The executive board for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) first recommended that wrestling be removed as a core sport in the Olympics. Now, the IOC has recognized the massive changes the sport has made since February and has made it a first ballot selection as a finalist in the 2020 Olympics. Baseball/softball and squash are the other sports listed as finalists hoping to appear in the 2020 games.

Bouncer Chronicles (www.bouncerchronicles.com) reports the IOC General Assembly will select one of these sports at a meeting in September as well as announce the site where the 2020 games will be held. The new IOC president will also be chosen at that meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender said “we feel incredibly passionate that wrestling is the greatest sport known to man. We will not rest until every IOC member hears our story.”

Jim Sheer, International Wrestling Federation (FILA) bureau member said “wrestling has made changes that were 20 years overdue!” Sheer is referring to significant alterations to rules, administrations and gender equity meant to modernize one of the traditional sports with roots dating back to Ancient Greece.