ST PETERSBURG, Russia: Wrestling, baseball/softball and squash made an International Olympic Committee shortlist for potential inclusion in the 2020 Games with five other sports failing to make the cut, the IOC announced yesterday.
The three sports will now be put to the vote at the International Olympic Committee session in Buenos Aires in September with only one of them winning a place on the 2020 Games programme.
The IOC is eager to revamp its sports programme in a bid to keep the Olympics relevant to a younger generation to attract viewers and sponsors.
Five other sports - karate, wakeboarding, sports climbing, wushu and roller sports - did not make the shortlist, meaning their chances of Olympic inclusion were dashed for at least another four years.
“It was never going to be an easy decision but I feel my colleagues on the (executive) board made a good decision in selecting baseball/softball, squash and wrestling to be put forward in Buenos Aires,” said IOC president Jacques Rogge.
For IOC vice president Thomas Bach it was “a good mix between team sports and individual sports.
“Wrestling managed to convincingly present the changes they have undertaken, both on a sporting level as well as in the organisation,” Bach said.
Wrestling was taken off the 2020 Games programme but yesterday’s decision threw the sport a lifelife. REUTERS
