IOC Removes Wrestling from the Olympics

How many other sports have the medal diversity of wrestling?

From what I read, the reason why they're trying to do this is because they want to cut down on the number of athletes at the games, and wrestling sends a lot of them, and it doesn't have high TV ratings. If you're looking at it from just that angle, it makes a bizarre, stupid sort of sense.

That said, that's got to be the stupidest determining factor I can think of. Something with near universal participation is a GOOD thing, you jerks.

Maybe if they're worried about ratings they should look at their ridiculously bad media coverage first. There is no excuse in this day and age not to be able to watch literally any sport in there, streamed if nothing else.

momgamer wrote:

From what I read, the reason why they're trying to do this is because they want to cut down on the number of athletes at the games, and wrestling sends a lot of them, and it doesn't have high TV ratings. If you're looking at it from just that angle, it makes a bizarre, stupid sort of sense.

That said, that's got to be the stupidest determining factor I can think of. Something with near universal participation is a GOOD thing, you jerks.

Maybe if they're worried about ratings they should look at their ridiculously bad media coverage first. There is no excuse in this day and age not to be able to watch literally any sport in there, streamed if nothing else.

Yeah, I read that reasoning as well. Which is just down right absurd. It makes no sense at all to reasonable people.

I watched the entirety of the judo competitions online, it was great!

momgamer wrote:

Maybe if they're worried about ratings they should look at their ridiculously bad media coverage first. There is no excuse in this day and age not to be able to watch literally any sport in there, streamed if nothing else.

Now that's definitely an American problem. Nbc sucks. And I am on Comcast so at least had the new Nbc sports channel, and it still sucked.

BBC apparently had 20+ channels, one for each sport.

The cynic in me wants to say that wrestling is a sport that needs no equipment, therefore there is next to zero corporate interest in keeping it on the public stage. Of course similiar statements could be made for other sports, but they might get more ratings.

All in all, kind of bummed about this (another former, albeit bad, high school wrestler).

momgamer wrote:

Maybe if they're worried about ratings they should look at their ridiculously bad media coverage first. There is no excuse in this day and age not to be able to watch literally any sport in there, streamed if nothing else.

There's no reason why they need to hire the most clueless gymnastics commentators on earth either, but...

(It's entirely possible the commentators on other sports are also clueless, gymnastics is the only one where I know enough to notice)

Nevin73 wrote:

The cynic in me wants to say that wrestling is a sport that needs no equipment, therefore there is next to zero corporate interest in keeping it on the public stage. Of course similiar statements could be made for other sports, but they might get more ratings.

All in all, kind of bummed about this (another former, albeit bad, high school wrestler).

What if... and I'm just spitballin' here... what if they added Jell-O? You've got a built in sponsor. You've got Jell-O. Win-win!

lostlobster wrote:
Nevin73 wrote:

The cynic in me wants to say that wrestling is a sport that needs no equipment, therefore there is next to zero corporate interest in keeping it on the public stage. Of course similiar statements could be made for other sports, but they might get more ratings.

All in all, kind of bummed about this (another former, albeit bad, high school wrestler).

What if... and I'm just spitballin' here... what if they added Jell-O? You've got a built in sponsor. You've got Jell-O. Win-win!

Except they're dudes! Unless you're gay, in which case it really is win-win.

Nevin73 wrote:
lostlobster wrote:
Nevin73 wrote:

The cynic in me wants to say that wrestling is a sport that needs no equipment, therefore there is next to zero corporate interest in keeping it on the public stage. Of course similiar statements could be made for other sports, but they might get more ratings.

All in all, kind of bummed about this (another former, albeit bad, high school wrestler).

What if... and I'm just spitballin' here... what if they added Jell-O? You've got a built in sponsor. You've got Jell-O. Win-win!

Except they're dudes! Unless you're gay, in which case it really is win-win.

Look, I'm all for Turkish oil wrestling being added to the Olympics, but we're already having problems with more popular forms of wrestling in the games.

Spoiler:

Yes it's real sport. Yes it has a long tradition in Turkey.

lostlobster wrote:

I have zero interest in wrestling, but removing it from the games is about as logical as removing the marathon. It's one of the foundations of the games, FFS.

Also — I watched some rugby this weekend and enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to it being in the Olympics and getting to learn more about the sport.

