#Tokyo2020

Ethics Meeting, Blockchain, and Day One Draws Highlight Eve of Wrestling Competition at Tokyo 2020

Saturday, July 31, 2021 - 09:45 By United World Wrestling Press

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TOKYO (July 31) -- United World Wrestling president Nenad LALOVIC welcomed IOC Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Pâquerette GIRARD ZAPPELLI to the sport's opening Technical Delegate meeting Saturday afternoon at the Makuhari Messe in Tokyo.

Zappelli introduced herself to the audience and outlined the IOC's broad mission as a mechanism to showcase cooperation, peace, competitive spirit, and ethical behavior.
Lalovic also addressed the delegation,emphasizing the recent efforts made by the sport to ensure fair play and ethical conduct. As an example, Lalovic discussed wrestling's leadership in the utilization of Blockchain technology to ensure 100-percent random and independently verifiable draws.
 


Youssef BOUAZIZ (UWW) oversees the initiation of the Ethereum-backed Blockchain.

The technology was then used moments later to draw the brackets for the first day of the competition with brackets in Greco-Roman 130kg, Greco-Roman 60kg, and Women's Wrestling 76kg all being drawn instantly on the big screen in Hall 5 of the Makuhari Messe.

Olympic silver medalist Oborududu announces retirement

Saturday, June 7, 2025 - 07:10 By Vinay Siwach

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NIGERIA (June 6) -- Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) announced her retirement last week, ending a memorable career in wrestling.

The 36-year-old called it quits at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, a tournament she made her first appearance as a young wrestler in 2006.

In a career spanning 19 years, Oborududu won the African Championships 13 times, became the first African wrestler to win Olympic silver medal in Women's Wrestling and finished fifth at the Paris Olympics.

Oborududu participated won her first gold at the African Championships in 2010 and maintained her winning streak at the tournament for 15 years. 

“I want to thank everyone who has been part of my journey: the Nigeria Wrestling Federation led by Daniel IGALI, the board members, my teammates, and my family,” Oborududu was quoted as saying by the Nigeria media. "I created a lot of memories, but my most memorable one was the Tokyo Olympics, which ignited hope across Africa. It was the first-ever medal by an African woman in wrestling at the Olympics, and I hope more will come for future wrestlers."

At the sports festival, Oborududu helped Team Bayelsa clinch gold medal in her final bout at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival. He later received a farewell from teammates, officials and fans.