Acting FILA President Nenad Lalovic (left) and IOC President Jacques Rogge met Thursday in Switzerland. FILA News Bureau photo.

March 7, 2013 – Lausanne – Mr. Nenad Lalovic, Acting President of FILA, the International Federation for Wrestling, met with IOC President Jacque Rogge in Lausanne on Thursday, March 7. FILA is spearheading a global effort to remain as a core sport on the Olympic Programme. 

“The meeting was very cordial and helpful”, said Acting President Lalovic, “our objective was to listen and learn from the discussion with President Rogge and I am very pleased with the result." He added, "Every sport, including wrestling, has to earn its place on the Olympic programme. We know this will take hard work and are ready for it. Our goal is to make a great sport better and to be stronger partners in the Olympic Family." 

During the meeting, Acting President Lalovic outlined the initial steps that FILA is taking to address the concerns expressed by the IOC Executive Board in its February 12 decision to recommend wrestling’s removal as a core sport on the core Olympic Programme. 

“FILA has already begun a number of innovative initiatives to modernize the governance, presentation and promotion of our sport,” said Acting President Lalovic. He added “The IOC’s process has given wrestling a golden opportunity, for which we are very grateful, to improve our sport at every level and to help strengthen the Olympic Movement.”