World Championshipwrestlingin Tehranpits the United States againstIran. But the match is about more than victoryfor one side or the other. For the wrestlersand their coaches, it is the start of a shared struggle.
"I would like to invite you to New York city on May 16," said Rich Bender of USA Wrestling. To which Mohammad Aliabadi of the Iranian National Olympic Committeeanswered, "I would like to visit New York City.
The reason for the U.S. invitation for a show of solidaritywith Iran? The International Olympic Committee's announcementthis month that it plans to drop wrestling as an Olympic sport for the 2020 Summer Games.
It's a decision that was greeted with dismayin wrestling-crazy Iran and by fans and officials in the U.S.
So when the U.S. team arrived in Tehran this week for the World Championships, Mitch Hull with the U.S. national wrestling team, says the solutionseemed simple - work together.
"Politically, we're not always on the same page with Iran, or politically with Russia, but in wrestling there's no doubt that we are all together in this effort, and we consider Iran one of our strongest allies in the sport of wrestling," he said.
For now, officials and wrestlers from both countries are optimisticthis partnershipcan save wrestling's place in the Olympic Games. Wrestling will vie with seven other sports to try to gain entry in the 2020 Olympics.
"We have great confidence that we can work with the Iranian wrestling federation, the Iranian wrestlers and, really, the Iranian people to show the world that, no matter what's happening politically, we have the same goal and the same beliefand passionabout the sport of wrestling," said Hull.
The U.S. and Iran appearto be grappling together to save the sport they love.
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