Development

2018 Creative Sports Award to Boost UWW’s Development Projects

By United World Wrestling Press

DUBAI (January 9) -- During a dedication ceremony held in Dubai, United World Wrestling (UWW) received the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award in the category of the best initiative of the Summer Olympic International Federations (IFs).

The 2018 edition sought to recognize the initiatives that empower youth in sports -- the award comes with a USD $250,000 prize for use in development activities.

UWW President Nenad Lalovic accepted the award on behalf of his organization, which was recognized for its innovative project “More than Medals”, the first cornerstone of the IF’s new wrestling development plan. Five camps conducted between February and July last year targeted more than 200 young elite athletes and combined high-quality training with education on important topics such as anti-doping, nutrition, training plan, and the IOC’s Athlete Career Programme. The educational part also included the athletes’ entourage. Organized on all continents, the camps also served to prepare wrestlers to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October 2018.

While attending the ceremony, ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said, “ASOIF is very thankful to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his recognition of outstanding activities of sports federations in such a generous way for the sixth consecutive year. Sports development and youth promotion go hand in hand and they are the most important fields for IFs to invest in. UWW’s project is exemplary in integrating essential educational elements into training for young athletes and UWW fully deserves this prestigious award.”

 Lalovic added, “On behalf of the wrestling family worldwide, UWW is highly honored to receive this award for the development programme ‘More than Medals 2018’ dedicated to the support and empowerment of the future generations. We reiterate our appreciation to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his great initiative to support sports development.”

The application phase for the 2019 H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Creative Sports Award is scheduled to open in April 2019.

Pakistan Wrestling Federation Hosts National Referees, Coaches Course

By United World Wrestling Press

LAHORE, Pakistan (March 27) -- The Pakistan Wrestling Federation, with the support of Olympic Solidarity and the National Olympic Committee of Pakistan, hosted a national course for referees and coaches Feb. 29 to March 1 in Lahore. 

This was the second national course by high performance coach Farid GHULAM and referee Riaz MUHAMMAD who served as instructors for the course, with the support of OS and NOC under the expertise of UWW Educators Carlos Garcia (ESP) and Trevor Hoskins (GBR).

Ghulam and Muhammed served as instructors for this course, too, which included over 30 participants, both male and female. The course combined both practical and theoretical sessions and highlighted elements such as nutrition, periodization, fitness and athlete preparation.
 


The Pakistan Wrestling Federation hosted a coaches and referees course in December as well.

"It is a good example of how UWW can trigger a movement of the development of wrestling in countries and even better, generate the flame of motivation and teamwork necessary to accomplish the long-term goal," said UWW educator Carlos GARCIA.


The Pakistan Wrestling Federation has put great efforts toward the development of wrestling in recent years and achieved strong results at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

The plan is to create a national system to grow wrestling and identify future talents with a solid coaching and refereeing structure.