Changes

The first recorded Olympic wrestling match occurred in the Olympics in 708 BC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kiwiwrestler.com/wrestling-history.html|title=History of Wrestling|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> When the modern Olympics were revived, wrestling was included in the 1896 games.  The sport was not a part of the 1900 games, but has been a part of the Summer Olympic program ever since.  Starting with the 2004 games, women have participated in freestyle wrestling. At the 2012 London Olympics,  344 athletes from 71 countries<ref>{{cite web|url=http://savingsports.org/2013/02/16/ioc-decision-on-wrestling-hurts-olympic-brand/|title=IOC Decision on Wrestling Hurts Olympic Brand|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> competing in 11 medal wrestling events.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/21427455|title=Wrestling to be dropped from 2020 Olympic Games|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref>

The first recorded Olympic wrestling match occurred in the Olympics in 708 BC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kiwiwrestler.com/wrestling-history.html|title=History of Wrestling|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> When the modern Olympics were revived, wrestling was included in the 1896 games.  The sport was not a part of the 1900 games, but has been a part of the Summer Olympic program ever since.  Starting with the 2004 games, women have participated in freestyle wrestling. At the 2012 London Olympics,  344 athletes from 71 countries<ref>{{cite web|url=http://savingsports.org/2013/02/16/ioc-decision-on-wrestling-hurts-olympic-brand/|title=IOC Decision on Wrestling Hurts Olympic Brand|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> competing in 11 medal wrestling events.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/21427455|title=Wrestling to be dropped from 2020 Olympic Games|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref>

Because of growing costs, the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) has been under pressure to reduce the number of events and the number of athletes in each summer game.  The IOC has adopted a system where "core sports" would continue indefinitely in future Olympics, but "non-core" sports would be selected for inclusion on an Olympic game-by-game basis. Currently, wrestling is one of the 26 core sports.  However, following the London Olympics, the IOC's Executive Committee conducted a study of the 26 core sports in terms of their success at the London Olympics as well as world-wide grassroots support. The study sought to trim one core sport so that starting with the 2020 Olympics, only 25 core sports would continue to make room for one non-core sport. On February 12, 2013, the IOC Executive Board voted to recommend that wrestling be dropped as a core sport.  If approved by the full IOC, wrestling with have to compete with seven other non-core sports - [[baseball]]/softball, [[squash]], [[karate]], sport climbing, wakeboarding, wushu and roller sports - for a place in the 2020 Games.<ref name=bbc/>

Because of growing costs, the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) has been under pressure to reduce the number of events and the number of athletes in each summer game.  The IOC has adopted a system where "core sports" would continue indefinitely in future Olympics, but "non-core" sports would be selected for inclusion on an Olympic game-by-game basis. Currently, wrestling is one of the 26 core sports.  However, following the London Olympics, the IOC's Executive Committee conducted a study of the 26 core sports in terms of their success at the London Olympics as well as worldwide grassroots support. The study sought to trim one core sport so that starting with the 2020 Olympics, only 25 core sports would continue to make room for one non-core sport. On February 12, 2013, the IOC Executive Board voted to recommend that wrestling be dropped as a core sport.  If approved by the full IOC, wrestling with have to compete with seven other non-core sports - [[baseball]]/softball, [[squash]], [[karate]], sport climbing, wakeboarding, wushu and roller sports - for a place in the 2020 Games.<ref name=bbc/>

The international federation that governs wrestling (FILA) responded with a statement the same day:

The international federation that governs wrestling (FILA) responded with a statement the same day: