#BeachWrestlingWorldSeries

Beach Wrestling World Series Boasts Action-Packed First Day in Portugal

Friday, March 29, 2019 - 17:38 By Tim Foley

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CHAVES, Portugal (March 29) – Spectators watched from the banks of the Tamega River Friday as wrestlers from a dozen countries began their quest for prize money and national pride during the first stop of the 2019 Beach Wrestling World Series.

The event is one of four in the Beach Wrestling World Series, an annual series launched this year by United World Wrestling in support of its associated style, beach wrestling.

“This was a fun first day,” said Kamilla FAMA, who competed at 50kg for Brazil losing her first match. “I wish I would have performed better, but I love wrestling and being in the sand. This is going to get bigger every stop!

Camila FAMA (BRA) and Kamila BARBOSA (BRA) after day one of wrestling at the Beach Wrestling World Series in Chaves. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Sand and wrestlers went flying during the qualification rounds on Friday, with dozens of wrestlers sending opponents arching towards the ground. Perhaps the highest-flying maneuver was by Dato MARSAGISHVILI (GEO) who used a wrist and underhook to toss Pedro Jacinto GARCIA PEREZ (ESP) in their session ending bout at -90kg.

Marsagishvili is a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and 2011 world medalist making him the most accomplished of the mat wrestlers in attendance.

Dato MARSAGISHVILI (GEO) after his session ending three-point throw. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Wrestling action will continue tomorrow morning at 10am with two more qualification rounds in each weight class. The medal rounds will start at 3pm local time.

The medal rounds are more significant now than in year’s past as place-winners will be awarded cash prizes based on where they finish. Gold medalist will earn 1000 CHF, silver 500 CHF, and bronze 250 CHF in each of the eight weight categories (four men, four women). There is also an additional prize of 1000 CHF for the best move of the tournament, which will be selected by the fans, athletes, and coaches at the end of the event.

In addition to money and national pride the place winners at tomorrow’s final session also earn points in qualifying for the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games held in San Diego in October. Competitors will also able to capture additional points at the next Beach Wrestling World Series stop May 10-11 in Rio de Janeiro.

The Beach Wrestling World Series can be watched live around the world on FloWrestling.org. Fans and athletes can also follow the Beach Wrestling World Series on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

#development

Bulgaria hosts OLYMP to increase media literacy

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - 09:49 By United World Wrestling Press

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BULGARIA (October 15) -- Bulgaria hosted a seminar on the OLYMP project, funded by the European Union's Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, at Diana National Wrestling Hall on October 9. The project aims to improve the media literacy of athletes, coaches, and sports managers.

The seminar was led by Georgi BANOV, one of the doyens of Bulgarian sports journalism, who has covered 14 Olympic Games in winter and summer sports, as well as a number of world and European Championships in wrestling, weightlifting, athletics, biathlon, and more.

The seminar was organized for the athletes of the national wrestling teams. The event was hosted by Belcho GORANOV, Chairman of the Ethics and Legal Commission of the United World Wrestling (UWW) and project manager on behalf of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The team emphasized that the seminar is part of a six-month cycle of informal training under the OLYMP project, which covers a total of 110 young athletes. The program includes weekly sessions in small groups focusing on media and information literacy, critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as developing the participants' confidence and ability to defend their positions with reasoned arguments.

The weekly classes will include readings and discussions on biographies, novels, sports magazines, as well as topics related to sports management and economics. Additional informal activities -- meetings with prominent athletes and film screenings -- will be held twice a month, with each event featuring moderated debates and practical challenges for “fact checking” and ethical behavior on social media.

Banov drew the athletes' attention to how to verify the information they receive through social media and other sources, how to recognize fake news, how to search for reliable information, and how to use social networks correctly, avoiding hate speech.

At the end of the media literacy program, a combined (formal and informal) assessment is planned – short tests and case studies, observation of group work, participant portfolios, and satisfaction surveys—to report on the specific results of the training and its impact on the engagement of young athletes in public life.

Read more on BOC website