It is a cause that "unites some of Wall Street’s top financiers with the presidents of Russia and Iran -- the struggle to reinstate wrestling as an Olympic sport," according to Roger Blitz of the FINANCIAL TIMES. The IOC "unleashed hell and fury from wrestling’s numerous global outposts." In the margins of the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, "officials expressed their mutual contempt for the IOC." And in the executive suites of Wall Street, the workplace of a sizeable number of former wrestlers, "the collection tins are being rattled to fund a lobbying campaign aimed at reversing the decision." Fortress Investment Group President Mike Novogratz, who wrestled at Princeton University, "is spearheading the campaign" to raise up to $3M. Other financially prominent supporters include Apollo Global Management Dir Josh Harris, financial services group Guggenheim President Todd Boehly, Deutsche Bank Global Market Equities Head Barry Bausano and RBC Capital Markets Managing Dir Richard Tavoso. Novogratz "reeled off a list of other prominent Americans to pit their wits on the wrestling mat," including 13 presidents, former Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Super Bowl MVP winner Ray Lewis, and two of the passengers who fought the 9/11 hijackers of United Airlines flight 93 (FINANCIAL TIMES, 3/3).
