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The International Olympic Committee recently recommended that wrestling be removed from the Olympics as soon as the 2020 summer games. This controversial decision has been widely criticized as this is a sport that not only was part of the ancient Olympic games, but also have been a part of the modern Olympic games since the first games in 1896.
The committee has said that their ultimate goal is to ensure that the games are "relevant" to the widest possible amount of viewers. Eliminating wrestling also eliminates the Olympic dream for hundreds of potential Olympic wrestlers, and this decision has been a big blow to thousands of athletes around the globe who participate in the sport in high school and perhaps college.
The first Olympic games included athletics, which are just track and field events, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling. Rowing and sailing were scheduled but poor weather conditions forced them to be excluded. All of these events except for wrestling are set to be part of the 2020 Olympic Games. It seems curious that all of the original sports save one should be included and somehow the IOC considers something such as fencing or sailing more "relevant" sport than wrestling.
There are several other choices that might be better to do away with than wrestling. Even if you keep the sports that have been there since the first modern games, we could cut something such as badminton, table tennis or team handball. Three of the badminton teams from the 2012 Olympics had players disqualified for cheating, not to mention the fact that badminton is a game we play at picnics. When it comes to table tennis and team handball, they are certainly moderately fun to watch, but should be eliminating core sports for what are essential playground and leisure activities?
We could also eliminate a sport such as synchronized swimming. While I am sure people love it and it looks pretty cool, consider the fact that only five colleges or universities in the United States have varsity-level synchronized swim teams. There are more than 220 intercollegiate wrestling programs in the United States just in the NCAA alone, including 85 Division 1 programs. Just to keep things in perspective, there are only 25 NCAA Division 1 fencing teams in the country and less than 50 in all, but the IOC isn't eliminating fencing. It's hard to imagine that more people tune in to watching fencing with protective gear and safety tips than an actual one-on-one contact sport.
Wrestling is not the right sport to eliminate. While no matter what the IOC does, it will surely face criticism, and there needs to be a strong rationale before a sport is eliminated. It makes little sense to cut a popular sport with worldwide support and historical significance. Instead of eliminating the main core events, we should consider widening up the area and possibly adding some sports instead.
The committee has said that their ultimate goal is to ensure that the games are "relevant" to the widest possible amount of viewers. Eliminating wrestling also eliminates the Olympic dream for hundreds of potential Olympic wrestlers, and this decision has been a big blow to thousands of athletes around the globe who participate in the sport in high school and perhaps college.
The first Olympic games included athletics, which are just track and field events, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling. Rowing and sailing were scheduled but poor weather conditions forced them to be excluded. All of these events except for wrestling are set to be part of the 2020 Olympic Games. It seems curious that all of the original sports save one should be included and somehow the IOC considers something such as fencing or sailing more "relevant" sport than wrestling.
There are several other choices that might be better to do away with than wrestling. Even if you keep the sports that have been there since the first modern games, we could cut something such as badminton, table tennis or team handball. Three of the badminton teams from the 2012 Olympics had players disqualified for cheating, not to mention the fact that badminton is a game we play at picnics. When it comes to table tennis and team handball, they are certainly moderately fun to watch, but should be eliminating core sports for what are essential playground and leisure activities?
We could also eliminate a sport such as synchronized swimming. While I am sure people love it and it looks pretty cool, consider the fact that only five colleges or universities in the United States have varsity-level synchronized swim teams. There are more than 220 intercollegiate wrestling programs in the United States just in the NCAA alone, including 85 Division 1 programs. Just to keep things in perspective, there are only 25 NCAA Division 1 fencing teams in the country and less than 50 in all, but the IOC isn't eliminating fencing. It's hard to imagine that more people tune in to watching fencing with protective gear and safety tips than an actual one-on-one contact sport.
Wrestling is not the right sport to eliminate. While no matter what the IOC does, it will surely face criticism, and there needs to be a strong rationale before a sport is eliminated. It makes little sense to cut a popular sport with worldwide support and historical significance. Instead of eliminating the main core events, we should consider widening up the area and possibly adding some sports instead.
About the Author:
Rod Bourgoine likes blogging about mixed martial arts benefits. For more details about martial arts San Diego or to find San Diego boxing classes, please check out The Arena MMA site today.
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