Wrestling is back, reclaiming its spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games after beating bids from rivals squash and baseball/softball in an International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote.
Wrestling, which featured in the ancient Olympics and in every modern Games apart from 1900, had been surprisingly taken off the Games in February as the IOC looked to refresh its sports program.
“This was a victory for Greece because the sport is completely Greek and is part of our history,” Greece’s wrestling federation president Kostas Thanos told Novasport FM radio following the vote in Buenos Aires.
“I want to really thank journalists, Greek MPs and the Greek Olympic Committee for their efforts and the support they have given us during what was a difficult time.
“As we saw, there was an unprecedented response globally and I think those reactions surprised the IOC,” he added.
Greek Olympic Committee president Spyros Kapralos has welcomed the decision.
“The decision is sure to be warmly welcomed by all sports people, not only in Greece, but everywhere in the world. It is impossible for anyone to imagine an Olympics without the presence of such a historic sport,” he said in a statement.
Source: Reuters