By Can Erozden
ANKARA (AA) – The 2023 World Cups in wrestling were canceled on Friday for possible "challenges and complexities" about organizing major events in a pre-Olympic year as all wrestlers are expected to be more focused on the Paris 2024.
"United World Wrestling announced the cancellation of the 2023 Greco-Roman, Freestyle and Women's World Cups, which were scheduled to take place in Tehran, Iran on November 24 and 25, and in Coralville, Iowa, USA on December 9 and 10, respectively," the world wrestling's governing body said in a statement.
The decision, it said, was made after "careful consideration and analysis of the challenges and complexities involved in organizing such high-profile events during a pre-Olympic year," it said, adding that countries will be focusing on the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
"... the potential lack of participation in the World Cups in 2023 was a major concern for United World Wrestling," it said.
"Additionally, the World Championships in Belgrade, scheduled for September 2023, would have added further pressure on countries," it added.
Paris 2024 is set to kick off on July 26.