CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (May 11) – The United World Wrestling bureau has approved and finalized the list of 50 referees for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro.
The Refereeing Commission, an independent group of officials led by Antonio SILVESTRI (GER), compiled pre-selections by reviewing the performance of referees from around the globe. Those referees then went through the Olympic Game qualification process without major errors and were approved by United World Wrestling's bureau this week in Istanbul.
The number of referees headed to the Olympic Games was reduced from 80 in 2012 to only 50 for the 2016 Games. That cutback meant a need for increased accountability for many referees, who are subject to reviews and re-classifications based on their on-the-mat performance.
