Wrestling on Top

Wrestling, squash or baseball? Last Sunday, those were the options that the International Olympic Committee had to choose from when deciding which sport would be a part of the 2020 Games, and it wasn’t an easy decision. Wrestling dates back to the ancient Olympic Games; squash is a sport played on all corners of the earth; baseball is revered not only in America but in many other countries as well.Nevertheless, wrestling was chosen over the other two, with 49 of the possible 95 votes. The results, of course, have sparked outrage among squash and baseball supporters. But in many ways, wrestling always deserved its spot in the Olympics.As I noted earlier, wrestling was one of the original ancient Olympic events. In fact, when it was added in 700 BCE, it was the first competition that was not a footrace. Wrestling was the most popular sport in ancient Greece, and although the rules were different in ancient times with no weight distinctions and very few regulations, it seems only fair to include a sport of such history and tradition in The Games.In addition, wrestling does not exclude any country because of the sport’s relatively low cost. Unlike many other sports, one does not need much to train as a wrestler—only a mat and head gear. Wrestling truly embodies the Olympic spirit, because it allows for anyone, no matter how rich or poor, to succeed. Twenty-nine nations, of which many were poor, won medals for the sport during the 2012 Games in London. The intense competition from numerous countries makes the wrestling matches intense and exciting, which is perfect for the Olympics.Wrestling is also one of the rare Olympic sports with athletes that are not compensated for their work during the regular season. There is no professional wrestling league—only the Olympic competition every four years. For these reasons, wrestlers are training for the true love of their sport, which cannot be said is the same for other events.The sport of baseball, when compared to wrestling, did not stand a chance. It is more expensive, considering that one needs a large amount of gear and a field just to get started, and it is also a sport dominated by the Americans. Squash, on the other hand, is most successful in countries like Egypt and Britain, but is lacking in popularity and is less widely played.In the end, wrestling came out on top, and rightly so. It is a sport of tradition, passion and steadfast determination. Every athlete wrestles not for the money, but for the desire to achieve greatness, and with that in mind, I cannot wait for the 2020 Olympic Games.