Sports Receive Further Olympic Tests
Wrestling and weightlifting both underwent Olympic testing this weekend at the ExCeL Arena, as part of the London Prepares series.
The London 2012 wrestling test event at the ExCeL Arena ran smoothly, but has been reportedly overshadowed by criticism from the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) President Raphaël Martinetti – who hit out at British Wrestling during the two-day competition.
The London International Invitational saw some of the world’s top stars in action but Martinetti was left angry that wrestling officials were not being given seats at the other Olympic events taking place in the ExCeL and said that London 2012’s plans for the a wrestling legacy after the Games were ‘totally stupid’.
The Swiss businessman was also critical of the British Wrestling, due to the fact that the makeup of the British team includes five members who have recently qualified, or are still waiting, for British citizenship.
Meanwhile, the weightlifting test event at the ExCeL Arena was hailed as a big success by the London 2012 Head of Sport Competition David Luckes – following the two day competition.
The event, titled the London Prepares Weightlifting International Invitational, saw some of the world’s athletes in action with women competing in the 69kg category and men in the 94kg category.
