Wrestling back on Olympic programme
After being cut out from the Olympic programme earlier this year, wrestling can now look forward to be re-included in the Summer Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo.
Wrestling, which is on the programme until 2016, was taken off the IOC Executive Board’s proposal for core sports in 2020 in February this year. Since then the sport has undergone major changes that may have been one reason why the IOC members voted in favor of wrestling taking the one slot open in front of squash and baseball/softball at the IOC Seesion in Buenos Aires.
“FILA has recently improved its governance by integrating more athletes and women into decision-making positions and by increasing the numbers of its commissions,” writes the IOC about the election.
In his speech to the IOC members, Nenad Lalovic, president of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) promised to keep the sport up to date.
“With this vote, you have shown that the steps we have taken to improve our sport have made a difference. I assure each of you that our modernisation will not stop now. We will continue to strive to be the best partner to the Olympic Movement that we can be,” said Lalovic according to the IOC.
SOURCE:
http://www.olympic.org/news/wrestling-celebrates-olympic-continuation/208858