Development

United World Wrestling and Partners Host “Wrestling 4 All Open Day” in South Africa

Friday, November 30, 2018 - 12:51 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (November 30) -- United World Wrestling, in partnership with Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and coordination by the South African Wrestling Federation, is hosting a “Wrestling 4 All Open Day” December 1st in Randburg South Africa.

The event has been coordinated in recognition of the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“We are happy to be partnered with the [OHCHR] for this event,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. “Our goal is to grow the sport of wrestling and show it’s unique power to bring people together through sport. We believe that wrestling can be physical fitness and fun for all ages, but also allow for better dialogue among those who have disagreements.”

The “Wrestling 4 All Open Day” is an opportunity for kids, youth and adults in the area to participate in a variety of wrestling-related events. In addition to an Olympic style wrestling tournament there will be beach wrestling and fitness activities. There day will also feature United World Wrestling’s “Wrestle4Fun” program run by human rights champion Mpho MADI (RSA). Children up to 13 years of age are eligible to participate in the games session.

Athletes learning more about wrestling-specific conditioning and training earlier this year in Croatia (Photo: Max Rose Fyne)

Coaches and athletes interested in high-level fitness certifications will also have the chance to participate in the day’s events. United World Wrestling global supplier Suples Wrestling, led by founder Ivan Ivanov, will host a two-day certification camp allowing attendees to learn more about how to utilize equipment for wrestling-based training.

The South African Wrestling Federation, with the support of its National Olympic Committee, is hosting an Olympic Solidarity UWW Level 1 coaches course and the Introduction to Refereeing simultaneously at the event.

A #standup4humanrights exhibition will also be on site, allowing visitors to learn more about the struggle for human rights and the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The “Wrestling 4 All Open Day” will be held December 1 at the Danie Van Zyl Rec Center in Newlands, Randburg South Africa.

Development

Financial Assistance Programs Boost Wrestling Nations in Olympic Year

Tuesday, June 1, 2021 - 11:07 By United World Wrestling Press

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Augusto MIDANA (GBS) qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games after receiving financial assistance to attend the qualification event in Tunisia. (Photo: UWW)

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 1) -- As the COVID pandemic swept the globe and impacted lives and economies worldwide, United World Wrestling - led by president Nenad Lalovic and the UWW bureau - worked to create financial opportunities for small, heavily affected nations keen to continue in their Olympic journey even as financial opportunities dwindled.
 
In addition to existing programming, Lalovic and the bureau settled on direct assistance to support athletes and coaches in their quest to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Utilizing its established Technical Assistance program, UWW supported 121 athletes and coaches from 43 nations.

"We were determined to assist all our national associations and stay united through the most difficult challenges," said Lalovic. "These past 16 months have tested our resilience, but we've stayed united as a family and through the efforts delivered by the UWW Development Team, we saw great buy-in and five athletes who were able to qualify."
Georgios PILIDIS

Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) qualified during the World Olympic Qualifier in Sofia. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Of the recipients, five athletes successfully qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games via the program:

Augusto Midana (GBS) -- FS 74, African Olympic Qualifier
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) -- GR 60, Asian Olympic Qualifier
BAT-OCHIR Bolortuya (MGL) -- WW 53, World Olympic Qualifier
Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) -- FS 65, World Olympic Qualifier
Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) -- GR 67, World Olympic Qualifier

In addition to funds provided directly from UWW, the IOC also entered as a collaborator, under its ‘Youth Athlete Development, International Federation Training Opportunities’, which was built to support smaller NOCs in sending their teams to Continental Qualifications.

The total cost for the training assistance was EUR 180’000, with 40’000 to be reimbursed by Olympic Solidarity.

"The qualifications were burdensome on the athletes," said Deqa Niamkey, UWW Director of Development. "They faced uncertainty in their training routines, issues with travel, and of course their own experiences with the impact from COVID. But as we know, wrestlers are tough and always find a way to get the job done!"
Aker AL OBAIDI (AUT)

Aker AL OBAIDI (UWW) was a member of the refugee team funded by United World Wrestling that traveled to various qualification events. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

In addition to the OS program UWW's development department oversaw a myriad of success stories during Olympic qualification with UWW Africa, referee scholarships, female coach support and refugee athlete support all making an impact.

UWW African Center qualified four of its nine fully supported athletes at the Africa/Oceania Olympic Games qualifier in Tunisia. 

While they fell short of Olympic qualifications, logistical support was provided to Aker AL OBAIDI (who resides in Austria) and Amir ALAWAD (who resides in Egypt) to attend Olympic Game Qualification events under the flag of the UWW Refugee team.

The referee scholarship program was utilized to send Demetra KOUTSOPODIOTIS-GAUTHIER (CAN) to the World OG Qualifier in Sofia, while UWW also sent Van Zyl Esta (RSA) - one of the scholarship holders of the Women's Sport Leadership Academy for High Performance Coaches Program - to the African/Oceania OG qualifier as a coach.

Wrestling at the 2021 Olympic Games will be August 1-7 at the Makhuari Messe Arena in Tokyo.