FEMALE ATHLETES WRESTLE IN ANCIENT OLYMPIA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY
 
Olympia, Greece (21 July, 2013) - Today, youth wrestlers competed on the grounds of the Palaestra in Ancient Olympia, Greece, making history as the first wrestlers to compete in the area since the end of the Ancient Olympic Games era in 393 AD. Also of historic note, the two female youth athletes that took part in the exhibition were the first ever female athletes to wrestle in Ancient Olympia.
 
Wrestling is currently under consideration by the International Olympic Committee for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Program. If wrestling does not retain its position in the Olympic Program, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games could be the last time wrestling appears as a sport in the Games.
 
FILA President, Nenad Lalovic, who was in Greece to witness this historic event said, "It is important for young wrestlers to know the rich history of the sport; that wrestling was one of the original Olympic sports from ancient times; and that this was its birthplace. I am proud, as the President of FILA, that we were able to make this incredible moment happen." 

He added, "These youth, and many more like them around the world, dream of wrestling in the Olympic Games and we are doing everything we can to ensure they have that opportunity."
 
This youth exhibition took place during an international tournament that featured teams of adult female and male wrestlers from Albania, Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iran, Russia and the United States. The finals, for all weight classes and styles, Will be staged at the International Olympic Academy and shared via a live stream on the official FILA Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/fila.official