No Less Than 20 States Passing Resolutions To Assist In The Restoration Of Wrestling To The Olympic Programme

The Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) and USA Wrestling Working with State Governments to Raise Grassroots and Political Support

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) and USA Wrestling are working with no less than 20 state governments in the United States to pass a series of resolutions asking the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reconsider its recommendation to drop wrestling from the 2020 Olympic Games. This is the latest in a series of unprecedented moves by officials around the world to voice support for the re-institution of the sport to The Games.

 

Each resolution cites the strong ties of each state to the sport, makes note of the United States as a major contender and international player in the diplomacy of sport. These resolutions are being passed and signed as officials from various nations around the world issue similar announcements of opposition to their ruling.

 

In addition to the State proclamations, last month The U.S. Senate passed legislation urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reverse its decision to eliminate wrestling from the Olympic Games beginning in 2020. The bipartisan resolution, introduced by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), cleared the Senate on March 25. The resolution was cosponsored by Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Al Franken (D-MN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), James Inhofe (R-OK), Carl Levin (D-MI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Roy Blunt (R-MO). Fellow Ohioan, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04), also introduced a companion resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 

“The overwhelming support of these state governments across the country has been tremendous for our cause,” said Bill Scherr, CPOW Chairman, Olympic medalist and World Champion. “It really is a great example of how deep the support from our country is, and we really appreciate the government officials taking this step.”

 

To date, five states have already passed resolutions, Kentucky, California, Minnesota, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. In the near future approximately 18 states will be passing resolutions of their own, with more states confirming for next month.  Each state has been making the announcement in conjunction with prominent wrestlers from a variety of levels (high school to Olympians) from their home state.

 

Here is an overview of the states, government officials and wrestlers involved:

·  Pennsylvania (April 15): Senator Bob Robbins, Rep. Brandan Neuman and Pennsylvania wrestling legends Cael Sanderson, Jake Herbert, Rob Eiter, Greg Strobel, and Pat Santoro

·  Kentucky (April 3) : Representative Steve Riggs, All-American and KY native Kyle Ruschell, USAW State Chair Steve Smith, and KY high school coach Tim Ruschell.

· Minnesota (April 4): State Representatives Bob Dettmer, Speaker of the House Paul Thissen and Erin Murphy

· California (April 9): Senator Lou Correa, three-time National Champion Steven Abas, and high school national champion twin sisters Marina and Regina Doi.

Additional states with resolutions in process:

·         Nebraska, Montana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Virginia, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama

 

The official website is http://www.KeepWrestlingInTheOlympics.com. You can find the official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/officialkeepwrestlingintheolympics. The official Twitter location is @wrestlingvision.

 

The international links for FILA are http://www.fila-official.com/, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/fila.official and on Twitter @FILA_Official. 

 

In addition to the efforts in the United States, senior leadership from Russia, Kuwait, India, Iran, Japan, Greece, Canada and a host of other countries have issued similar decrees to help overturn the decision.

 

ABOUT CPOW

The Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) was developed by USA Wrestling, whose mission is to insure that wrestling remains as a core sport of the Olympic Games. CPOW features many highly-respected leaders within the American wrestling, chaired by Bill Scherr of Glenview, Ill., a World champion and Olympic medalist in freestyle wrestling and a leader in the Olympic family.

 

ABOUT USA WRESTLING

USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and the International Wrestling Federation FILA. Simply, USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. Its president is James Ravannack, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender.

 

Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) to Partner with UFC and Mixed Martial Arts

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) and USA Wrestling has aligned with top organizations in mixed martial arts -- including UFC and its president, Dana White.

“I’ve met with a lot of top guys in wrestling. I met with them last Tuesday, and the UFC’s joining the fight to help save Olympic Wrestling,” UFC President, Dana White, told MMA Weekly on Tuesday.

With one sweeping statement of support, Dana White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta have endeared themselves to wrestling fans across the globe and opened the door for a historic opportunity for the Keep Olympic Wrestling movement and the 2020 Vision campaign.

“We met with Dana and were very encouraged and touched by his genuine support for our sport and our effort to remain in the Olympics,” said CPOW Chairman Bill Scherr. “Many don’t know this but he has done a great deal behind the scenes for wrestling for years and we owe him our allegiance and gratitude.”

With mainstream media and television coverage, the UFC has exploded in popularity and expanded into over 130 international markets. Wrestling has long been a significant thread of the fabric of mixed martial arts and the UFC, with fighters like Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, Dan Henderson and Sara McMann achieving success in MMA after beginnings in wrestling.

“We are not sure of the exact form and scope ultimately of our relationship with the UFC”, relayed CPOW member and NCAA Champion wrestler Tommy Rowlands, who had developed a spirited relationship with Dana White over Twitter. “We know that we will accept whatever assistance is offered and will work with Dana and the UFC to develop a working partnership going forward.  For now, we are thrilled that he is involved and on our side.”

On February 12, the International Olympic Committee Executive Board made a recommendation that wrestling not be a core sport at the 2020 Olympic Games. A final decision on the program of the 2020 Olympics will be made by the entire IOC in September. A worldwide effort has been launched by FILA, the international wrestling federation, and all of the 177 nations which participate in wrestling, to retain wrestling as an Olympic sport.

Another CPOW member, John Bardis, has experience with both wrestling and the UFC. He was an accomplished wrestler and also a board member of USA Wrestling and team leader of the Greco-Roman Olympic team in Beijing in 2008.  He has mentored, sponsored and coached several UFC fighters. “This budding relationship between wrestling and the UFC holds tremendous promise to assist us not only with our efforts with the IOC to remain in the Olympics, but also to increase the popularity of wrestling in the United States and around the World.  We look upon them in many ways as a ‘big brother’ to our sport and we are thrilled with potential of the partnership that might develop between our groups.”

ABOUT CPOW

The Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) was developed by USA Wrestling, whose mission is to insure that wrestling remains as a core sport of the Olympic Games. CPOW features many highly-respected leaders within the American wrestling, chaired by Bill Scherr of Glenview, Ill., a World champion and Olympic medalist in freestyle wrestling and a leader in the Olympic family.

The official website is http://www.KeepWrestlingInTheOlympics.com. You can find the official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/officialkeepwrestlingintheolympics. The official Twitter location is@wrestlingvision.