Marketizing the Olympics

While San Francisco deliberates subsidizing the America's Cup sailing regatta, the International Olympic Committee has recommended the removal of wrestling from the Olympic Games. As absurd as this seems to fans of one of the world's oldest sports and one of the sports in the original Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896, it is consistent with the marketization of all things public. Offering a rationalization for its decision, the IOC says it is based on television ratings and ticket sales.