New Jersey Assemblyman Brown calls for reinstatement of wrestling in the Olympics

New Jersey Assemblyman Chris Brown, a former high school wrestler and a volunteer youth wrestling coach, is introducing a resolution calling for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reverse its decision to remove the sport from the global athletic event beginning with the 2020 summer games.

The entire wrestling community is stunned by the IOC's decision to eliminate one of the first sports contested in the original Olympiads, said Brown. Regretfully, the committee has ignored the history, the integrity, and the tremendous character-building aspects of the sport, instead bowing to political and personal interests to retain questionable sports like the modern pentathlon and badminton.

Brown has drafted an Assembly Resolution urging the IOC to overturn the decision.

This is a devastating blow to the sport at a time when it is enjoying a tremendous resurgence in popularity, in this country and around the globe, said Brown. I have opened an online petition on my legislative website, and I will personally take the names who sign on with me to Trenton to help push this resolution through and have our voices heard.

Brown is the father of four sons, three wrestlers and a newborn future-wrestler. Oldest son Brian competes for Marlton Middle School, 8-year-old Evan is the South Jersey S tate Champion in his class, and Jason, 6, finished fourth in the South Jersey States while wrestling in the 8-year-old field.

The issue is not about athletics or gold medals, said Brown. Dan Gable, Olympic champion and 15-time national champion says, Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy.

Wrestling is the greatest character-building sport in the world. Competitors benefit from the grueling physical demands, develop incredible mental toughness and resilience, and the lessons of personal responsibility and accountability are reinforced every time the wrestler takes the mat. Participation in any competition is beneficial to an individual's development, but the unique c! hallenges of wrestling are unrivaled by any other sport, Olympic-recognized or not.

The business world appreciates the leadership qualities produced by wrestling, and a survey of Fortune 500 CEOs by Forbes found that half of them developed their skills and tenacity on the mat as a youth or high school wrestler. The success of former wrestlers like Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and Senator John McCain help explain why military organizations including the Navy Seals actively seek out individuals with a background in our sport, said Brown, who began wrestling in second grade and continued through high school.

Brown is urging residents to sign on to his petition, accessible at www.AddiegoRudderBrown.com.

New Jersey Assemblyman Chris Brown, a former high school wrestler and a volunteer youth wrestling coach, is introducing a resolution calling for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reverse its decision to remove the sport from the global athletic event beginning with the 2020 summer games.

The entire wrestling community is stunned by the IOC's decision to eliminate one of the first sports contested in the original Olympiads, said Brown. Regretfully, the committee has ignored the history, the integrity, and the tremendous character-building aspects of the sport, instead bowing to political and personal interests to retain questionable sports like the modern pentathlon and badminton.

Brown has drafted an Assembly Resolution urging the IOC to overturn the decision.

This is a devastating blow to the sport at a time when it is enjoying a tremendous resurgence in popularity, in this country and around the globe, said Brown. I have opened an online petition on my legislative website, and I will personally take the names who sign on with me to Trenton to help push this resolution through and have our voices heard.

Brown is the father of four ! sons, thr! ee wrestlers and a newborn future-wrestler. Oldest son Brian competes for Marlton Middle School, 8-year-old Evan is the South Jersey S tate Champion in his class, and Jason, 6, finished fourth in the South Jersey States while wrestling in the 8-year-old field.

The issue is not about athletics or gold medals, said Brown. Dan Gable, Olympic champion and 15-time national champion says, Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy.

Wrestling is the greatest character-building sport in the world. Competitors benefit from the grueling physical demands, develop incredible mental toughness and resilience, and the lessons of personal responsibility and accountability are reinforced every time the wrestler takes the mat. Participation in any competition is beneficial to an individual's development, but the unique challenges of wrestling are unrivaled by any other sport, Olympic-recognized or not.

The business world appreciates the leadership qualities produced by wrestling, and a survey of Fortune 500 CEOs by Forbes found that half of them developed their skills and tenacity on the mat as a youth or high school wrestler. The success of former wrestlers like Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and Senator John McCain help explain why military organizations including the Navy Seals actively seek out individuals with a background in our sport, said Brown, who began wrestling in second grade and continued through high school.

Brown is urging residents to sign on to his petition, accessible at www.AddiegoRudderBrown.com.