Saudis, are money.

It was just a spur of the moment thought I was sharing, though. Just trying to figure out what wrestling had done lately to bring down the wrath of the IOC.

[KamaAina]

10. Handball is actually quite popular in Europe

Taekwondo was on the list, as was modern pentathlon, but apparently those sports (?) have friends in high places, and wrestling doesn't.

Qucik, name the five components of modern pentathlon. And no Googling. I saw that!

[Renew Deal]

11. I think I will get some wrong...

Running, Swimming, Biking, Shooting, Painting?

[KamaAina]

13. Three out of five ain't bad

Hint: Painting ain't one of 'em.

[TZ]

14. Show jumping (equestrian)

is one of them...

[KamaAina]

15. Nice post, Rafalca!

You are, in fact, correct. Four down, one to go.

[bluedigger]

21. Fencing.

You need to be able to build a corral for the horse, I guess.

[KamaAina]

22. DING DING DING!!!

but not that kind of fencing, silly.

[joeybee12]

6. That's pretty bad...maybe the wrestling groups didn't bribe the IOC...

Or they didn't offer as much money as the synchronized swimming cabal.

[bigwillq]

7. Awful, terrible news.

[RockaFowler]

8. Why not get rid of Badminton??

One of the most corrupt sports this past Olympics. Oh and there is no need for it.

Keep Wrestling. I still can't believe they got rid of Baseball

[Goblinmonger]

9. Former IOC president's son is modern pentathlon vice president

A lot of people are scratching their head today over the International Olympic Committee's decision to drop wrestling from the Summer Olympics, starting with the 2020 Games.

The sport many people believed should have been dropped, modern pentathlon, survived. How could this be? Well, this might be a clue:

Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., the son of the former IOC president, is vice president of the International Modern Pentathlon Union and a member of the IOC board.

(more at link)

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-juan-antonio-samaranch-modern-pentathlon-20130212,0,1157345.story

[Renew Deal]

12. Pentatholon has a place because there is nothing special to set up

But Trampoline and Handball? WTF

[hughee99]

16. They're not necessarily out yet, but they'll have to duke it out with

baseball/softball, karate, roller sports, sport climbing, squash, wakeboarding and wushu for inclusion as "additional sports".

WTF are "roller sports"? Like roller derby?

[DinahMoeHum]

17. Methinks "roller sports" are things like skateboarding. . .

. . .speed roller skating, roller hockey, etc.

Maybe the IOC pigs want to horn in on the X-Games' success and bowdlerize the land events just as some have accused them of doing to the winter counterparts.

Greedy fuckers, the IOC. And AFAIC, they haven't met a repressive regime they didn't like.

[hughee99]

19. So it's the winter olympics on wheels instead of blades? n/t

[DinahMoeHum]

23. OK, I'll bite. . .even though this is like

explaining table manners to a 5-year-old:

Winter Olympics are for sports that are played on snow or ice.

Summer Olympics are for sports on land and water.



The X-Games have a summer version in LA (including skateboards, BMX and motocross), as well as the better-known winter version in Aspen (snowboards, skis, snowmobiles)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Games#Summer_X_Games

[hughee99]

24. So we're going to have ice hockey in the winter

and roller hockey in the summer? speed skating in the winter and in-line skating in the summer? I see these sports already in the winter olympics, it seems kind of stupid to decide you're not going to include a major and significantly different sport (baseball or wrestling, for example) so you can instead provide a cheap copy of something people already compete in.

Will we get to see street luge? Will they add wheels to the bottom of a giant stone for "roller curling"?

I like the x-games. The olympics ISN'T the x-games, nor should it try to be.

[DinahMoeHum]

27. Like I've said, I think the IOC is getting real greedy. . .

. . .and will try to take over and bastardize more X-Games events.

They make the NCAA look like paragons of virtue with their paternalistic attitude.

[bluedigger]

18. Roller sports also includes synchronized skateboarding.

Am I the only one who doesn't know wtf "wushu" is?

[hughee99]

20. I had to google it. I thought it was pork. n/t

[jakefrep]

25. Olympic roller derby would be awesome.

But only if the skaters get to keep their nicknames.

"Roller sports" encompasses stuff like speed skating, figure skating, and roller hockey.

[jakefrep]

26. Those modern pentathlon people...

...must have an amazing collection of compromising photographs.