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UWW level 1 Coaching Course: Georgia Launches the Foundations of Women's Wrestling

Thursday, December 9, 2021 - 15:05 By United World Wrestling Press

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BORJOMI, Georgia (December 9) --- Thanks to the support of Olympic solidarity via the Georgian National Olympic Committee, the Georgian Wrestling Federation hosted United World Wrestling's Level 1 coaching course for women's wrestling from November 11-14. The coaching course took place at the Borjomi Olympic Centre and was delivered by two UWW educators, Vincent AKA and Edisher MACHIDZE.

This coaching course follows various programs already launched by the Georgia Wrestling Federation to support women's wrestling. It's aimed to change the mentality of wrestling coaches regarding women's wrestling. The training course has already brought a new approach to the practice of women's wrestling.
 
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After the course, at the closing ceremony, all the participants received a United World Wrestling coach certificate of participation Level 1. 

After the end of the training, Coach NINA SERGO said, "Of course I am a Greco Roman wrestling trainer, but now I could better apprehend the arrival of a girl in my club." He is already ready to welcome them, which is a big step! 

During the training, 15 male coaches and one female coach took part, the specificity of women's wrestling was discussed/ In this case, how we train women. UWW Level 1 training standards were discussed while emphasizing safety, the playful approach to wrestling, first aid and injury prevention. 

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The refereeing modules closed the training where coaches were put in refereeing situations. This has helped some coaches realize that refereeing is not as easy as it seems. 
  
Exceptionally, when Samkhardze Tamuna became the first UWW Level 1 woman coach in a country where the practice of women's wrestling is primarily reserved for men. The Chairman of the Georgian National Olympic Committee, following discussions with the United World Wrestling Development Officer, gave his full support for the development of women's wrestling in Georgia.

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Bulgaria hosts OLYMP to increase media literacy

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - 09:49 By United World Wrestling Press

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BULGARIA (October 15) -- Bulgaria hosted a seminar on the OLYMP project, funded by the European Union's Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, at Diana National Wrestling Hall on October 9. The project aims to improve the media literacy of athletes, coaches, and sports managers.

The seminar was led by Georgi BANOV, one of the doyens of Bulgarian sports journalism, who has covered 14 Olympic Games in winter and summer sports, as well as a number of world and European Championships in wrestling, weightlifting, athletics, biathlon, and more.

The seminar was organized for the athletes of the national wrestling teams. The event was hosted by Belcho GORANOV, Chairman of the Ethics and Legal Commission of the United World Wrestling (UWW) and project manager on behalf of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The team emphasized that the seminar is part of a six-month cycle of informal training under the OLYMP project, which covers a total of 110 young athletes. The program includes weekly sessions in small groups focusing on media and information literacy, critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as developing the participants' confidence and ability to defend their positions with reasoned arguments.

The weekly classes will include readings and discussions on biographies, novels, sports magazines, as well as topics related to sports management and economics. Additional informal activities -- meetings with prominent athletes and film screenings -- will be held twice a month, with each event featuring moderated debates and practical challenges for “fact checking” and ethical behavior on social media.

Banov drew the athletes' attention to how to verify the information they receive through social media and other sources, how to recognize fake news, how to search for reliable information, and how to use social networks correctly, avoiding hate speech.

At the end of the media literacy program, a combined (formal and informal) assessment is planned – short tests and case studies, observation of group work, participant portfolios, and satisfaction surveys—to report on the specific results of the training and its impact on the engagement of young athletes in public life.

Read more on BOC website