Television

Wrestling Signs with Eurosport for TV and Digital Coverage Through 2020

Thursday, September 13, 2018 - 16:31 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 12) – United World Wrestling has signed a three-year distribution agreement with Eurosport, the largest carrier of Olympic content in Europe.

The agreement, which runs until 2020, will see Eurosport showcase premier wrestling events like the World and European Championships, and broadcast them across 54 nation in Europe 16 in the Asia-Pacific region. The content will be available on linear, online and the Eurosport Player.

Eurosport’s coverage will begin this October in Budapest with highlight shows from the World Wrestling Championships. Next year, Eurosport is set to add to its coverage with action from the European Wrestling Championships from Bucharest, Romania.  Eurosport will also support the growth of wrestling via a series of TV and digital campaigns to run on its platforms for the duration of the deal.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with Eurosport and improving the level of exposure across Europe,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. “We believe this partnership took a significant step forward last year during the successful World Championships in Paris and look to build on that for our major Championships and in the lead up to Tokyo 2020.”

Defending Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) at practice earlier this year in Tokyo. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Eurosport has committed to televising the top wrestling events on Eurosport platforms until 2020.

“We want to emphasize that sports such as wrestling are more than a series of events that only takes place at the Olympics. This partnership strengthens Eurosport’s ambition to tell year-round stories of current and future Olympians,” said Laurent Prud’homme, Eurosport SVP Rights Acquisitions and Syndication.

“Securing an agreement with the UWW will allow fans across Europe and the Asia-Pacific to follow their heroes in the lead-up to Tokyo. Equally, this also gives us the opportunity to educate sports fans who perhaps don’t know too much about wrestling.”

 

 

Development

UWW Partners with Shigakkan University to Expand Global Wrestling Training Opportunities

Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - 11:59 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 16) – In a significant step towards enhancing training opportunities for athletes, coaches, and the global wrestling community, United World Wrestling (UWW) has formed a strategic partnership with Shigakkan University, Japan. Recognized as a pioneering institution in wrestling education, Shigakkan University has been home to many legendary Japanese wrestlers and has played a crucial role in the sport’s development.

The predecessor school of the university was founded in 1905, and its legacy in wrestling education traces back to Chukyo Women’s University Wrestling Club, established in 1989. Over the years, the institution became highly regarded in the field of physical education, producing numerous Olympic medallists and world-class wrestlers. In 2010, the university was renamed Shigakkan University, opening its door as coeducational institution while continuing their mission of excellence in sports education.

At the heart of Shigakkan University’s philosophy is the principle of “Capacity Building”, which focuses on five key pillars:

  • Wellness – Promoting physical and mental well-being
  • Intellectual Insight – Encouraging academic excellence and innovation
  • Social Ability – Fostering teamwork and communication skills
  • Self-Development – Encouraging continuous personal growth
  • Effective Citizenship – Cultivating leadership and global engagement

UWW President Nenad Lalovic expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating: “We are thrilled about this new collaboration with Shigakkan University, a prestigious institution recognized as the school of Japanese wrestling and highly respected within the global wrestling community. We are eager and excited to work with our colleagues at SUJ to contribute to the continued development of women’s wrestling worldwide.”

As part of this partnership, the UWW Development Department and Shigakkan University will work together to implement a range of high-impact initiatives, including:

  • Training camps for selected elite wrestlers, providing them with advanced technical, tactical, and physical preparation.
  • Education courses for wrestling coaches, aimed at equipping them with the latest coaching methodologies and sports science knowledge.
  • Knowledge-sharing activities, such as seminars, educational sessions, and coach exchanges, to promote continuous learning and best practices within the wrestling community.

These initiatives will play a vital role in strengthening world-class athlete preparation systems, supporting referees and coaches, and ensuring experience-sharing, particularly in the advancement of women’s wrestling.

Through this collaboration, UWW and Shigakkan University aim to elevate the sport by fostering international cooperation, enhancing training standards, and nurturing the next generation of wrestling champions.