International Olympic Committee Run By Wimpy Sore Losers
Today the International Olympic Committee announced that it was going to be removing wrestling from it’s list of competitive sports for the 2020 Olympics. When you look at the make-up of the IOC, it is not surprising that of all sports wrestling was the event that was dropped. Not because it wasn’t popular, but because the majority of IOC members come from nations that have either never or have no chance of producing a winning wrestling team.
When you read through the tally of nations who have won wrestling events in the Olympics, as well as other international wrestling competitions, the same nations have performed consistently, producing skilled athletes who have focused their time and energy, lost blood, and abused their bodies on a daily basis—most of them since childhood. The former Soviet Union was a powerhouse in the sport for decades, with the USSR’s former republics/nations still leading the world in wrestling, along with the United States, Iran, Sweden, Turkey, Japan, Finland and Germany.
The IOC, however, is comprised of every member nation, most of whom do have wrestling teams, but none of which spend as much money and effort on producing quality wrestlers like other nations. This begs the question—is the sport not that popular, or are the majority of IOC members just sore losers trying to get sports they have a better chance of winning into the Olympic roster of events?
I’ll go with the latter.
Quentin Wright, the defending NCAA champion at 184 pounds, holds the 2011 team trophy.
And quite honestly, this decision is a bunch of bull. It shows the pettiness and usual selfish politics that populate the world. If any sport deserves to be in the Olympics, it’s one of the world’s oldest (if not the oldest) sports. Wrestling is something youngsters by sheer nature do that can be harnessed and turned into a skill as they get older.
3 PIAA AA Champs all Penn State Bound! From left to right 182 lb champ Wes Phipps from Grove City, 145 lb champ Zack Beitz from Juniata & 119 lb champ Jimmy Gulibon from Derry Area.
All 3 are 4x medalist as well. Photo credit: Rusty Beitz (From http://www.thewrestlingtalk.com)
It pains me to think of all the young men and women around the world who have dedicated their life to this sport—particularly high schoolers and younger—and now have no chance to obtain and Olympic gold for their nation. For so many universities/colleges, high schools and junior highs, wrestling is a source of pride and community. It’s also one of the cheaper sports (as opposed to sailing, equestrian events, hockey, rowing, cycling, canoeing, etc) for schools and parents to afford and/or fund. Not to mention the skill and dedication it takes to turn just your body into a fighting, athletic machine. Wrestling requires no apparatus, no vehicle, no accoutrements of any kind. Just a body, a singlet, shoes and a soft place to get the job done.
With all of wrestling’s pros, it boggles the mind to even guess what the IOC will put in wrestling’s place? Jai Alai? Chess? Shopping? TV watching? The Olympics has been turning into nothing but a money-driven pop event anyway, trying to make celebrities instead of organically creating athletic role models for young people, especially in the U.S. where the most popular sport for young people is video gaming and eating garbage.
As an instructor for Penn State (Abington), I know one of our symbols of athletic prowess and pride is our wrestling team. Penn State wrestling is coached by Cael Sanderson, an Olympian who has lived his life for the sport, and he has inspired many young wrestlers to focus their skills not only on athletics, but on their education. Sanderson’s own Olympic gold has given his team members something to strive for–the ultimate in validation for any athlete who has dedicated their lives to a sport, particularly a sport that doesn’t have a national league that can guarantee young people a future career, unlike the NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL (note: two of these sports aren’t Olympic events).
So thanks, IOC, for furthering the corporate garbage that passes for athleticism. Hope you sell more t-shirts and commemorative coins now that wrestling is out. And by the way—I, along with thousands (millions?) of people, am out of watching the Olympics from here on in, because I know IOC members have very little interested in bringing the world together through sport. They’d rather do it through TV ratings and merchandising.
Penn State University Wrestling team celebrating their 3rd NCAA title. Update: Penn State won their 3rd, count them, THIRD, NCAA Wrestling Title. To read more about it, check out the PSU wrestling blog. CONGRATS GUYS!
I agree 100%. Can’t believe IOC did it. Someone has to start movement to protest this. I can get hundreds of signatures. Bustards. I’m so angry.
Alex—I have a feeling there must be thousands of faculty, coaches, wrestlers and their parents who are starting a very large swell that will drown the IOC in letters. Thanks for the comment!
Wrestling, a real, honest contest of strength, skill and luck should always be part of the Olympics. Is this some sad catering to advertising dollars, euros, or what? Thanks for shedding your insight. May you be well.
I agree that dumping wrestling is a tremendously dumb move that will likely have devasting effects on the sport here in the U.S.
What is even worse is the sneaking suspicion that a traditional sport like wrestling will be replaced with something silly like one of these rejected events: http://feitcanwrite.com/2012/07/30/rejected-olympic-events/
Reblogged this on Meir Weiss' Blog.