The rugby in the Olympics is going to be Rugby 7s, not full blown rugby so you won't really learn more about it a a sport. Unless you were watching rugby 7s, in which case carry on.

maverickz wrote:
onewild wrote:

I didn't call it an American Centric sport, I called this forum American Centric.

Right, maybe I misunderstood, I had some trouble parsing your sentence honestly. But the "up in arms"siness is going on all over the world. Partially because wrestling is so widely played, and partially because it WAS removed, whereas pentathlon was not.

Unfortunately, there is A LOT of money and politics tied into the sports that get to be in the Olympics. And now it's affecting some of the more baseline sports.

Yeah I just read the sentence back, not the best one, sorry about that. However what is with all the pentathlon hate? seriously it is football, tennis and golf that should be getting evil eye because those are the ones where the Olympics isn't a big deal. It was one of the reasons that baseball and softball were thown out.

onewild wrote:
lostlobster wrote:

I have zero interest in wrestling, but removing it from the games is about as logical as removing the marathon. It's one of the foundations of the games, FFS.

Also — I watched some rugby this weekend and enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to it being in the Olympics and getting to learn more about the sport.

The rugby in the Olympics is going to be Rugby 7s, not full blown rugby so you won't really learn more about it a a sport. Unless you were watching rugby 7s, in which case carry on.

Except that the differences between 7s and 15s is limited mainly to the time in a half and the number of players on the field.

And the skill sets and tactics used. It might be under the banner of union but it takes a different breed of player to be successful at 7s, where speed, footwork and the ablility to pass are more important than the ability to maul, scrum and kick the ball.
It's the reason why rugby league teams have more success at playing 7s then they do when they play one off games of union.

onewild wrote:

And the skill sets and tactics used. It might be under the banner of union but it takes a different breed of player to be successful at 7s, where speed, footwork and the ablility to pass are more important than the ability to maul, scrum and kick the ball.
It's the reason why rugby league teams have more success at playing 7s then they do when they play one off games of union.

Yes, but for an American (and international) audience who is getting aquatinted with the sport, 7s is easier to understand and still shows the underlying concepts of rugby.
Also, kicking and scrums are super important in 7s. 7s props need a lot of awareness to avoid letting the ball out the back, its tougher to avoid a wheel.
Like I said. Very similar sports.

onewild wrote:

Yeah I just read the sentence back, not the best one, sorry about that. However what is with all the pentathlon hate? seriously it is football, tennis and golf that should be getting evil eye because those are the ones where the Olympics isn't a big deal. It was one of the reasons that baseball and softball were thown out.

No no, please don't misunderstand. There isn't hate for pentathlon. There is confusion and anger over picking pentathlon over wrestling. That's the issue, not that pentathlon ought to go.

What events are in the modern pentathlon?

Swimming, cross country horse riding, show jumping and then a combined shooting and run at the end.
Also it has the advantage that over the last few Olympics it seems to have got itself into a postion where it is the last event of the Olympics and one of the few sports to take place on the last day. Which sure helps to rise its profile over sports like wrestling, which get lost in the programme.

edit - correction, it is fencing, not cross country horse riding.

So basically, a bunch of the sports that are already in the games independently. But not as well performed. I for one, believe they should modify the pentathlon into a sextathlon, and include wrestling.

I just had a fantastic idea. An All-Event Gold Medal. A best in show of sorts. Open class division where you must compete in ALL Olympic events. Reduce the entire games to one super-event.

maverickz wrote:

I just had a fantastic idea. An All-Event Gold Medal. A best in show of sorts. Open class division where you must compete in ALL Olympic events. Reduce the entire games to one super-event.

Then they all have a fight to the death! Winner takes all the medals! I'd watch the hell out of that.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
maverickz wrote:

I just had a fantastic idea. An All-Event Gold Medal. A best in show of sorts. Open class division where you must compete in ALL Olympic events. Reduce the entire games to one super-event.

Then they all have a fight to the death! Winner takes all the medals! I'd watch the hell out of that.

The winning country sets the currency standard for the next four years.

maverickz wrote:

So basically, a bunch of the sports that are already in the games independently. But not as well performed.

That's what I was getting at. But I got the silver.

Keep wrestling, ditch horse riding events instead. The Olympics are about athletics, not animal training to make the horse do all the athletic work.

