#development

More than Medals Africa Delivered in Tunisia

By Tim Foley

HAMMAMET, Tunisia (April 10) -- Wrestlers, referees, and officials from 15 nations attended the 2019 More than Medals, Africa program last month in Tunisia. The multi-day event was open to all national federations in Africa and included wrestling-focused programming for all UWW age categories.

The program was highlighted by an anti-doping educational course led by Carlos Roy, UWW General Affairs Director.

Hammamet University, delivered the new Sport for Climate Action initiative in collaboration with Tunisian Foundation for Eco-Conscience.

MTM Africa also included an NF workshop covering proper event registration and the qualification process for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The course was delivered by Jean Daniel Rey, director of the UWW Sports Department and Youssef Bouaziz, IT Specialist.

UWW Development director Deqa Niamkey and Vincent AKA, development officer for Africa, helped deliver a number of athlete focused development programs. 

#development

Learn, Wrestle, Use youth camp organized in Croatia

By United World Wrestling Press

POREC, Croatia (May 6) -- The Croatian Wrestling Federation, in cooperation with United World Wrestling and the Croatian School Sports Federation, successfully organized an international youth wrestling camp titled “Learn, Wrestle, Use”, held from April 14 to 19, 2025, in the renowned wrestling hub of sunny Porec.

The camp brought together 300 young athletes from four European countries -- Croatia, Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany -- in the U13, U15 and U17 age groups. In addition to intensive wrestling training, the camp included targeted educational sessions of learning English, proper nutrition, and digital safety, particularly regarding responsible behavior on social media.

This innovative project stands out for its integrated approach, combining athletic preparation with personal development. Through a balance of physical training and structured education, “Learn, Wrestle, Use” supports the holistic — both physical and psychological — development of young athletes. It encourages not only sporting excellence, but also intercultural exchange, communication skills, and lifelong healthy habits.

The camp was led by a team of distinguished Croatian coaches: Hrvoje SAVUK (U13 Boys Group), Eugen JAKOVLJEVIC, head coach of the Croatian U15 boys national team (U15 & U17 Boys Groups), and Women’s Wrestling national team coaches Dinko KREMIC and Nenad GREZINA (Girls Group). A total of 30 experienced coaches participated in the delivery of the training and educational components.

This international initiative is a strong example of how youth sport can go beyond competition — creating space for learning, connection, and empowerment across borders.