Baseball/softball, squash and wrestling make cut for IOC Session vote in Buenos Aires

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday recommended that baseball/softball, squash and wrestling be proposed to the 125th IOC Session for possible inclusion as an additional sport on the Olympic programme for the 2020 Olympic Games.

The EB selected the three sports by secret ballot from a shortlist of eight that also included karate, roller sports, sport climbing, wakeboarding and wushu. The vote followed 30-minute presentations by each International Federation and an extensive evaluation by the Olympic Programme Commission to determine their potential added value to the Games.

Read full IOC press release here.

Should we be concerned?

Should we as canoeing be very concerned about the huge pressure that's mounting for a return of wrestling to the Olympic programme? The US, Russia and  Iran (an unholy coalition!?) are working together to pressure the IOC Exec Board in St Petersburg this week - and they won't stop till it's back in. It's clear canoeing has no real fans at all in the US whereas wrestling is a major university/college sport. The sports that aspire to get into the Olympic programme are very p1ssed off about wrestling's antics, they think it should take its place in the queue.

Is moving behind the scenes to ensure canoeing is seen as relevant, fun, gender-equal and an attractive sport, of paramount importance?

Update 3 June 2013: Wrestling gets off the mat, makes move toward the future