Obituary

Malta Wrestling Federation Founder Bonello Passes Away

Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - 12:38 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 4) -- Simon A. Bonello, former president and founder of the Malta Wrestling Federation, passed away on Monday. He was 85. 

Bonello introduced freestyle wrestling to Malta in 1967, which led to the creation of the federation in late 1969. A year later the federation became fully affiliated with the International Federation.

He served as an official of the Maltese Olympic Committee for 25 years, vice president for four years, and was an established referee. Bonello was one of Malta's longest serving presidents of a national association.

Bonello also worked to promote wrestling outside of his home country. His organization hosted international wrestling tournaments between 1993 and 2004 involving European small states and autonomous regions. 

During the 1970s, Bonello also served as president of the Weightlifting Federation, Bodybuilding Association and Chess Federation. He spent time working as a journalist and was vice president of the Sports Journalists Association.
 

#development

UWW launches coaches’ mentorship program

Sunday, June 29, 2025 - 18:04 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 29) — United World Wrestling has signed an agreement with the Hungarian Wrestling Federation for a mentorship program for coaches in collaboration with the University of Hungary.

This is the first-ever coaches’ mentorship program and will be held at the KIMBA training centre from November 2 to 15 in collaboration with Hungarian federation.

The coaches who will attend the Olympic Solidarity Coaches Scholarship Programme will be eligible for the mentorship program. Upon completion of the course, selected coaches will also participate in a 14-day mentorship programme, organised in collaboration with the Hungarian federation and the KIMBA Training Centre.

The application for the Olympic Solidarity Coaches Scholarship Programme must be submitted through their respective National Olympic Committee and send a copy to: development@uww.org.

Application deadline: August 3, 2025
Course dates: October 1 – November 1, 2025
Mentorship programme: November 2 to 15, 2025

For more details, coaches and NFs are requested to contact: development@uww.org.