The goal is gender equality -- to provide equal opportunities for men and women wrestlers in Olympic and other international events. As of now, men are eligible to wrestle in freestyle and Greco-Roman competition, while women are limited to freestyle. Of 18 wrestling medal events at the 2012 London Olympics, only four were for women. For the 2016 Olympics in Rio, women wrestlers will be competing in a total of six medal events out of 18. By adding women's Greco to the Olympic programme, medal-earning opportunities could be equal for male and female wrestlers.
However, because of the long-range planning involved, don't expect to see women's Greco at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, according to Lalovic. The earliest would be for the 2024 Games, which have yet to be assigned a location. (Los Angeles is among the cities in the running for the Summer Olympics nine years from now.)
"We have started already to develop Greco-Roman for women," Lalovic told David Owen of InsideTheGames.com. "It started in the United States recently."
"We are now looking at what can be done. We have probably to modify a little bit the rules for women. To avoid some positions."
"I hope that we will find a solution, it takes time."
In taking the helm of the international wrestling organization formerly known as FILA after the sport was eliminated as an Olympic core sport in February 2013, Lalovic has sought to bring fresh thinking and new ideas to make the sport more appealing to fans. In May 2013, Lalovic told a Swedish newspaper , "We propose that wrestlers in Greco-Roman style should be shirtless. We think it will be more interesting and better for the spectators."
In January of this year, United World Wrestling announced new mat colors to make the sport more telegenic ... and said they were exploring new uniform options. At that time, Lalovic said, "We are taking the steps to ensure that wrestling is attractive to viewers ... The traditional singlet is not something that is worn around the gym. We want apparel that our wrestlers and fans will feel proud to wear and we are going to make that happen."
This summer, Lalovic became the first top official from the international wrestling federation to become an IOC member. When asked why Lalovic was tapped for the position, Francesco Ricci Bitti, President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), said, "He is a real leader. He has done a lot in his sport to evolve very fast an old conservative environment to one open to innovation, rule changes and the future."
"I don't see my position in the IOC in order to protect wrestling." said Lalovic. "It's not the idea. If I had this idea I would certainly not be invited to the IOC. You need a much wider view in order to serve the Olympic Movement in the way that the Olympic Movement needs it."
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