The International Wrestling Federation (FILA) is encouraging wrestlers, fans and supporters all over the world to take photos of themselves, in their wrestling stance, and send them into the organisation by e-mail or via its social media pages along with the hashtag TakeAStance, and these will then be upload onto Facebook and Twitter.

"#TakeAStance is an easy way for all wrestling fans, from around the World, to show their support for Olympic wrestling," said FILA President Nenad Lalovic (pictured top, centre).

"Regardless of which one of our 177 national federations you wrestle for or support, we encourage everyone that wants to save Olympic wrestling to take part in this fun and engaging social media campaign."

This latest initiative, which will run right up until International Olympic Committee (IOC) members cast their vote at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires on September 8, comes on the back of a number of campaigns designed to drum up as much support as possible for wrestling's inclusion in 2020.

These include FILA's Thunderclap drive, another social media tool that allows users to donate one post and/or tweet to show their support culminating in the message "Did you know YOU can help Save Olympic Wrestling? Help me spread the word today" being shared across hundreds of unique Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr accounts on Wednesday August 12 at 12 noon EST.


Last month, Hollywood actor Billy Baldwin - a former collegiate wrestler - lent his support to the Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling (CPOW), which held an online auction featuring various items from Hollywood celebrities, wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) legends and one-of-a-kind experiences, including the chance to win travel packages to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

The proceeds of the auction went to the Keep Wrestling Movement.

The countdown to see which sport will make the programme for 2020 is well and truly underway with wrestling, squash and baseball-softball all vying for that one place.

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