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Wednesday, 13th February 2013
In General Japan News,

Japan disappointed that wrestling won't be part of 2020 Games

The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that wrestling will not be part of the 2020 Games as it has been dropped from the programme.

Instead, it will join one of seven events shortlisted to appear as an additional activity at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

It now has to be appraised against roller sports, wushu, wakeboarding, sport climbing, baseball/softball, karate and squash if it is to be re-entered into the agenda.

The decision was met with frustration from Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga, who said that "wrestling is one of Japan's strongest sports. It is said to be the oldest sport in the world [...] the decision is very disappointing."

Mark Adams, spokesman for the IOC, suggested that the decision was made as the board agreed that 25 other activities were worthy of inclusion in the Games.

"This is a process of renewing and renovating the programme for the Olympics. In the view of the executive board, this was the best programme for the Olympic Games in 2020. It's not a case of what's wrong with wrestling, it is what's right with the [other] 25 core sports," he said.

Written by Susan Ballion