The International Olympic Committee has chosen to cut wrestling from their 25-sporting roster of the Summer Games and at the last minute save the modern pentathlon. Forbes magazine goes on to say NBC pays for 70% of the Olympics but the U.S. only has the representatives on the 115 member committee and no representation among the executives, an assembly dominated by central Europe.
I would say wrestling is more relevant, accessible and widespread than pentathlon. Consider you need access to horses, air pistols, and fencing equipment just to train for the pentathlon, many countries are precluded from even competing in this aristocratic event of military roots. (Swimming and cross country running are the two other events, although the New York Times notes the pentathlon will now be modified to combine the running and shooting into one event...so tetrathlon/ quadrathlon?)
In contrast, wrestling has offered a multitude of opportunity for nations given the 10 weight classes plus 1 open event, freestyle and Greco-Roman forms, and men's & women's events. 10 weights •2 forms + 1 freestyle men's events + 4 women's freestyle weight classes = 25 events. The 2012 Olympics had 71 nations partake in wrestling with strong representation from Eastern Europe, Middle East (notably Iran), Japan and the U.S. For some nations wrestling is their primary entry for the Olympic Games and has been a main staple of the Games from ancient times. Additionally many wrestlers go on to compete professionally in the mainstream-shifting and ever expanding arena of MMA fighting.
