TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Arch foes Iran and the U.S. have found some common ground in the fight to save wrestling as an Olympic sport.
U.S. wrestling coach Zeke Jones says the mission has brought the two countries closer despite decades of diplomatic estrangement. He calls the sport an important “ambassador,” suggesting possible cooperation to fight an International Olympic Committee decision to drop wrestling from the 2020 Games.
The U.S. team is in Tehran for an international tournament.
Jones was quoted Tuesday by Iran’s semiofficial Mehr news agency as saying the sport has brought together many nations, among them Iran and the U.S.
Iran has said it is looking to join wrestling’s major powers to reverse the IOC decision. Iran won three wrestling medals at the London Olympics, and the U.S. took four.
