STILLWATER, Okla.— Each year the National Wrestling Hall of Fame recognizes Outstanding Americans who have used the disciplines of wrestling to launch notable careers in other walks of life. Two distinguished winners of this prestigious award are leading the charge during World Wrestling Month.

Mike Novogratz (2007 winner) and Andy Barth (2012 winner) have taken a leadership role with two exciting events for wrestling on opposite sides of the country. This comes on the heels of the International Olympic Committee’s recommendation to exclude wrestling from the 2020 Olympic Games.

On Wednesday, May 15 the United States will face a team from Russia and Iran in dual meets. These three teams come together in for a historic event called “Rumble On The Rails” at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

The competition will be held alongside the annual Beat the Streets Gala, which will be held following the competition at Bryant Part Grill. A ticket will be required for both the competition and the Gala.

There will be two duals as part of this event. First, the USA will battle Iran in men’s freestyle at 3:30 p.m. Later, the USA takes on Russia in a match featuring all three Olympic styles at 6 p.m.

“We are making a point here,” said Novogratz, chair of the Beat The Streets—New York Organization. To get the United States, Iran and Russia to agree on anything these days is tough. To get them to work for a common goal and to do so in service of New York City kids should at least show our political leaders that progress is possible. I promise, we’ll blow the roof off the garden.”

On Sunday, May 19 the United States will face Iran in a dual meet called “United 4 Wrestling.” The dual meet between these two world powers takes place at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, Calif., at 2 p.m.

The match is being staged in cooperation with California USA Wrestling and Beat the Streets—Los Angeles.

“We are elated to bring together these nations in this historic friendly competition,” said Beat the Streets-Los Angeles President Andy Barth. “This illustrates how the great sport of wrestling can enable countries from across the world to put aside their differences and create a common bond.

“This event that will demonstrate the broad impact and popularity of wrestling, as a sport, as a tool for diplomacy and as a means to raise funding for the inner-city kids who participate through wrestling in our year-round youth development `Beat the Streets-Los Angeles’ program.”

Those wishing to attend the “Rumble on the Rails” event in New York should visit www.beat-the-streets.org.

Those wishing to attend the “United for Wrestling” event in Los Angeles, Calif., should call 1-800-745-3000 or http://www.ticketmaster.com/USA-vs-IRAN-Wrestling-tickets/artist/1867720 or http://beatthestreets-la.org/us-iran-competing-in-la/.