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.

#development

Mauritius introduces wrestling into national school program

By United World Wrestling Press

The Mauritius Wrestling Federation inducted on the national schools program with 10 trained P.E. Teachers in various schools across the island and signature of a MOU is foreseen with the Ministry of Education to officialise the agreement next month.

Following the launch of the UWW Regional Education Development Program for the Indian Ocean 2022 and 2023, Deqa NIAMKEY and Vincent AKA, UWW Development Department, met with the local sporting authorities including Ministry of Sports, National Olympic Committee, national media, etc. to discuss and pursue the development of wrestling in MRI and the region. 

Two consecutive editions of the REDP program allowed for the federation to understand the popularity of wrestling and the requirements to introduce the discipline on the national sporting program. Starting at the grassroot level, particularly in schools and clubs while training the P.E. teachers, coaches and referees was an outstanding success that surprised all. 

The NF with its great leadership and administrators is the base of these developments. The President of the Mauritius Wrestling Federation, Mr. Richard Papie, who also the Vice President of the NOC, is highly dedicated to develop wrestling in Mauritius and strengthen the collaboration of NFs in the region. The MRI NF is implementing many initiatives, including the pursuit of their development plan through the Olympic Solidarity Development of the National Structure Program with a focus on increasing practitioners and popularity across Mauritius and Rodrigue Islands.  

Yusniel RAMIREZ (CUB) is currently coaching the national team in view of their preparation for the Road to Paris 2024 OG thanks to the support of the Ministry of Sports and NOC.

“The UWW Development Team provided tremendous support for these developments. The REDP project made us understand the importance to create an annual, realistic and up to our scale of development, with various/simultaneous activities for our wrestling community to participate and enjoy," said Richard Papie."Such initiatives create a sense of belonging and all participants felt that the wrestling community is one family. Most of all, I realised how popular wrestling is.”

Schedule of actions MRI NF:
August, 2023: Initiate Animators training to 9 physical educators
August, 2023: Signature of the MOU
September 2023: Opening of 3 wrestling schools with students of age 12 to 15
September-October 2023: One or two training sessions in the schools per week
November 2023: After exams three training sessions in the schools per week
December 2023: Xmas tournament for the new wrestlers, freestyle and beach wrestling 
January 2024: Refresher course for Animators
January-February 2024: Opening of 2 or 3 additional wrestling schools with students of age 16 to 19
January-February 2024: Monitoring and supporting training in schools 
March 2024: Organizing Seminar on athletes’ career path 
April 2024: Organizing coaches course level one for the physical educators
May 2024: National Championship All categories