Indicators of Spectacle in Wrestling at the 2021 Olympic Games

Abstract

Background and Study: Spectacle plays a key role in sports wrestling in attracting viewers' attention, creating emotional involvement, and making the sport an integral part of culture. Aim: To identify the most significant indicators of wrestlers' competitive activity based on the analysis of the 2021 Olympic Games, which influence the spectacle in sports wrestling.

Material and Methods: The study involved 289 wrestlers. An analysis of protocols and video recordings of 340 matches at the 2021 Olympic Games in three types of sports wrestling was conducted: in women's wrestling – 113 matches (n=96 female wrestlers), in Greco-Roman wrestling – 113 matches (n=97 wrestlers), and in freestyle wrestling – 114 matches (n=96 wrestlers). Expert assessment method was used to evaluate the indicators of competitive activity. Statistical analysis of the data was conducted using licensed Excel spreadsheet packages.

Results: For Greco-Roman wrestling and women's wrestling, the ratio of actions performed in par terre and standing is about 70 to 30. Whereas, for freestyle wrestlers, almost 80% of actions are performed in standing. The efficiency coefficient of wrestling in standing for Greco-Roman style wrestlers averaged 1.43 points per action; for freestyle wrestlers, it was 1.78 points per action, and for female wrestlers – 2.01 points per action. The highest number of one-point actions was performed in Greco-Roman wrestling, which significantly and statistically significantly (p<0.05) exceeds the indicators in freestyle and women's wrestling. Meanwhile, female wrestlers and freestyle wrestlers statistically significantly (p<0.05) executed more two-point actions. The average number of actions per match does not significantly differ (p>0.05): 4.23 actions for Greco-Roman wrestling; 4.47 actions for freestyle wrestling, and 4.08 actions for women's wrestling. However, when considering the average number of points scored per match, statistically significant differences were found. Thus, Greco-Roman style wrestlers score an average of 6.95 points, this indicator is statistically significantly lower (p<0.05) than in freestyle (8.12 points) and in women's wrestling (8.07 points).

Conclusions: The analysis of matches at the 2021 Olympic Games made it possible to identify competitive activity indicators that influence the spectacle in sports wrestling. Positive indicators include: a large number of technical-tactical actions performed in standing; execution of throws in par terre by Greco-Roman style wrestlers; a high percentage of early victories in matches. Negative indicators: execution of simple one-point and two-point technical-tactical actions; in Greco-Roman wrestling, a large number of matches that ended with a score of 1:1; interruptions in matches (Challenge, Negative Wrestling, Caution), lack of dynamism in the match, and the inability to score too many points. The obtained results will help provide recommendations for changing competition rules and enhancing the spectacle of sports wrestling.