Reblogged this on Red Paint Blog and commented:
This post has NOTHING to do with what this blog is all about, but it gives me the excuse to ask “WHY are they removing one of the original Olympic sports?” Original as in ANCIENT Olympics. If you say the word “Olympics” you mentally picture either a 100 Meter sprint or a wrestling mat. This is just insane, especially since it seems it’s being replaced by Field Hockey.
Ah, but there is ribbon gymnastics….
It’s unfortunate that the sport was dropped. but, when the sport is obviously not drawing at the Olympic level, nor in the national level as it used to, what’s the IOC to do? Have matches where the audience is composed of team members, refs, and coaches? It’s a hard reality that the sport really is not attracting as it used to; still, there are other sports far more deserving of being excluded.
The IOC made a tough decision, albeit way of finances, but like all businesses they earned the right to seek a financial return on their investment.
That is exactly the problem!!!!!!! Olimpic Games are not supposed to be a business, but movement. Unfortunately IOC people forgot all about it. And as a result terrible dessision
Agree Alex
I am devastated by this decision. I agree with the comment above. I also think that nepotism was part of the decision. Wrestling is a sport that is practiced on every continent and is the national sport of several countries. As big of an impact as it will have here in the United States, there are other countries that will feel the loss even more. Hopefully, fans of wrestling around the world will be able to reverse this decision.
At first glance, I was certain your blog post was an Onion-esque parody of the Olympics, because really, who the hell would remove wrestling from the Olympic games? Wrestling helped FOUND the Olympic games. It can be argued that it IS the Olympics, along with the handful of other traditional Greek sports like long distance running, boxing, discus, etc.
There will arise countless revisionist historians, I’m sure, who will argue that all things created by man must then alter over time to suit man’s progress (When was the last time you saw chariot racing?) but you have a point when you bring up money. Based on what has been hastily added to the Olympic roster in the last twenty years, sports that are truly so bizarre and un-Olympic–but very profitable–that Zeus must be laughing his ass of at them, I’d say things have altered to suit pocketbooks over athletic pride.
Ask Lance Armstrong if he would have gone to all that trouble simply for an olive branch and a kiss on the cheek?
Reblogged this on Specter6 and commented:
Dropping a sport that was one of the first to be in the Olympics… sad. very sad.
~S6
Very well said! I agree with all your points.
Reblogged this on deejayiwan.
I was quite surprised that they did pitch out wrestling. Sure (Grecian) wrestling is not as heavily popular…as hockey or swimming. But it is a serious skill.
Bet, Canada’s woman’s gold medallist (light category) is thanking that she got hers…in time. For the rest of the world outside of wrestling, the decision to drop wrestling, looks puzzling.
It’s just abysmal that the IOC could drop one of the oldest sports in the Olympics to improve ratings. One of the most important aspects of the games has always been bringing countries together no matter what other conflict they are engaged in. Apparently that’s not the case…
I have a lot respect for collegiate (especially D1) wrestlers who now have no future in the sport. They are competing just for the love of the game.
I hope the IOC realizes the consequences of their decision and does something to change it.
India is upset at the decision:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-21438048
Wrestling is one the founding sports of the original Olympics. I hope the IOC reconsiders its decision.
right, this is one of the sports that comes to mind if you think of the original Olympics
I have to add that it just makes no logical sense. It’s clear this whole decision is all about sales and marketing.
The Olympics have been a farce for ages, this is another nail in a coffin that should have been completely buried by now.
Dropping wrestling, sad as it is, is not a new idea. They’ve been talking about it on and off for years; I can distinctly remember it coming up a couple of times in the 1980s and again in the 90s. I seem to recall someone saying it should be replaced with golf at some point along the way.
Whatever they do, the unavoidable truth is that the Olympics are a shameless cash grab that use patriotism and abuse sport to achieve their goal.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if somewhere along the way someone suggests MMA as an Olympic sport. It’s both popular and controversial enough to be profitable.
…it is just recently, that archeologists discovered that ancient basreliefs showing wrestling as an Olympic discipline were misinterpreted. In fact, it was a depiction of men wrestling over a pair of roller skates, so it is roller-skating, that will be replacing wrestling now.
I am so glad you wrote about this. I was beginning to wonder if anyone besides me noticed this bit of news the other day. Good for you for not sugar-coating your opinions; that’s very rare.
I was a top level soccer play, played basebell and wrestled for a couple of years in high school. I only lasted a couple of years, because the other sports were EASY by comparison. This decision is a travesty. Olympic medal attainment is often the hightest goal attainable for wrestlers. They truly covet winning in the olympics, because it is the greatest acheivement for many of them, unlike Kobe and other professional athletes in the more popular sports who view the Olympics as a side show or way to break up their routines. I hope this decision gets revisited. People have been wrestling forever! If it’s not an Olympic tradition, I don’t know what is.
