Development

Sudan Engages with Development of the National Sports System in Wrestling

Monday, May 21, 2018 - 14:19 By Tim Foley

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DARFOUR (May 14) --  For hundreds of years wrestling in Sudan served to build ties between tribes, but today the sport is growing into Olympic territory with the implementation of United World Wrestling and Olympic Solidarity’s implementation of the Development National Sports System (DNSS) program.

The program’s launch took place this May in Khartoum with the visit of Vincent AKA, development officer for Africa who worked with local organizers to conduct the first steps of the DNSS.

Wrestlers from Sudan had recently been motivated to join the sport's global community after the UWW educator Nico Coetzee, conducted a Level One coaching course in the country in 2016

After the recent developments the Sudanese National Olympic Committee on April 22 offered it’s backing for the creation and to support of the wrestling federation through Olympic Solidarity.

The DNSS has three important phases, which will be implemented on the following dates:

Phase 1 (April 22-29)-: Assessment and implementation of Program Implantation of the DNSS. Training camp-talent identification and assessment included eight coaches and thirty athletes. Also, for the first time in Sudan, there was support for women’s wrestling.

Phase 2 (June 18-24): Intermediary evaluation-follow up and recommendations. Evaluation of the senior-level wrestlers and the start of the training camp and talent identification for Juniors and Cadets

Phase 3 (June 23-29): Final evaluation and recommendations of the best Cadets and Juniors, followed by a joint camp for all age groups.

 

United World Wrestling Joins World Taekwondo for Historic Event at Azraq Refugee Camp

Saturday, July 20, 2019 - 12:27 By Tim Foley

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AMMAN, Jordan (July 20, 2019) – United World Wrestling (UWW), World Taekwondo (WT), and the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) hosted the first-ever joint Olympic-sport training event, named Aspire 2gether for Peace, in the Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan.

The joint event is a tangible outcome of the landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between UWW, WT, and THF on 22 October 2018 to promote humanitarian, peace and social-development through sport. The Aspire 2gether for Peace event, sees UWW unite with WT and THF to deliver wrestling training to refugees at the existing Humanitarian Taekwondo Center.
 


The event was attended by a senior delegation from all three organizations and included WT President and  THF Chairman Chungwon Choue, Olympic gold medallists and THF/WT Ambassadors, Wu Jingyu and Ahmed Abu Ghaush; UWW Development Director Deqa Niamkey and Olympic medallists and UWW Ambassadors, Arsen Julfalakyan and Clarissa Chun. IOC Executive Board Member HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein attended on behalf of the IOC and UNHCR delegates attended the event on Filippo Grandi’s behalf.

THF/WT President Choue delivered an opening address, and UWW Development Director Deqa Niamkey also gave a speech on behalf of UWW President Nenad Lalovic, ‘Playing sport helps children building mental strength, resilience and fundamental skills. Thanks to the Jordanian Royal family and WT and THF to have invited United World Wrestling to this historic joint-event. We are delighted to have joined forces with World Taekwondo and the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation to show that our MoU was not just words, but the start of a real and tangible partnership which will benefit refugee children around the world.’


A wrestling demonstration with the refugee children was carried out following the Azraq taekwondo team demonstration. Wrestling and Taekwondo lessons were also given to the refugee children later of the day.


Arsen Julfalakyan (ARM) UWW ambassador and Athletes Commission Member said: “It is great to contribute to the lives of the refugees through sport and thanks to the opportunity given by the WT and THF, wrestling is in the Azraq sporting programme. The refugees need sport in their lives which will enhance their current difficult situation with the hope that peace will reach their country. UWW is very proud to inspire the future generations."


United World Wrestling is committed to making a long-term contribution to improve the lives of the refugee children in Azraq. Together with Jordanian Olympic Committee and Jordanian Wrestling Federation, 4 local coaches will be running a 6- day a week schedule to provide wrestling lessons to children currently living in the camp.