'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
FILA Interim President Nenad Lalovic speaks at a press conference as wrestling is voted to be included in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games during the 125th IOC Session – New Sport Announcement at the Hilton Hotel on September 8, 2013 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
IOC, which had removed wrestling as a sport from Olympics earlier this year, reinstated the sport after a few revamp in its rules . Pro-wrestlers and other wrestling supporters breathed a sigh of relief after the sport managed to beat baseball and squash which were also in the running for the vacant spot.
Wrestling, which is one of the original Olympic sports, was previously voted out of the 2020 Olympics. Naturally, it drew the ire of fans and supporters of the sport around the world.
Wrestling will now be part of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan as well the 2024 Games. The announcement has come as a relief for all the people who had working towards getting the sport reinstated by putting pressure on the IOC using various offline and online campaigns. Kurt Angle and other wrestlers showed their anticipation for this decision over twitter.
The official news was announced on Twitter:
Wrestling chief Nunad Lalovic said, “the most important day in the 3,000-year history of our sport”. He also 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 modernisation will not stop now. We will continue to strive to be the best partner to the Olympic Movement that we can be.”
However, the decision was made possible only after a few changes to the rules of wrestling. The biggest changes that are being made to wrestling is the removal of the red carpet, which officials felt looked awkward on TV. Plus, wrestlers will get entrance music and visual effects.
Several wrestlers reacted to the decision on Twitter.
