Buenos Aires, le 9th September the delegates from the International Wrestling Federation (FILA) and wrestlers in Buenos Aires to defend their sport at the 125th IOC Session were overwhelmed with joy at the news that the IOC Members chose to reinstate their sport in the programme for the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games at the expense of the other two sports in the running, baseball/softball and squash.
Addressing the IOC Members, FILA President Nenad Lalovic said, “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 modernization will not stop now. We will continue to strive to be the best partner to the Olympic Movement that we can be.”
A longstanding core sport in the Olympic programme through to Rio 2016, the IOC Executive Board had proposed taking wrestling off the 2020 programme, but the 125th IOC Session has chosen otherwise.