Good Governance

Wrestling Cited for Good Governance in Recent ASOIF Report

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 22) -- A recent report issued by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) cited United World Wrestling as having above average standards for Good Governance.

ASOIF, a non-profit association affiliated with the International Olympic Committee, hired the independent sports governance consultancy I Trust Sport to review the responses and moderate the scores for all participating member federations.

The report specifically recognized United World Wrestling's commitment as best practices for publishing the details of elected officials biographies, including CV's and a conflicts of interest statement (Example). The UWW website also notes the election dates and terms for each bureau member. (Example)

'We are pleased with our progress in regards to Good Governance," said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalvoic. "We have made significant progress since 2013 and for an independent consultancy to verify our dedication to transparency is a meaningful moment for wrestling and we remain dedicated to continuing this progress linked to good governance."

Overall, wrestling was placed into the A2 category of the Good Governance review.

Obituary

Japanese legend and Olympic champ Obara passes away aged 44

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (July 19) — Former Japanese great Hitomi OBARA, a 2012 London Olympic gold medalist and eight-time world champion, died on Friday, Japanese media reported on Saturday. She was 44.

Obara won six world titles at women's 51kg between 2000 and 2008 under her maiden name of SAKAMOTO, but lost out to Saori YOSHIDA in an attempt to make Japan's team at 55kg to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

She retired after that disappointment, but returned to mat and cut down to 48kg in a bid for the London Olympics. She won world titles at 48kg in 2010 and 2011, then defeated Mariya STADNIK (AZE) in the London final for the Olympic gold. 

Born in the powerful wrestling city of Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan, Obara had been appointed as coach of the national women's team in January along with fellow Hachinohe native and Olympic champion Kaori ICHO.