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 B.C.; 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

1WHEREAS, Wrestling represents the determination and hard work
2it takes to succeed in life and sport; and

3WHEREAS, More than 9,500 high school students representing
4496 high schools from across this Commonwealth participated in
5wrestling competitions during the 2011-2012 school year; and

6WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is nationally recognized for its
7wrestling tradition and has produced Olympians, NCAA National
8Champions and more NCAA All-Americans than any other state; and

9WHEREAS, The United States has a long, proud and storied
10Olympic wrestling history; and

11WHEREAS, Wrestling epitomizes the spirit of the Olympic
12games; therefore be it

13RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives:

14(1) disagree with the decision of the International
15Olympic Committee's Executive Committee to eliminate
16wrestling as a core sport from the Summer Olympic Games
17beginning in 2020;

18(2) thank the United States Olympic Committee for their
19continued support of wrestling and encourage them to work
20actively to reverse this decision; and

21(3) call upon the International Olympic Committee to
22reconsider reinstating wrestling as a core sport of the
23Summer Olympic Games.