Vladikavkaz hosts flash mob for preserving wrestling as Olympic sport

Today, near the cinema "Druzhba" (Friendship) in Vladikavkaz, a flash mob was organized demanding to keep wrestling in the Olympic programme. The participants were public activists, athletes and journalists. Volunteers from among current and former athletes were collecting signatures.

"We've all gathered here in protest; we want the freestyle wrestling to be preserved. We have so many wrestlers who reached the heights and so many children who are fond of this sport; and I hope we'd somehow influenced the situation. I can't tell you what Olympiad means for an athlete," said Svetlana Tsarukaeva, a silver medallist of the Olympic Games-2012 in weightlifting.

Uruzmag Baskaev, a sports observer of the STRC "Alania", believes that wrestling is not only a Caucasian sport; it is also popular in Central Asia, Middle East, America, Eastern Europe, South America and Africa. He said that the today's action was correct. "Our voices must be heard by the International Olympic Committee."

Aslan Tskhovrebov, a former wrestler who also came to the action, is convinced that wrestling is the most entertaining sport in the Olympics. "And Russia has greatest chances to win medals in this sport."