1Opposing the International Olympic Committee's decision to
2eliminate wrestling from the Summer Olympic Games beginning
3in 2020.

4WHEREAS, Wrestling is recognized as one of the world's oldest
5competitive sports dating back to 3000 BC; and

6WHEREAS, Wrestling was one of the original sports of the
7ancient Greek Olympic games and of the first modern Olympic
8games; and

9WHEREAS, Wrestling is one of the world's most diverse sports,
10with participants from almost 200 countries around the world;
11and

12WHEREAS, Over 280,000 high school students in the United
13States participated in wrestling in 2012; and

14WHEREAS, There are over 350 intercollegiate wrestling
15programs in the United States; and

16WHEREAS, Wrestling represents the determination and hard work
17it takes to succeed in life and sport; and

1WHEREAS, More than 9,500 high school students representing
2496 high schools from across this Commonwealth participated in
3wrestling competitions during the 2011-2012 school year; and

4WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is nationally recognized for its
5wrestling tradition and has produced Olympians, NCAA National
6Champions and more NCAA All-Americans than any other state; and

7WHEREAS, The United States has a long, proud and storied
8Olympic wrestling history; and

9WHEREAS, Wrestling epitomizes the spirit of the Olympic
10games; therefore be it

11RESOLVED, That the Senate:

12(1) disagree with the decision of the International
13Olympic Committee's Executive Committee to eliminate
14wrestling as a core sport from the Summer Olympic Games
15beginning in 2020;

16(2) thank the United States Olympic Committee for its
17continued support of wrestling and encourage the United
18States Olympic Committee to work actively to reverse this
19decision; and

20(3) call upon the International Olympic Committee to
21reconsider reinstating wrestling as a core sport of the
22Summer Olympic Games<-.;

23and be it further

24RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the
25International Olympic Committee, the International Olympic
26Committee's Executive Committee and the United States Olympic
27Committee.