During the 35 years that have since passed, sambo has been working towards turning this tantalising taste of an Olympic Games into a reality.

Although International Sambo Federation (FIAS) President Vasily Shestakov said last September that recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the first major step in achieving sambo’s ultimate goal, could happen as early as this year, it has become apparent to me during my time here at the European Sambo Championship in Zagreb that the sport still faces many challenges to not only secure that status but to justify it.

There’s no doubt that sambo has made huge strides in recent years, with its recognition from the Olympic Council of Asia, and subsequent inclusion at last year's Asian Beach Games in Phuket among the many highlights.

The signing of a cooperation agreement with the International Judo Federation (IJF) in August was further evidence of the sport's progression, hot on the heels of securing its place at the inaugural European Games, which are scheduled to take place in Baku next month.

Add to this a Memorandum of Cooperation with the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles, now known as United World Wrestling, and it’s clear to see how sambo is gradually building a strong base for success.

Participation is also firmly on the up with sambists from as many as 82 nations competing at last year’s World Championships in the Japanese city of Narita, marking a dramatic increase on the representation at the 1995 edition, as an example, which saw players from just 15 countries take part. 

But despite all of the positives, there are still underlying issues that need to be addressed and tackled head on if sambo is to take the next, and one of the most coveted steps, in its development.

Speaking with Sergey Eliseev, President of the European Sambo Federation (ESF), after day one of the European Championship on Friday (May 15), the Russian expressed his belief that the existing feud between his SportAccord and IOC counterparts, Marius Vizer and Thomas Bach, presents difficulties not only for sambo but for other sports vying for IOC recognition as well.

Ignited by Vizer’s scathing attack on Bach and the IOC at last month’s SportAccord Convention in Sochi, Eliseev believes the ambitions of non-Olympic sports are likely to be put on the backburner until the tension between the two parties is resolved. 

"Any conflict has a negative impact on the development of any sport, and of course for sambo this is a negative aspect," he said. 

"I think that the recognition will be delayed because the conflict should be solved.

"They will be occupied with solving the conflict, not with the inclusion of any types of sport."

Sambo could well be waiting for quite some time on that front given the ferocity of the claims by Vizer, the IJF President who spoke of his “wish” for sambo to achieve IOC recognition following the signing of the aforementioned cooperation agreement with his International Federation and that of sambo’s, FIAS. 

Although it would be wrong to suggest that he longer has this “wish”, it’s somewhat ironic in hindsight that his actions could effectively delay or perhaps even hamper, the prospect of it actually coming true.

Nonetheless, as Croatian Sambo Federation (CSF) President Zeljko Banic pointed out to me yesterday, sambo is faced with a number of challenges that only the governing bodies of the sport itself can find a solution for. 

Having held his position since the establishment of the CSF in February 2010, and overseen Croatia’s journey to hosting its first ever European Championship here, Banic is well informed to offer his opinions on how sambo needs to go about securing its future development.

Asked about the success of the European Championship thus far, Banic, without prompt, was quick to divert his attention to the inferior position of sambo in Western Europe, compared to that on the eastern side, where it was founded in Russia and continues to be the main breeding ground to the present day.

The Croatian insists that ESF President Eliseev recognises the imbalance in popularity across the continent’s east-west divide, and is adamant that European Federations must work together to create a “new face” for sambo.

The domination of the east has been apparent here both in terms of the number of sambists competing, and more significantly, in the distribution of the medals.

Russia top the overall medal standings with six golds, six silvers and five bronzes after the second day of action, and are followed by fellow Eastern European nations Belarus, with four golds, one silver and four bronzes, and Ukraine, with three golds, four silvers and six bronzes.

Armenia, Georgia and Bulgaria complete the gold medal list, with Hungary featuring alongside all six in the silver medal stakes.

You’d have to go down as far as the bronze medallists to find a non-Eastern European sambist, with France and Italy the only westerly nations to feature on the table.

Addressing this imbalance of power is not the only thing that needs to be done though, according to Banic, who thinks that the current sambo rules are not in the “spirit of the time”.

He believes that sambo requires a revolutionary addition, referring to the impact that the introduction of the three-point shot had on basketball in 1967.

One particular aspect of the current points system which he isn’t favourable of is the awarding of four points for a 20-second pin.

Banic feels that points ought to be awarded for more “attractive” actions, which will appeal to a younger audience, but reckons it could take up to two years to implement new rules.

The time-scale on making changes is a problem in itself in Banic’s eyes, given that a majority verdict among a number of European Federations has to be reached in each instance. 

Having prided himself on making quick decisive decisions within his own Federation, which is recognised by the National Olympic Committee of Croatia, Banic is keen to see things move faster both at international and European level. 

The Croatian Mixed Martial Arts Federation President is of the opinion that sambo need look no further than taekwondo to see how a sport can earn itself a place on the Olympic programme from very humble beginnings. 

Within seven years of the establishment of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) in 1973, taekwondo earned IOC recognition before featuring as a demonstration sport at both the Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.

Two years after the latter, the 103rd IOC Session in Paris voted to include taekwondo as an official sport at Sydney 2000, marking a meteoric rise in little over 20 years. 

Banic describes it as a "great success story" and is hopeful it’s one that can be rewritten by sambo in years to come.

The creation of a successful brand, as taekwondo has managed to achieve, will almost definitely be key as sambo strives to extend beyond its traditional borders.

In an ever-competitive sports market, the challenge is there for all to see, however, there is certainly plenty of cause for encouragement.

Progression may be gradual but sambo’s appearance at prestigious multi-sport events, particularly the upcoming European Games, can only help towards achieving its Olympic dream.

At the Moscow 1980 Opening Ceremony, it was short and sweet. Thirty-five years on, sambo is eyeing a much more significant place within the Olympic family.