Wrestling pins opponents, stays in Olympics

Chicago Tribune ^ | 10:57 a.m. CDT, September 8, 2013 | Philip Hersh

[Dave346]

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Making a solid case for its modernity despite being a core sport of the ancient Olympics, wrestling saved its place on the Summer Games program Sunday.

Wrestling wiped its opponents off the mat, defeating baseball / softball and squash to gain the one open spot on the 2020 Olympic program and be assured of staying at least through 2024.

It took just one round of voting by International Olympic Committee members for wrestling to get the needed majority. Wrestling got 49 votes to 24 for baseball / softball and 22 for squash.

[Chode]

squash, please...

[Mathews]

We prayed hard over this one. Damn shame it had to come to a vote.

[Revolting cat!]

I hope it’s the fun filled Professional Wrestling not the fake high school kind!

[Revolting cat!]

squash, please...

It will be served in the Olympic Village cafeteria.

[DeFault User]

You'll need special equipment for that:

[dfwgator]

I want Sumo Wrestling to be added for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

[Revolting cat!]

Here's the official mask of the US Olympic Wrestling Team.

[Chode]

the two at top right look like, well, 0bama toys...

[Mercat]

This is all very sexist. My daughter in law and I believe that the next Olympian sport should be timed competitive shopping. Extra points for holidays.

[Boogieman]

[Mr Ramsbotham]

That’s one for the Penile Code.

[Thunder90]

Good. Greco-Roman Wrestling belongs in the Olympics.

[dfwgator]

And get rid of any event that has the term “Synchronized” in it.

[elpadre]

wrestling was one of the original sports of the Olympics and should remain.

[Billthedrill]

And get rid of any event that has the term “Synchronized” in it.

No way, Jose! Think of the years of practice that go into synchronized swimming! Think of the hair gel! The gel, man!

They'll be after ballroom dancing next... (stalks off, muttering)

[StevieRay20]

Wrestling and baseball have to lobby to remain an Olympic sport when there is no such requirement of dressage, synchronized swimming and diving, badminton,and jumping on a trampoline. Makes sense in this bats#!t crazy world.

[crusher]

Any activity that cannot be measured — more, faster, higher, farther — cannot be a sport. Once judges are involved, it ceases to be a sport (other than judges/referees assuring the rules are being followed). It might be athletic, rigorous even, but it is not a sport.

[dfwgator]

[mware]

As much as boxing was one of the original competitions in the ancient games, with the horrible judging, in the last few games, I would rather see it removed