Have the Olympics and the IOC jumped the shark?

As a former wrestler and current grappler, I am very biased when I say this, but how in the world does the IOC cut Wrestling from the Olympics???

In the modern era, this is the one sport that has been there from the start. It also has roots in the ancient games - what gives?

And on top of that, the pentathlon or taekwondo doesn't get cut???

There's absolutely no way some of the proposed sports are more popular. Not to mention the history wrestling has and the symbolic nature of the sport (Russia, US, Iran, and Japan are all major players).

This sucks. I'm not happy.

 

I can't believe it was even given a second thought.

IOC has lost their way.

 

At least they didn't cut Badminton!

 

Indeed! Soon Tiddlywinks will be an Olympic sport. But on a more serious note, think of the greats - Gable, Sanderson, Baumgartner, Blatnick, Schultz, Gardner, Karelin, Medved, Satiev - amongst others.

Those names may not resonate with everyone, but as a long time fan, it's sad that the sport is being cast aside. I have to give credit to Mr. Gable for stepping up and helping - if the IOC won't listen to him, then it's truly a lost cause.

 

It is a lost cause and is just one more of scores of great sports and traditions that have been cut so we can enjoy beach vollyball and snow boarding.

 

Agreed - travesty is a good description:

IOC decision to drop wrestling from Olympics just wrong

 

Let's see more ribbon twirling gymnastics and stuff.

We need a Clint Eastwood commercial on the Olympics.

 

Mud wrestling!

 

They lost me with Curling. They've got to be kidding.

 

Other than the 100m and 200m men's events for track and the +105kg weightlifting, I couldn't care less about the olympics. The rest of the events take way too long and are just a pain to watch. I agree that wrestling should have stayed in above many many more "sports" that don't belong imo. I.e. the hunter jumper and dressage horse stuff (unless that has been cut as well).

It's all about $ at the end of the day and what they can get people to watch. Olympics is about marketing and making money. Nothing else really.

 

I'm not a fan of wrestling but it was a derivative of the first form of competition. There is no sport more associated with the Olympic Games than wrestling. It's a shame but they had to make room for the hugely popular trampolining and kayaking. I'm sure the revenue generated by those storied disciplines will be staggering.

 

Wrestling is somehow associated in the polluted minds of the IOC with violence, and as such must go. Looks like French logic has ruled the day! If that be the case, then boxing should have been eliminated first, but as everyone has already said, marketing is also near the top of the priority list for the olympics.

BT