Obituary

Malta Wrestling Federation Founder Bonello Passes Away

Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - 12:38 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 4) -- Simon A. Bonello, former president and founder of the Malta Wrestling Federation, passed away on Monday. He was 85. 

Bonello introduced freestyle wrestling to Malta in 1967, which led to the creation of the federation in late 1969. A year later the federation became fully affiliated with the International Federation.

He served as an official of the Maltese Olympic Committee for 25 years, vice president for four years, and was an established referee. Bonello was one of Malta's longest serving presidents of a national association.

Bonello also worked to promote wrestling outside of his home country. His organization hosted international wrestling tournaments between 1993 and 2004 involving European small states and autonomous regions. 

During the 1970s, Bonello also served as president of the Weightlifting Federation, Bodybuilding Association and Chess Federation. He spent time working as a journalist and was vice president of the Sports Journalists Association.
 

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UWW President Lalovic re-elected as IOC member

Monday, October 16, 2023 - 14:28 By United World Wrestling Press

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MUMBAI, India (October 16) -- United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC has been re-elected as an International Olympic Committee member at its 141st session in Mumbai, India on Monday.

Lalovic, also a member of the IOC Executive Board, was first elected as an IOC member in 2015 for an eight-year term. He was re-elected unanimously for a new eight-year term.

As an IOC EB member, Lalovic was first elected in 2018 and then re-elected in 2022 in Beijing for a four-year term. He also serves on the WADA Executive Committee and the ASOIF Council.

"It's a privilege to be part of the IOC," Lalovic said. "I am humbled by the continuous support of the IOC members. I will continue to work towards the success of the Olympic Movement."

The 65-year-old was the first wrestling president to be elected as an IOC member in 2015, two years after being elected as the president of UWW in February 2013. He worked to keep wrestling in the Olympic program, rebranding and modernizing the sport and is also credited for bringing transparency and accountability to the workings of the federation.

"Representing our wrestling family in the IOC and Olympic Movement is also a great honor," he said. "It's a sport that teaches a lot to everyone involved and it only makes me confident that I will use those values to work towards a better delivery of my position in the Olympic Movement."