Rogge backs selection plan

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA — IOC President Jacques Rogge on Friday defended the process that led to the removal of wrestling from the Olympic program and the sport’s quick return as a candidate for inclusion in the 2020 Games.

“I don’t see any shortcoming in the system,” Rogge said. “I don’t see an error in the system.”

Wrestling was eliminated from the list of core sports by the IOC in February but, after revamping its structure and adopting new rules, was selected Wednesday as a possible additional sport on the 2020 program.

Wrestling made a shortlist along with baseballsoftball and squash for a single opening in 2020. The IOC will vote in September on which sport to include. If wrestling wins, it means no new sport will be brought in as originally planned.

“You don’t go for a new one for the sake of a new one,” Rogge said. “Novelty is not the issue, quality is the issue. ... The purpose is to have the best possible Olympic program.”

February’s surprising decision to eliminate wrestling — a sport dating back to the ancient Olympics in Greece — caused an international uproar and prompted the United States, Canada, Russia, Iran and other countries to join forces to save the sport.

Nenad Lalovic replaced Raphael Martinetti as FILA president and the federation brought women and athletes into decisionmaking roles and enacted rule changes to make the competition more fanfriendly.

IOC vice-president Thomas Bach of Germany said the makeup of the sports program will need to be reviewed in the future, but wrestling did what it had to do to get back in contention. “You could clearly see they got the message,” Bach said. “They changed their sport within three months. Sometimes for brave reforms, you need pressure.”