Development

United World Wrestling Wins MBR Creative Sports Award, $250k for Development Work

Tuesday, November 27, 2018 - 14:50 By United World Wrestling Press

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DUBAI (November 27) – United World Wrestling has won the "MBR Creative Sports Award" for best initiative for an International Summer Olympic International Federation. The award, one of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, was in recognition of United World Wrestling’s development program “More than Medals” a Cadet-level wrestling initiative active on five continents in 2018.

The award, worth $250,000, was announced as part of the MBR Creative Sports Award 10th annual award and is the “primary sports award dedicated to inspiring creativity in sports in the UAE, Arab countries, and worldwide.”

“We are very grateful for this recognition and see it as sign that our hard work in reaching young athletes is having a positive effect,” said United World Wrestling president and IOC executive board member, Nenad Lalovic. “The MBR Creative Sports Award will go far in helping expand the reach of our development department.”

A young athlete waits for additional training during a session at the More than Medals camp last summer in Zagreb. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Mustapha Larfaoui, Member of the Award's Board of Trustees, and Chairman of the Arbitration Committee thanked all participating nations, athletes and federations.

"We are pleased with the growth achieved in the number of candidates locally, at Arab level and internationally, as well as the keenness of sports institutions and federation to participate through its initiatives and programs dedicated for youth.”

The 2018 More than Medals program ran from February to July and impacted more than 200 young wrestlers and coaches to qualify for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The "MBR Creative Sports Award" award is named for His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, Patron of the Award and H.H Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the UAE National Olympic Committee. The award was created and increase and strengthen innovation and creativity in sports at the Arab level and internationally through honoring the innovators and excellency in sports work.

Zagreb Hosts More Than Medals Camp Prior to Youth Olympic Games

Tuesday, July 24, 2018 - 13:46 By Lei Liang

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (July 14) - More than 90 cadet wrestlers and coaches from five continents participated in the “More than Medals” training camp at the Arena Zagreb following the Cadet World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. 

 “This edition of More than Medals was a great success, thanks to the high number of participants from all five continents. The Croatian Wrestling Federation provided excellent organization and coordination for the smooth running camp. It's the best-organized camp this year” said Ms. Deqa Niamkey, UWW Development Director.

The camp was focused on helping qualified athletes prepare for October’s Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Clinicians covered technique, as well as strength and conditioning training with Suples equipment before simulation matches took place. 

‘We are pleased that United World Wrestling decided to organize More than Medals World in Zagreb, Croatia. It has given us the opportunity to have our young wrestlers practice with world-class athletes and develop women’s wrestling in Croatia’, said Mr. Davor Jakubek, Secretary General of Croatian Wrestling Federation

Coaches clinics were also organized to encourage high-level coaches to share their experiences while learning together. 

Alexis Rodriguez, former world champion and Olympic Bronze medalist who coaches at the UWW African Centre said, “this camp is beneficial for preparing the athletes for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. Many of the athletes here at the camp will be competing against each other in three months.

For more information on the development schedule, including referee and coach’s clinics, please consult the online calendars:

Educational Programs: https://unitedworldwrestling.org/development/educational-programs
Training Camps: https://unitedworldwrestling.org/development/training-camps.