Just when Indians started looking upto having Olympic role models in wrestling. It is a technical sport and as a combat sport, is not as TV friendly as boxing; I used to think it is about people getting into uncomfortable positions; However, once I started following, realized the intricate pairing of agility and strength, like no other sport; Maybe, there is a chance to introduce WWF as an olympic sport? God knows, what Tennis is doing there; I would rather watch Wimbledon, than Olympics; Modern pentathlon, I believe won over wrestling; As if everyone has access to horses and fencing and stuff like that. Olympics is a bloated event, with a lot of useless ribbon sports.
I love the Olympics. Nice to see a blog on the truth. Thanks for sharing and awesome.
When I think of the Olympics, I think of the 100 yd. dash, the guy who almost killed him off the ski jump in that ABC commercial and I think of WRESTLING! How can you get rid of wrestling and keep JUDO?
Well of course they had to drop wrestling- It was eating into time they could’ve dedicated to REAL sports… Like table tennis, and handball. It’s not like wrestling is two thousand-plus year old Olympic tradition or anything.
even before i read your post, i was fumigating, or whatever it is i do when stoopyd stuff is gwan… yes, so far the choir this post is preaching to is singing along with.
and … years ago when i first saw Olympic Synchronized Swimming? what?! true athletic irrelevance had more than a toe in the door to the Olympix.
and then …
Rhythmic Gymnastics — obviously for those who can’t do REAL gymnastics.
Badminton?
Synch Diving??**
and the IOC must have some money invested or something, and/or the IOC’s ruling body must have relatives who are so mediocre at real sports but participate in Modern?* Military Pentathlon — they’re keeping THAT?
*real modern military warfare would involve hacking, drone flying, stuff like that.
**why not team sky diving?
the friggin IOC must reconsider, or continue the downward spiral …
Global pressure will push that decision to be repealed. Like many have stated already, wrestling is one of the historical core events dating back to ancient Greece. Those that say it’s lost the appeal are probably not looking around them. MMA and similar events have made wrestling, Judo, & JuJitsu and other grappling arts more popular than ever. The global audience is more likely to vote for a new IOC than to remove wrestling.
Pingback: Wrestling, a noble sport of many Greek gods, gets an indecorous kick in the posterior, landing just outside of 2020 Olympics | the importance of being serbian
Reblogged this on Minimalist Living and commented:
100% spot on with your post. The IOC is probably the most corrupt organization going these days.
Such sad news!
Reblogged this on TRINITYPT3 FITNESS.
Horrible news. When many people think about Olympics wrestling is what comes to mind. Sad.
EXCELLENT blog post. This news outraged me. I’m a former Bensalem High wrestler (near Abington) and this news outraged me for many of the same reasons as you. Wrestling is an original Olympic sport and to remove it is such a travesty. The Olympics were the “major leagues” for the sport and now that has been stripped away from the many amazing athletes who are unrivaled in physicality and dedication.
Your post grounds my emotions even deeper and a disgust with the Olympic committe has overcome me. This is truly a sad day.
madhaus7 (Greg)—GREAT to hear from you (a local)! Read your Anderson post and recognizing the fact that he wasn’t nominated for an Oscar adds to this detritus that is “world culture.”
I have close to zero respect for IOC anyway, sorry for the young people whose chances for success are diminished this way, other than that – Olympic games imho had lost every trace of what they started like.
next thing you know, track and field will be taken off the roster
wrestling is a true Olympic sport. I thought the Olympics emerged because of need for a nation to prove itself by being better through stronger, faster. No better way than through wrestling in terms of strength and intellect
If they would actually show wrestling in the Olympics they would get a ton of viewers. I used to wrestle, and I heard all of the jokes about it “man-handling, etc.”, but I really can’t think of another sport that requires both the knowledge and physical capacities at the same time. It is a true disgrace to see it going away, I’ll continue to support wrestling here in Ohio. Go Buckeye wrestling and all of the high school students!
I think one of the worse things I’ve ever done in my life was declining to join my high schools wrestling team. I had a deep hate for the singlet. With that said being a fan of MMA and train in BJJ and how big wrestling plays a part in the sport and some of my training partners (who wrestled in high school/college) seeing how hard they work in their training. They all say how they owe it all to wrestling. Losing wrestling is a horrible mistake. It’s a shame the youth of today that have been giving up all their time as well as their parents time may feel as it has all went to waste in the long run. Mistake!!!
This post says it all… I agree!
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.