U.S., Iran, Russia team up to save wrestling for the olympics - Polidicks

[B]Source:[/B] [url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2013/02/14/olympic-wrestling-us-russia-iran/1921527/]Click[/url] [quote]The executive board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted this week to drop wrestling from the program for the 2020 Olympics. There is still a chance it may be reinstated, but it must compete with seven other sports for a single opening in 2020. Next Thursday and Friday in Tehran, the U.S. will be among world's top-10 wrestling nations competing in the 2013 Freestyle World Cup. Jordan Burroughs and Jake Varner, U.S. gold medalists at the 2012 Olympics, will take on the Iranians, Russians and more. The shared interest right now: Olympic survival. "I'm headed to Iran on Monday, and this is a main topic of my conversation with the leadership of the Iranian wrestling federation," says Rich Bender, executive director of USA Wrestling. "We are going to use every ounce of our resources to do whatever we can as a national federation to reverse that. That might be leading internationally, which we are prepared to do if that's what it takes."[/quote] The only thing that the US, Iran, and Russia all agree on is that they really want to fight each other.

Hasn't wrestling been in the Olympics since... you know... Ancient Greece?

[QUOTE=FrankOfArabia;39609003]Hasn't wrestling been in the Olympics since... you know... Ancient Greece?[/QUOTE] Yes. It's even mentioned in the bible. Something they're right about.

Bah, we don't need this "wrestling" thing! We've got better Olympic sports that are a true show of strength, will, and skill! Like ribbon dancing! And syncronised swimming! And now, golf!

Unlikeliest of friends Guess an enemy of my enemy is my friend in this case

Well, at least they can agree on something.

[QUOTE=asteroidrules;39610191]Well, at least they can agree on something.[/QUOTE] They're disagreeing to disagree.

Wasn't wrestling one of the integral olympic sports? Also isn't the IOC corrupt and full of politics and MONEY rather than sportsmanship?

I don't understand why there's a limit to the number of sports that can be in the Olympics.

Why would they ever vote out wrestling of all things?

[QUOTE=Zambies!;39610242]Wasn't wrestling one of the integral olympic sports? Also isn't the IOC corrupt and full of politics and MONEY rather than sportsmanship?[/QUOTE] Every sporting body is filled with money

[QUOTE=Reds;39609072]Bah, we don't need this "wrestling" thing! We've got better Olympic sports that are a true show of strength, will, and skill! Like ribbon dancing! And syncronised swimming! And now, golf![/QUOTE] As much as I don't like removing wrestling from the olympics, I dislike the "us versus them" attitude with this discussion even more. Just because you don't enjoy or understand a sport doesn't mean you should disrespect it. Instead of trying to bring down other sports in an attempt to justify wrestling being included in the olympics. Why not try and elevate wrestling on its own merits?

Yeah, how dare they take away me being able to see two muscular, sweaty men trying to impose their dominance on one another while I watch?!

I remember reading a book in Elementry school about the Olympics in ancient times. There was a section on wrestling and it said that the combatants had no clothes on and had to fight smothered in oil. Women didn't get to watch either, it was just men.

Imagine training your whole life to go to the Olympics, only to have that sport cut. [editline]16th February 2013[/editline] and replace with golf

Truly Russia is our greatest ally

[QUOTE=Edthefirst;39611182]As much as I don't like removing wrestling from the olympics, I dislike the "us versus them" attitude with this discussion even more. Just because you don't enjoy or understand a sport doesn't mean you should disrespect it. Instead of trying to bring down other sports in an attempt to justify wrestling being included in the olympics. Why not try and elevate wrestling on its own merits?[/QUOTE] There's a difference between a sport based on points than a sport based on the opinion of the Judge. A ribbon dancer, by being perfect, is still going to vary in score based on the judges opinion of how good she did.

[QUOTE=Keyblockor;39611800]There's a difference between a sport based on points than a sport based on the opinion of the Judge. A ribbon dancer, by being perfect, is still going to vary in score based on the judges opinion of how good she did.[/QUOTE] And what exactly does that have to do with this argument? Is gymnastics any less deserving of a spot? Again, back to the argument that you shouldn't defend your sport's right to be in the olympics by belittling other sports. Besides seeing as the judging is so wildly different, there shouldn't even be a comparison here.

[QUOTE=Edthefirst;39611840]And what exactly does that have to do with this argument? Is gymnastics any less deserving of a spot? Again, back to the argument that you shouldn't defend your sport's right to be in the olympics by belittling other sports. Besides seeing as the judging is so wildly different, there shouldn't even be a comparison here.[/QUOTE] ya we should add mlg pro gaming

[QUOTE=Edthefirst;39611840]And what exactly does that have to do with this argument? Is gymnastics any less deserving of a spot? Again, back to the argument that you shouldn't defend your sport's right to be in the olympics by belittling other sports. Besides seeing as the judging is so wildly different, there shouldn't even be a comparison here.[/QUOTE] It should be because i'm talking about how one is resolute while the other relies on three people's opinions.

I don't understand why sports are voted on or off the Olympics is this all about money now?

[QUOTE=Sleepy Head;39612634]I don't understand why sports are voted on or off the Olympics is this all about money now?[/QUOTE] yup

That's nice. US can join other countries in saving wrestling, but can't join other countries in corporate tax reform.

[QUOTE=MarstunoM;39612829]That's nice. US can join other countries in saving wrestling, but can't join other countries in corporate tax reform.[/QUOTE] Yes, because USA Wrestling = US Government

[QUOTE=Keyblockor;39612592]It should be because i'm talking about how one is resolute while the other relies on three people's opinions.[/QUOTE] So why does that mean gymnastics is less deserving? That's the point I'm trying to make. Don't compare them. Rather than comparing two incomparable sports, focus on positive reasons why wrestling should be in the olympics. History, emphasis on strength, technique, etc. There's no reason to belittle other sports when wrestling should be in by its own merit.

Well wrestling has been in the olympics from the beginning so removing such a culturally and historically significant sport for something less traditional like golf or ribbon dancing is kind of controversial.

[QUOTE=FrankOfArabia;39609003]Hasn't wrestling been in the Olympics since... you know... Ancient Greece?[/QUOTE] Yes it has, how does that justify keeping it? I'm not saying that wrestling should or shouldn't go, but I don't think that saying something has been around for a long time gives anything more credibility, slavery was around since before Ancient Greece and yet no one uses that to justify or unjustify it.

[QUOTE=WarRocker32;39613057]Yes, because USA Wrestling = US Government[/QUOTE] Metaphorically perhaps. There is a blue corner and a red corner.

[QUOTE=G-Guy;39613762]Yes it has, how does that justify keeping it? I'm not saying that wrestling should or shouldn't go, but I don't think that saying something has been around for a long time gives anything more credibility, slavery was around since before Ancient Greece and yet no one uses that to justify or unjustify it.[/QUOTE] Except wrestling was like THE thing about the ancient olympics.