The Tribune

THE Bahamas Amateur Wrestling Federation (BAWF) has joined with federations around the Americas in a campaign to reinstate wrestling as an Olympic sport.

The executive board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted in February to drop wrestling from the Olympic programme as of 2020.

The surprise decision was a significant point when the Pan American Council of Associated Wrestling (CPLA) met in congress April 4 in Panama City, Panama.

The Bahamas joined 27 countries at the congress, where several actions to campaign for the sport’s reinstatement in the Games were discussed.

“Wrestlers around the world are initiating programmes in their countries and joining with other countries to save our sport,” said Clarence Rolle, president of the BAWF, after attending the CPLA Congress.

“Wrestling is popular around the world. We have 177 countries with recognised federations and wrestling is an original sport of the Olympic Games.

“It is an important link between the ancient Games and modern times. It is not even possible for us to imagine the Olympics without wrestling.”

Wrestlers from around the world will meet in Moscow in May to discuss further initiatives.

Changes to wrestling rules and other measures are proposed. Several days later, the IOC executive board will meet in St Petersburg, Russia, to determine which sports will be proposed for inclusion in the 2020 Games. They will make their final vote in their general assembly in September in Buenos Aires, Argentina.