Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 26

Introduced by Senator Correa

(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Alejo and V. Manuel Pérez)

March 14, 2013

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 26—Relative to Olympic wrestling.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 26, as introduced, Correa. Wrestling: Olympic Games.

This measure would urge the International Olympic Committee to continue to include wrestling as a core sport of the Olympic Games.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Executive Board recently announced that wrestling will be removed
from the list of 25 core sports at the 2020 Olympic Games, though
this is not final; and

WHEREAS, The IOC Executive Board will meet in May 2013
in St. Petersburg, Russia, to decide which sport or sports to propose
for inclusion, and the entire IOC will vote on the final program at
the IOC session, or general assembly, in September 2013 in Buenos
Aires, Argentina; and

WHEREAS, Wrestling was one of the original sports in the
ancient Olympic Games in Greece. During the ancient Olympic
Games, beginning in 708 B.C., wrestling was the decisive
discipline of the Pentathlon. It was the last discipline of the games
to be held, after the discus, the javelin, the long jump, and the
footrace, and its winner was designated the winner of the
Pentathlon, the only crowned athlete of the games; and

WHEREAS, Wrestling is one of the most diverse sports in the
world, with nearly 200 nations from all continents participating in
the sport; and

WHEREAS, Wrestling is an inclusive sport that provides
opportunities worldwide, regardless of geography, race, gender,
or physical characteristics, and provides mainstream opportunities
to athletes of all physical builds and body sizes, including the blind,
deaf, and physically handicapped student athletes who may not
otherwise have the opportunity to participate in athletics; and

WHEREAS, Wrestling builds great strength, not only of body,
but also of character, including the virtues of self-confidence,
self-discipline, courage, and leadership, and wrestling is recognized
for serving communities throughout the nation by partnering with
law enforcement, schools, and churches to provide programs to
prevent and neutralize juvenile delinquency, especially gang-related
crimes for many at-risk youth; and

WHEREAS, Wrestling has produced many outstanding national
leaders, including Presidents of the United States, justices of United
States Supreme Court, members of the United States Congress,
and business and military leaders, and many outstanding leaders
in California, including many Olympic champions, such as
Olympic gold medalists Dave and Mark Schultz and 2012 Olympic
gold medalist Jake Varner; and

WHEREAS, More than 70 countries competed in wrestling in
London at the 2012 Olympic Games with more Olympic medals
awarded to a greater variety of nations than in almost any other
sport; and

WHEREAS, California is the leading state in athlete membership
for USA Wrestling and the state with the largest participation in
high school wrestling; and

WHEREAS, Wrestling has become a pathway to higher
education for many young Californians, in particular, those with
a socioeconomically challenged background; and

WHEREAS, Many of these young Californians dream of
representing the United States on the international stage at the
Olympic Games; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the California Legislature urges the
International Olympic Committee to continue to include wrestling
as a core sport of the Olympic Games; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.