No More Wrestling?
The International Olympic Committee, in their infinite wisdom, has recommended that wrestling no longer be included in the Olympics. This short-sighted, idiotic, disturbing decision smacks of incompetence. It makes me question the sanity of the IOC, and now I wonder if the IOC is in on the take.
Is it because the singlets wrestlers wear don’t allow enough real estate for large banner ads? Is the wrestling mat too minute for a large, obnoxious slogan advertizing McDonalds / Coca-Cola / Disney? Serious IOC, what’s the reasoning for your decision to nix wrestling?
Wrestling is a cornerstone sport. It’s been a core event ever since 708BC. It’s a sport where anyone can compete. It doesn’t require expensive equipment or corporate sponsorship. It is a pure sport, which is more than I can say for…oh, let’s say the Euqestrian Individual Dressage (yes, the “horse dancing” event. Screw the wrestling, we wanna see horses dance!).
I guess the IOC is more concerned about corporate profits than pure competition. They’d rather see rollerblading or extreme sports where they can rake in more ad revenue.
I have a suggestion for the IOC. If you’re so hard up to degrade the spirit of the Olympics, why not replace wrestling with something like this:
It’s modern and hip. Just think of the money you’ll be make in Vegas with Olympic Phone Wars <tm>!
Is boxing still an Olympic event? If anything, that should be the one to go. Wrestling is great, boxing is lethal. I used to go to wrestling bouts when I was younger. It was fun to shout ‘what’s up with you, you’ve got another one’ when a wrestler hurt an arm or a leg. Happy days! Heehee fun video.
No wrestling? I’m not a fan of the sport, but even I can see that it clearly belongs in the Olympics.
I think you hit the nail on the head….
“I guess the IOC is more concerned about corporate profits than pure competition.”
Although, I would think (wrestling being a very popular sport) it would warrant them keeping it in the Olympics!?!
Great video clip!
I agree – and this is from someone who is not much interested in sports and rarely watches any of the Olympics. The criteria for the decision included television ratings which I feel should not be part of the decision making. I know television ratings make a difference because so much comes down to money, but it does, as you say, degrade the Olympic spirit.
Good heavens above – who ARE these people?? I’m not a fan of wrestling (or boxing) but even I can see that of course it is a core sport, and one of the very purest forms of sport. If this is yet another example of Political Correctness (‘no fighting, now, children!) then we are indeed living in a World Gone Mad’* because they are stark, raving nuts.
*Quote from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novel ‘Moving Pictures’: ‘Why is it all Mr Dibbler’s films are set against the background of a world gone mad?’ said the dwarf. Soll’s eyes narrowed. ‘Because Mr Dibbler,’ he growled, ‘is a very observant man.’