Cuba unable to attend 2003 World Cup Wrestling Championship in Boise, Idaho, April 5-6 due to travel
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
04/03/2003
CHALLENGE MATCH BETWEEN RULON GARDNER AND BOISE STATE'S BOE RUSHTON ADDED USA Wrestling was notified Thursday morning by the national wrestling federation of Cuba that its freestyle wrestling team will not participate in the 2003 World Cup Wrestling Championship, set for the Bank of America Centre in Boise, Idaho, April 5-6. USA Wrestling staff, along with the event hosts in Boise, have been working to assist the Cuban team in its efforts to secure their visas. The Cuban wrestling federation may not have begun the visa application process early enough to receive their visas in time to attend the championship. "It is unfortunate that the Cuban wrestling team was unable to get its travel organized in order to attend the World Cup Wrestling Championships," said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. "Our organization has done everything it could to assist the Cuban delegation. We are telling all international federations to allow sufficient time for the visa process if they are coming to our nation for competition." "We are still very excited about the 2003 World Cup Wrestling Championships. The competition will feature many of the best wrestlers and nations in the world. We look forward to a great weekend of action," said Bender. The World Cup Wrestling Championship will showcase world powers Russia, Ukraine, Germany and host United States. In addition, a World Select team, featuring athletes from each of the participating nations, is being formed to replace Cuba in the tournament. Event organizers expect that athletes from each nation will be included. The composition of the World Select team will not be determined until after weigh-ins on Friday night. The United States has three alternates who may be included on the World Select team. In addition, athletes from Boise State's wrestling team may also be on the roster. The objective is to avoid having athletes from the same national team compete against each other during the World Select dual meets. A special Greco-Roman challenge match will be held during the Saturday night session, between 2000 Olympic champion Rulon Gardner and Boise State All-American Boe Rushton, who placed third at the 2003 NCAA Championships. A tentative revised competition schedule has been developed. 2003 WORLD CUP WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS TENTATIVE REVISED SCHEDULE At Bank of America Centre, Boise, Idaho, April 5-6 Saturday, April 5 Session One USA vs. World Select/Germany vs. Ukraine Ukraine vs. Russia Session Two USA vs. Germany/World Select vs. Russia Challenge Match - Rulon Gardner vs. Boe Rushton World Select vs. Ukraine Sunday, April 6 Session Three USA vs. Ukraine/Germany vs. Russia Session Four World Select vs. Germany USA vs. Russia