IL HR0210

The International Olympic Committee's executive board decided to eliminate wrestling from the Olympic Games after the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, despite wrestling's historical significance and global popularity.

Wrestling ranked "low" in several technical criteria across 39 categories analyzed by an IOC program commission, including TV ratings, ticket sales, global participation, and popularity.

Wrestling is a leading youth sport in the United States with nearly 275,000 competitors from 2010 to 2011, and U.S. wrestling medals are outnumbered only by swimming and track and field.

The Illinois House of Representatives requests that the IOC reconsider and reverse its decision to drop wrestling from the Olympic Games after 2016.

Copies of the resolution shall be delivered to USA Wrestling leadership and the United States Olympic Committee.