COVID-19

IOC Refugee Scholarship Holders Oboadi, Alwad in Training Videos

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (May 1) -- IOC Refugee Scholarship recipient and Greco-Roman wrestler Aker Al OBOADI shared a video of himself training during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Oboadi who left his home in Iraq for Austria, is preparing for the opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo set to start July 23, 2021.


AL OBOADI and Ali ALAWAD, originally from Syria, are the first two wrestlers in the history of our sport to wear the UWW flag at the continental and world competitions. Thanks to the initiative of the IOC and National Olympic Committees of  Austria and Egypt, wrestling refugees are entitled to take part in the sport and pursue their Olympic dream. Both athletes plan to compete in their respective continental qualifiers in 2021, and if necessary, the "Last Chance" Olympic qualifier.

Stay tuned to United World Wrestling for more news, highlights, and updates.

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Lee re-elected as President of UWW Pan-American Council

By United World Wrestling Press

MONTERREY, Mexico (May 8) -- Francisco LEE will continue as the President of the UWW Pan-American Council after being re-elected on Wednesday.

The elections, held on the sidelines of the 2025 Pan-American Championships, saw five members being re-elected and two elected as new members.

Re-elected members
Francisco LEE (GUA)
Guillermo DIAZ (MEX)
Fernando RITTNER(ARG)
Fanny ECHEVERRI (COL)
Manuel ESPINOZA (CHI)

Newly elected members
Rich BENDER (USA)
Jose BARRETO (VEN)

After the elections, the council's executive board elected the office bearers with Lee re-elected as the President.

Diaz was given the position of General Secretary of the council while Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director, was appointed as the Vice-President.