The Iranian flag "was standing side by side with the stars and stripes in a peaceful manner" on Tuesday at UN Headquarters in N.Y. as "the possible exit of wrestling" from the Olympics "brought them together in hope to save" the sport, according to XINHUA. The wrestling teams from the U.S., Iran and Russia, three of the world's wrestling superpowers, "came together in solidarity." One by one, diplomats from the Iranian and Russian UN Missions and a veteran American wrestling coach came to the podium before the Iranian, American and Russian flags "to speak in a bid to retain wrestling" as an Olympic sport (XINHUA, 5/15). RIA NOVOSTI reported the event "continues a broad PR push" by world wrestling governing body FILA, and "sees an all-day marathon of wrestling around the world, starting in Japan before climaxing with the three-country tournament" in N.Y. The final decision on the Olympic program for the 2020 Games "will be made by the IOC in Buenos Aires in September along with the announcement of the host city" (RIA NOVOSTI, 5/15).
