The Rumble On The Rails--USA vs IRAN Wrestling Match

By: Jabbar Fazeli, MD

The USA and the Iranian wrestling teams are taking part in an exhibition match at the NY grand central station as part of the joint effort to show the IOC how popular the sport  of wrestling is and reinstate the game as an Olympic sport. 

The IOC had decided to exclude the sport from the 2020 Olympics but left the door open for wrestling to be reinstated in September of this year as the IOC decides what sport to add to replace wrestling.

Of note, the Iranian wrestlers did not interact with the media today and the only statement to the media was given by the team manager through an interpreter.

This is one instance were the USA and Iran are "fighting" on the same side.

Photo source: NYT

UPDATE (5/16/2013):

Kyle Dake who gave the USA team its only victory yesterday, joked "It was really loud in there. Feels like we were in Tehran," (AP).

The next exhibition match between the USA and Iran teams is scheduled for Sunday in Los Angeles, aka Tehrangeles. For tickets
http://www.ticketmaster.com/USA-vs-IRAN-Wrestling-tickets/artist/1867720

UPDATE (5/17/2013):
The Iranian team withdrawn!!!
http://www.uskowioniran.com/2013/05/the-iranian-wrestling-team-cuts-visit.html

Ahmadinejad Greeting U.S. Wrestling Team

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with the visiting U.S. wrestling team in Tehran. The American flag is in the background. Iran won the freestyle wrestling World Cup after defeating the U.S. and Russia. (Mehr News Agency, 22 February)

Iran-USA Wrestling Match in NYC--May 16, 2013

Wrestling Diplomacy, Maybe! 

By: Jabbar Fazeli, MD

The head of US wrestling federation, Rich Bender, invited the Iranian Wrestling Federation to come to NYC on May 16th for an "international wrestling day of solidarity", and Mohammad Aliabadi of the Iranian Wrestling Federation eagerly accepted (video above).

In contrast to the all smiles and gestures of solidarity on display in the Press TV clip, the Iranian Federation website strikes a different tone.

The headlines in Persian are "Motaki [ex-foreign minister] tells Iranian wrestlers, just like in other areanas, you have defeated the Americans", and "Iran reaches the finals after defeating the US".

In classic Iranian two faced diplomacy, Iran is conciliatory in English and defiant in Farsi. 

For the wrestling enthusiasts, Iran reached the finals after defeating the USA, Bulgaria, Japan, and Georgia (according to mat), and went on to win the world championship for the second year running after defeating Russia 6 to 1.

PS. Wrestling still has a chance to be reinstated in September of this year as the IOC decides what sport to add to replace wrestling.