IOC board meets to decide on dropping 1 sport

The IOC executive board convened to review the 26 current Olympic sports and remove one from the program of the 2020 Games. Eliminating one sport will allow the International Olympic Committee to add a new sport to the program later this year.

Under the closest scrutiny was modern pentathlon, which has been on the Olympic program since the 1912 Stockholm Games. It was created by French baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement.

Modern pentathlon combines fencing, horse riding, swimming, running and shooting — the five skills required of a 19th century cavalry officer. The sport's governing body, the UIPM, has been lobbying hard to protect its Olympic status.

UIPM President Klaus Schormann had considered traveling from Germany to Lausanne for the decision, but decided to stay away.

"The Olympic movement always needs history," Schormann told The Associated Press ahead of the IOC decision. "You cannot just say we look only at the future. You can have a future when you are stable on the basic part of history. We are continuing to develop, to renovate, to be innovative and creative. We are very proud of what we achieved so far and want to deliver this as well for the next generations in 2020."

The executive board was reviewing a report from the IOC program commission assessing each of the 26 sports contested at last year's London Olympics.