TAIYUAN, Shanxi Province - Some 1,000 wrestlers from over 80 countries and regions will be competing at the Olympic qualification tournament which starts here on Friday, with a total of 50 spots up for grabs.

The tournament, which will run through Sunday, features Greco-Roman wrestling and freestyle wrestling events. The top three in each of men's 14 categories and top two in each of women's four categories will qualify for the London Olympics.

Shanxi Province is known as "home to wrestling" in China as tens of thousands of local people practice Chinese traditional wrestling.