AJR39: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-2351/2

SRM:eev:ph

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 39

May 31, 2013 - Introduced by Representatives Kuglitsch, Kaufert, Kestell, Suder, Brooks, Hulsey, Kapenga, T. Larson, Murphy, Ripp, Sinicki, Spiros, Tauchen, Thiesfeldt, Murtha, Kooyenga, Tittl, Wright and Vruwink, cosponsored by Senators Tiffany, Lazich, Grothman, Hansen, Lassa, Schultz and L. Taylor. Referred to Committee on Rules.

AJR39,1,2 Relating to: requesting the International Olympic Committee to keep wrestling in the Olympic Games.

AJR39,1,6 Whereas, the executive board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reviewed 26 sports on its summer program and decided to cut wrestling, stunning the world's wrestlers, who see their sport as popular and steeped in history as old as the Olympics themselves; and

AJR39,1,8 Whereas, while wrestling will be included at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, it will not be included in the 2020 Olympic Games; and

AJR39,1,11 Whereas, the executive board of the IOC voted after reviewing an IOC program commission report that analyzed 39 criteria, including TV ratings, ticket sales, global participation, and popularity; and

AJR39,1,13 Whereas, according to IOC documents, wrestling ranked "low" in several of the technical criteria; and

AJR39,2,3 Whereas, the decision to phase out wrestling will have a detrimental impact on many teams around the world, including the United States, whose wrestling medals are only outnumbered by medals for swimming and track and field; and

AJR39,2,5 Whereas, wrestling is also one of the most popular youth sports in the United States, with nearly 275,000 competitors from 2010 to 2011; and

AJR39,2,7 Whereas, Wisconsin has a rich tradition of wrestling excellence and has produced many Olympic medalists; and

AJR39,2,10 Whereas, wrestling is a diverse, popular, and historic sport, and it is fitting and proper that the IOC keep wrestling in the Olympic Games after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; now, therefore, be it

AJR39,2,14 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the legislature strongly urge the International Olympic Committee to keep wrestling in the Olympic Games after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and, be it further

AJR39,2,17 Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk is authorized and directed to transmit a copy of this resolution to the executive board of the International Olympic Committee.

AJR39,2,18 (End)