[Filed with Secretary of State May 30, 2013.]
SCR 26, 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.
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, The California Interscholastic Federation Boys Wrestling State Championships have been hosted at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, California, since 2005, and the Girls Wrestling State International Championships have been hosted at Lemoore High School in Lemoore, California, since 2011; 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.
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