WRESTLING

It is hard to imagine a more Olympic sport than wrestling. It was part of the games back in Ancient Greece, and has continued to be a part ever since the games were reinstated in 1896. However, in a shock move in February, it was dumped from the programme after the Rio games in 2016, owing to various misdemeanours in its administration and policies.

In a partial repieve, it was asked to plead its case for reinstatement in the 2020 and 2024 games in competition with squash (trying for inclusion for the very first time) and a combined baseball/softball. At the IOC meeting this weekend which gave the 2020 games to Tokyo, it was announced that wrestling had won.

And rightly so. I say this, even though squash was my main sport for 20 years. Ideally, both should have been included; but if there was only room for one, then it should be wrestling. After all, they didn't play squash in Ancient Greece.

Walter Blotscher