Wrestling, as expected, regained its place on the Olympic Games sports roster after a vote by International Olympic Committee (IOC) members in Buenos Aires on Sunday.
Wrestling, which is one of the rare sports to have transcended the ancient and modern Olympics, won in the first round of voting with 49 of the 95 votes cast.
The joint bid of baseball/softball was second with 24 votes and squash received 22.
The result means wrestling is assured of appearing at the 2020 Games – to be hosted by Tokyo – and in 2024.
It marks a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for wrestling which was dropped from the Olympic program in February by the 15-person IOC Executive Board but which provoked an unprecedented backlash.
You might like
The same board then gave it a second chance when they put it on the three-sport shortlist – after presentations by eight sports at the end of May – to be considered by the entire IOC membership in Buenos Aires.
Nenad Lalovic, who has led the sweeping reforms and campaign since he was installed as president after his predecessor was forced out because of the humiliation of being dropped, had told the members in Sunday’s presentation how important the decision would be for the sport.
“It would be an understatement to say that today is the most important day in the 3000 years of our existence,” said the Serbian.
“We have made mistakes and we have learnt from them.”
Stay informed, daily
Lalovic and his team gave a great roar when they heard the result announced by IOC President Jacques Rogge, and he then said it would be a decision the IOC would not regret.
“With this vote, you have shown that the steps we have taken to improve our sport have made a difference,” said Lalovic.
“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.
“To the millions of wrestlers, supporters and fans around the world that came together to save Olympic wrestling, I offer a very big thank you.
“Every one of you fought very hard for this victory.”
For baseball/softball, which had among others Antonio Castro – son of long-time Cuban leader Fidel – in their presentation team, it represents another blow after being voted off the Games program starting with the 2012 London edition.
For squash, there will also be huge disappointment that a journey which started 10 years ago – seeing them top the vote in 2005 but fail to get the required two-thirds majority and then fail again in 2009 – still has some distance to go before they perhaps achieve their ultimate goal.
“Today’s decision is heartbreaking for the millions of squash players around the world, particularly given the 10-year journey we have been on to join the Olympic Games Sports Program,” said squash federation president Narayana Ramachandran.
“I am encouraged by the vote we received today. We have much to offer the Olympic Movement and I am hopeful that today is not the end of our Olympic journey.”