*Legion* wrote:

Keep wrestling, ditch horse riding events instead. The Olympics are about athletics, not animal training to make the horse do all the athletic work.

I'm glad I'm not the only I've that finds equestrain's inclusion infuriating.

maverickz wrote:

So basically, a bunch of the sports that are already in the games independently. But not as well performed. I for one, believe they should modify the pentathlon into a sextathlon, and include wrestling.

I just had a fantastic idea. An All-Event Gold Medal. A best in show of sorts. Open class division where you must compete in ALL Olympic events. Reduce the entire games to one super-event.

I'm sure the name change alone would guarantee a boost in the viewership, but as a former wrestler I know I'd feel uncomfortable to have that label in a contest with two individuals in spandex grappling.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
maverickz wrote:

I just had a fantastic idea. An All-Event Gold Medal. A best in show of sorts. Open class division where you must compete in ALL Olympic events. Reduce the entire games to one super-event.

Then they all have a fight to the death! Winner takes all the medals! I'd watch the hell out of that.

I put my money on Katniss. Either that or Ben Richards. He's one bad m***********

Nomad wrote:
maverickz wrote:

So basically, a bunch of the sports that are already in the games independently. But not as well performed. I for one, believe they should modify the pentathlon into a sextathlon, and include wrestling.

I just had a fantastic idea. An All-Event Gold Medal. A best in show of sorts. Open class division where you must compete in ALL Olympic events. Reduce the entire games to one super-event.

I'm sure the name change alone would guarantee a boost in the viewership, but as a former wrestler I know I'd feel uncomfortable to have that label in a contest with two individuals in spandex grappling. :)

Heh, well. Over the years I think I've heard every permutation of that joke, so at this point I'm pretty immune to it. As you can see, I don't even notice the joke potential any more.

maverickz wrote:
Nomad wrote:
maverickz wrote:

So basically, a bunch of the sports that are already in the games independently. But not as well performed. I for one, believe they should modify the pentathlon into a sextathlon, and include wrestling.

I just had a fantastic idea. An All-Event Gold Medal. A best in show of sorts. Open class division where you must compete in ALL Olympic events. Reduce the entire games to one super-event.

I'm sure the name change alone would guarantee a boost in the viewership, but as a former wrestler I know I'd feel uncomfortable to have that label in a contest with two individuals in spandex grappling. :)

Heh, well. Over the years I think I've heard every permutation of that joke, so at this point I'm pretty immune to it. As you can see, I don't even notice the joke potential any more.

I think it was Chael Sonnen who said "I won't use the guard. I'm a Republican.".

Paleocon wrote:
maverickz wrote:
Nomad wrote:
maverickz wrote:

So basically, a bunch of the sports that are already in the games independently. But not as well performed. I for one, believe they should modify the pentathlon into a sextathlon, and include wrestling.

I just had a fantastic idea. An All-Event Gold Medal. A best in show of sorts. Open class division where you must compete in ALL Olympic events. Reduce the entire games to one super-event.

I'm sure the name change alone would guarantee a boost in the viewership, but as a former wrestler I know I'd feel uncomfortable to have that label in a contest with two individuals in spandex grappling. :)

Heh, well. Over the years I think I've heard every permutation of that joke, so at this point I'm pretty immune to it. As you can see, I don't even notice the joke potential any more.

I think it was Chael Sonnen who said "I won't use the guard. I'm a Republican.".

The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

maverickz wrote:
Paleocon wrote:
maverickz wrote:
Nomad wrote:
maverickz wrote:

So basically, a bunch of the sports that are already in the games independently. But not as well performed. I for one, believe they should modify the pentathlon into a sextathlon, and include wrestling.

I just had a fantastic idea. An All-Event Gold Medal. A best in show of sorts. Open class division where you must compete in ALL Olympic events. Reduce the entire games to one super-event.

I'm sure the name change alone would guarantee a boost in the viewership, but as a former wrestler I know I'd feel uncomfortable to have that label in a contest with two individuals in spandex grappling. :)

Heh, well. Over the years I think I've heard every permutation of that joke, so at this point I'm pretty immune to it. As you can see, I don't even notice the joke potential any more.

I think it was Chael Sonnen who said "I won't use the guard. I'm a Republican.".

The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Especially considering how much time he spent clutching Silva's torso in that second fight.