Sergey Bubka (L), member of the IOC executive board shakes hands with Nenad Lalovic, head of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles, after wrestling was chosen as a new Olympic sport during the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday. — AP BUENOS AIRES — Wrestling completed an unprecedented Olympic comeback Sunday, reclaiming its spot in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics after beating bids from rivals squash and baseball/softball in an International Olympic Committee vote. Wrestling, which featured in the ancient Olympics and in every modern Games apart from 1900, had been surprisingly taken off the Games in February as the IOC looked to refresh its sports program. “I want to offer my sincere gratitude to each member of the International Olympic Committee that voted to save Olympic wrestling today,” a delighted international wrestling federation (FILA) πresident Nenad Lalovic told reporters seconds after the vote. He had taken over in February after their Olympic exit and has been credited with bringing the sport back into contention after wrestling made a shortlist of candidate sports in May. “With this vote, you have shown that the steps we have taken to improve our sport have made a difference. I assure each of you that our modernization will not stop now. We will continue to strive to be the best partner to the Olympic Movement that we can be.” Sunday's result marks a sensational turnaround for the sport which overhauled its rules, administration, gender equity and operations following its shock exclusion. Wrestling got 49 of 95 votes, with baseball/softball earning 24 and squash landing 22 votes from the IOC members. IOC retains core sports The IOC earlier voted in favor of a recommendation to retain 25 core sports for the 2020 Games in Tokyo. As expected, the members overwhelmingly approved a recommendation by the IOC Executive Board to retain the 25 sports already on the program. Golf and rugby sevens, which were added in 2009 to the Olympic program, were not included in the core votes because they were already assured of being included at the 2016 and 2020 games. Booming finances The IOC's financial reserves edged close to one billion dollars in 2012 up from just $105 million when outgoing President Jacques Rogge took over 12 years ago, he said in his final report Sunday. Rogge, who succeeded Spaniard Juan Antonio Samaranch in 2001 and is stepping down Tuesday, has overseen an unprecedented financial growth within his organization despite the economic turmoil of recent years. He said the IOC's finances were boosted by steadily growing revenues from broadcast and sponsorship deals. “Since 31 December 2001 our reserve has seen its assets grow from $105 million to $901 million at Dec. 31, 2012,” Rogge told the IOC session in the Argentine capital. “This financial solidity is due to the success of sponsorship revenue and television rights,” said the Belgian surgeon. Rogge had been eager to boost reserves during his presidency, especially after the 2008 economic downturn, in order to secure his organization's existence in the case of a Games cancellation or other unexpected event. He said broadcasting rights revenues for the period 2014-16 had raked in $4 billion with several territories still to be finalized. The total figure of TV revenues for the period 2002-04 was almost half that, at $2.2 billion. Top sponsor deals have generated $1 billion for the period 2013-16 from 10 companies, with at least one more deal expected in the coming months. Revenues stood at $663 for the 2001-04 period when Rogge took over. — Agencies
