IOC

Lalovic Re-Elected to IOC Executive Board

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (February 19) -- United World Wrestling president Nenad LALOVIC was re-elected to the International Olympic Committee Executive Board (EB) for an additional four-year term. The IOC Session confirmed his election this morning in Beijing.

He will continue to represent the Association of Summer Olympic Federation (ASOIF) on the IOC EB.

Lalovic remains the first EB member from the sport of wrestling.

“To be re-elected as a member of the IOC Executive Committee is the ultimate honor and I thank all IOC members for their continued support,” said Lalovic. “I remain humbled to be a part of the EB and resume my desire to contribute to its mission and goals."

Recently re-elected as United World Wrestling president, Lalovic has overseen several dramatic and popular changes to one of the Olympic Games’ oldest sports.

Lalovic was named the president of United World Wrestling in February 2013 and appointed as IOC member in August of 2015. He currently also serves on the WADA Executive Committee and Foundation Board and GAISF Council.

The EB consists of the IOC President, four Vice-Presidents and ten other members. Among its many concerns, the EB assumes the overall responsibility for the administration of the IOC, approves the IOC's internal organization and is responsible for the management of the IOC's finances and prepares an annual report. The EB also conducts the procedure for acceptance and selection of candidatures for the organization of the Olympic Games and establishes the agenda for the IOC Sessions.

Click Here to learn more about the IOC Executive Board.        (https://www.olympic.org/executive-board)

UWW and Iran sign MoU to bring Chouke under Associated Styles

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 20) — United World Wrestling and the Iran Wrestling Federation took a significant step to promote Choukhe, signing a four-year Memorandum of Understanding.

The MoU will enable both organizations to work together to promote and protect Chouke, a traditional form of wrestling, under the UWW Associated Styles.

Both UWW and the Iranian federation will also work to develop Chouke under their umbrella. This agreement's objective is to facilitate the protection, development, and promotion of Chouke. As per the agreement, both parties will hold regular meetings to exchange ideas and share knowledge.

Chouke is a traditional form of wrestling in Iran with wrestlers performing on mud in a marked circular ring. Each bout is of five minutes with more than one bout conducted at the same time. In case of a tie with a one-minute break, three minutes of extra time are added. Within three minutes, the wrestler who earns the first point will be the winner.

This style of wrestling does not allow the wrestler to touch his opponent's legs. The bout can only be fought with grips above the waist. There are different ways to score points in Chouke.

One point is awarded for a takedown, two points are awarded if a throw is completed outside the ring, and one if completed inside. Most other moves award only one point. A fall occurs when even one shoulder touches the ground.

Both wrestlers have to wear the official clothes to compete in Chouke. A t-shirt, a special jacket and a short are considered to be official outfit. The shirt must be long enough to go below the waist and the sleeves be long till the elbow. A strong cloth belt must be tied around the waist of the wrestlers and is fixed at the back and the wrestlers compete barefoot.

The old form of wrestling has a special place in Iranian history, and the agreement will help with its growth and development in Iran. UWW's commitment to work closely with the Iran federation for Chouke is in line with its vision to grow and promote all the traditional forms of the oldest form of the sport.