Wrestling, Baseball/Softball & Squash Retain Olympic 2020 Hope

By Steve Moorhouse

Baseball/softball, squash and wrestling still have their Olympic destiny in tact after the IOC decided to keep the three sports in the running for the 2020 Olympic Games.

At the SportAccord Convention in St Petersburg, Russia, wakeboarding, sport climbing, karate, wushu and roller sports were cut by the IOC, ending their chances of inclusion in the world’s largest sporting event.

All eight sports presented to the IOC at the Convention and hoped to retain their place on the list, but ultimately there are few surprises.

Perhaps the biggest talking point is the IOC’s partial U-turn in keeping wrestling, having controversially dropped the classic Olympic sport earlier in the year.

Wrestling reserved in their celebrations

After a painful few months, in which their Olympic future had been in doubt and the organisation went through major changes, the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) was unsurprisingly happy to be kept in the mix.

Newly elected President Nenad Lalovic said: “While our place in the Olympic Games is still not guaranteed, this decision recognizes the great lengths to which we are going to reform our sport and address the IOC’s concerns.

“We recognize that there is still a long road ahead but we will continue to work to preserve our place in the Olympic Games.”

Squash celebrates

World Squash Federation President N Ramachandran, who led Squash’s presentation team, said: “This is a huge milestone in our quest to join the Olympic Programme and I would like to thank the Executive Board for the faith it has placed in Squash.”

Ramachandran (centre) went on to say that the improvement of ‘key areas’ such as broadcasting would have helped their bid, as well as having seven-time world champion Nicol David and Men’s Number One Ramy Ashour in attendance at their presentation.

Baseball/softball ‘honoured’

Riccardo Fraccari, President of International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and co-President of World Baseball Softball Confederation said: “We are humbled and honoured to be considered for further consideration as a potential Olympic sport and we congratulate and recognise the efforts of our fellow 2020 sports in this campaign.

“The executive board’s decision motivates us to work even harder on behalf of the athletes.”

Disappointment for others

The five sports to miss out have been campaigning for nearly two years and the news will be a blow to their federations and athletes alike.

Marco Scolaris, President of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) said in an exclusive interview with iSportconnect in March that exclusion from the Olympics could ‘kill’ smaller sports such as climbing.

The news will also come as a disappointment to Kuno Ritschard, the President of the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF).

In an interview with iSportconnect in February, Ritschard highlighted the IOC President Jacques Rogge’s speech where he wanted a more youth-driven sport than wrestling in the Olympics.

Ritschard told iSportconnect: “At this stage, with the IOC President’s clear directive in mind… they have to vote for a new sport and not put Wrestling back in the Games.”

Bidding city reacts

Tsunekazu Takeda, Tokyo 2020 President was quick to announce that Japan’s capital would be prepared regardless of the sport chosen: “We have noted today’s announcement by the IOC Executive Board regarding the sports shortlisted for inclusion onto the 2020 Olympic Games sports programme.

“Tokyo 2020 promises delivery with guaranteed quality and maximum benefits for everyone. We can assure the IOC that, whichever sport is selected to join the Olympic programme, Tokyo 2020 will be designed to offer them wide exposure and an amazing Games experiences for its athletes.”

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