TNA Fights to Keep Wrestling in Olympics

Cites decision by IOC not to include it in list of core sports for 2020

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/12/2013 3:56:40 PM

TNA Impact Wrestling is calling on its fans to help save Olympic wrestling.

Citing the news that the International Olympic Committee's board had excluded wrestling from the 25 "core" sports for the 2020 games, TNA, whose wrestling show airs on Spike, said the sports would now have to fight to stay a part of the Games.

TNA pointed out that while an iconic sport such as wrestling, which was part of the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896, had not been included on the list, "recreational" sports such as badminton, ping pong and handball remained. The IOC decision was a mix of factors, including TV ratings, ticket sales and global participation, according to TNA.

TNA wrestler Kurt Angle was a gold medalist at the 1996 Olympics. ""The wrestling community is in a state of shock with this decision -- we cannot sit back and allow this to happen," said Angle in a statement. "I will do whatever it takes and work with my company TNA Wrestling and the competitive wrestling community to determine what we need to do to reverse this decision."

"We encourage our own Impact Wrestling community, WWE and wrestling organizations worldwide as well as competitive amateur coaches and athletes to have a unified voice to make sure wrestling will be an Olympic sport in 2020," said TNA president Dixie Carter.