HAVANA (AP) — Members of a U.S. wrestling delegation to a tournament in Cuba say they are in shock over the International Olympic Committee’s decision this week to drop the sport from the 2020 Games.
Frank Perrelli is competing in the 55-kilogram division at the tournament in Havana. He says wrestlers learned the news via Twitter and “it came as a complete surprise.”
Coach Jim Humphrey says he has been heartened by the overwhelming response from the world wrestling community and believes they can successfully lobby the IOC to keep wrestling in the Games.
He calls taking away the Olympic dream from kids around the world “criminal.”
Havana’s annual tournament runs Friday and Saturday. The Americans have been in town since Feb. 7, training with athletes from Cuba and other countries.
