The International Olympic Committee’s executive board has trimmed the number of sport hopefuls for the final open slot during the 2020 Games to three from eight. The final vote to determine which activity—baseball/softball, squash, or wrestling—will be included in 2020 Games is slated to take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in September. With the IOC vote, roller sports, sport climbing, wakeboarding, wushu, and karate are no longer under consideration for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Dick’s Sporting Goods is supporting wrestling’s national governing body in its effort to maintain wrestling as an Olympic sport. The International Olympic Committee’s executive board voted to keep wrestling’s hope alive for re-instatement to 2020. USA Wrestling initiated a campaign in March to raise funds and petition signatures. To date, the organization has registered more than 112,000 Facebook supporters, gathered more than 300,000 signatures and topped more than $1 million in donations. Supporters of wrestling are asked to visit Dick’s Facebook page and sign the “Help Save Olympic Wrestling” petition and encourage donations to support the effort.
Written by Nicolas Yang
