Last weekend, the election of Tokyo to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games was not the only important decision taken during the 125th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Buenos Aires. Wrestling, which had been removed last February from the list of core sports in the 2020 Olympic programme, beat the joint Olympic bid of Baseball/Softball as well as that of Squash in election and secured its place in the Tokyo Games.

Present in the programme since the ancient Olympic Games, Wrestling had been experiencing a fall in popularity due to rules complexity and the decline in women’s and young people’s presence in the sport. Over the last few months, the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA in French) made important changes to the sport, including new rules, a presentation that is more attractive to a younger audience and the integration of more athletes and women into its commissions.

FILA President, Nenad Lalovic, from Serbia, seized the occasion to strengthen the proposed modernisation: “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 modernisation will not stop now. We will continue to strive to be the best partner to the Olympic Movement that we can be.”

Sydney 2000 gold medallist, Canadian Daniel Igali, who was born in Nigeria, was also present at the session as part of FILA delegation: “I would not have had the same zealous passion for wrestling if it wasn’t for the Olympics. We will build a better sport for young kids.”

In an effort to ensure sports in the Olympic programme remain relevant to sports fans of all generations, an IOC Commission reviews the sports following each edition of the Games. Last February, 25 sports were proposed to the 2020 programme: Athletics, Rowing, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Gymnastics, Weightlifting, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Aquatics, Modern Pentathlon, Taekwondo, Tennis, Table Tennis, Shooting, Archery, Triathlon, Sailing and Volleyball.

In Rio de Janeiro, 28 sports are expected to grab the attention of thousands of people in 2016. Besides the 25 already mentioned sports and Wrestling, Golf and Rugby were added, in an IOC Session that took place in 2009, as additional sports.

Four International Federations had their requests for 2016 approved

Last August, the IOC Executive Board approved four requests for changes to the 2016 Olympic programme by the International Federations, following the decision not to increase the existing number of athletes or medals.

- International Cycling Union (UCI in French) - Six quota places were transferred from men’s to women’s Track Cycling;

- Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) – Ten quota places were transferred from Eventing to Dressage;

- International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA in French) – One weight category was transferred each from men’s Freestyle and Greco-Roman to women’s Freestyle;

- International Sailing Federation (ISAF) – Men’s Keelboat has been replaced by mixed Multihull while women’s Skiff will replace women’s Match Racing.