30.05 IOC Wrestling Decision Should be 'Just' - Putin
ST. PETERSBURG, May 30 (R-Sport) Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he hopes wrestling will be reinstituted as an Olympic sport based on just and well-reasoned decision-making.
The International Olympic Committee cut the sport from the 2020 Games in February, galvanizing global backlash and prompting an unlikely advocacy partnership between wrestling governing bodies in Russia, Iran and the United States.
That, along with the world governing body FILAs pledge to introduce rule changes aimed at making the sport more viewer-friendly, contributed to the wrestlings placement Wednesday on an IOC shortlist for the last competition spot in 2020. Squash and a joint baseball and softball bid are the other finalists.
I know that the final decision will be made later, Putin said after a meeting with IOC officials in St. Petersburg. I hope that the decision will be just, well-reasoned and will serve to consolidate and develop the Olympic movement, which has always rested on its ancient traditions.
Putin has been a strong opponent of the IOCs decision to eliminate wrestling following the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics since it was announced in February.
The IOC will make a final ruling in September in Buenos Aires.
