adminof all 26 sports at the London Games.
“The news from the IOC is extremely disappointing,” said British Wrestling chief executive Colin Nicholson.
There is a slim chance wrestling may win a reprieve when the IOC meets in Buenos Aires in September to ratify its choice.
But it will be vying with seven other sports, among them squash, roller sports and sport climbing, that are hoping for inclusion in the Olympic programme. Modern pentathlon and taekwondo were thought to be the sports most at risk when the IOC committee met in Lausanne, Switzerland yesterday, but wrestling was the surprise choice for the axe.
It will now compete with baseball/softball, squash, karate, sport climbing, wakeboarding, wushu and roller sports for a place in the 2020 Games.
“This is not the end of the process, this is purely a recommendation,” said IOC spokesman Mark Adams. “This is not about what’s wrong with wrestling but what is good for the Games.”
It is extremely unlikely that wrestling will be voted back in so soon after being removed by the executive board, but Adams stressed: “Today’s decision is not final.” – AFP.
Online Reporter