Olympics Votes to Drop Wrestling in 2020

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Sadly, the IOC actually used to have a rule governing how LARGE a women's beach volleyball uniform could be.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/oly...-uniforms.html

Beach volleyball is in the Olympics for one reason, and one reason only. It consumes more airtime than it should.

There are millions of us out there who played, and still play, volleyball and who love the game both indoors and outdoors who would disagree with your assessment. The beach game in particular has become enormously popular throughout the world. I just wish the indoor game would catch on the same way.

[ivanbalt]

There are millions of us out there who played, and still play, volleyball and who love the game both indoors and outdoors who would disagree with your assessment. The beach game in particular has become enormously popular throughout the world. I just wish the indoor game would catch on the same way.

I don't really like the beach volleyball to watch, but indoor volleyball is the best Summer Games sport.

[ms maggie]

So, tradition, in the Olympics accounts for nothing. Boooooo to the IOC.

Well once they eliminated chariot racing, it was just a matter of time!

[The Eternal White Belt]

Well once they eliminated chariot racing, it was just a matter of time!

Wrestling is still a common NCAA sport, and is therefore still relevant.

[slapshot]

Well once they eliminated chariot racing, it was just a matter of time!

...and a LONG time it was.

To be honest, I think of the Olympics as HUMAN events. As such, any event that involves horses or other animals, should not qualify.

[slapshot]

Wrestling is still a common NCAA sport, and is therefore still relevant.

Although this is going to put a few more nails in that coffin. Wrestling has already been a target from Title IX....

[ms maggie]

Although this is going to put a few more nails in that coffin. Wrestling has already been a target from Title IX....

I would think football would be the more likely target......

[veritas]

Basketball, track, gymnastics and swimming probably get 90% of the TV airtime but that doesn't mean the other sports should just be eliminated. Getting rid of wrestling is absurd. Probably part of a "kinder, gentler" Olympics.

[slapshot]

I would think football would be the more likely target......

LOL.

Without football (not soccer), most other NCAA programs would dry up an blow away. Football pays for almost all other programs at D1 schools.

Football is the cash cow that feeds....it's far easier to elliminate a sport which does not bring in enough revenue to pay for itself.

[Calamari]

I remember a show on wrestling coaches recently. It's basically the coaches bullying kids into crash diets so they get into the lowest weight class possible.

I like the idea of wrestling, but let's be honest, it's just not that popular.

Replace it with MMA and we might be talking, lol.

[LarryN]

I will knock race walking and I'll never try it.

Have it your way.

I will forever defend race walking, having been a race walker in my teen years. I finished 7th at the National Junior Olympics in 1982.

[ms maggie]

LOL.

Without football (not soccer), most other NCAA programs would dry up an blow away. Football pays for almost all other programs at D1 schools.

Football is the cash cow that feeds....it's far easier to elliminate a sport which does not bring in enough revenue to pay for itself.

Kind of my point. If you are going after all male sports, the
800 lb gorilla is football.

[Smokey 1]

I would think football would be the more likely target......

Yeah, the one sport that draws the most fans and money.

Too bad few want to watch or pay to watch women's sports except the moms and dads.

[The Eternal White Belt]

I remember a show on wrestling coaches recently. It's basically the coaches bullying kids into crash diets so they get into the lowest weight class possible.

Well, that basically describes any sport with weight classes. I wouldn't call it "bullying" though.

[ms maggie]

I remember a show on wrestling coaches recently. It's basically the coaches bullying kids into crash diets so they get into the lowest weight class possible.

I like the idea of wrestling, but let's be honest, it's just not that popular.

Replace it with MMA and we might be talking, lol.

Olympics are a business.

The board voted after reviewing a report by the IOC program commission report that analyzed 39 criteria, including television ratings, ticket sales, anti-doping policy and global participation and popularity. With no official rankings or recommendations contained in the report, the final decision by the 15-member board was also subject to political, emotional and sentimental factors.

[ivanbalt]

Have it your way.

I will forever defend race walking, having been a race walker in my teen years. I finished 7th at the National Junior Olympics in 1982.

It's been around that long? I thought they just made it up for the 2012 Summer Games.

When I first saw it, I thought it was the end of a marathon and the people were really hurting. Then I realized they were walking like that on purpose.

[LarryN]

I remember a show on wrestling coaches recently. It's basically the coaches bullying kids into crash diets so they get into the lowest weight class possible.

I remember back in high school you could always tell when there was going to be a wrestling meet. The wrestlers were either stuffing their faces in the cafeteria, or in the gym jumping rope in a sweat suit.

[Calamari]

Well, that basically describes any sport with weight classes. I wouldn't call it "bullying" though.

You must have seen a different show.

[LarryN]

It's been around that long? I thought they just made it up for the 2012 Summer Games.

It was first contested in the Olympics in 1904.

[The Eternal White Belt]

You must have seen a different show.

I didn't see the show, but I have been involved with, competed in and associate with others who compete/have competed in various combat sports (Wrestling, MMA, BJJ, grappling, boxing, kickboxing, etc).

Unless you are a heavyweight, there is a 90% chance you are going to have to cut weight to be competitive. Some coaches know how to do it right, and others don't.

Oh, and in some cases, heavyweights need to cut too...