Development

OlympAfrica Hosts Largest Ever Wrestling Event in Ivory Coast

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (May 17) -- United World Wrestling has partnered with OlympAfrica in Ivory Coast to host that nation's largest ever wrestling event. The two-month program includes more than 2,000 students from Soubré, Meagui and Okrouyo who are taking part in various camps and competitions until June 23. 

United World Wrestling development officer Vincent AKA, who was born in Ivory Coast and wrestled for France, is also leading a Level 1 coaching course in the country.

OlympAfrica is a foundation that has sport development centers in over 46 African countries and works in collaboration with the National Olympic Committees. It was founded based on an idea expressed by the late Juan Antonio SAMARANCH, former President of the International Olympic Committee. 

The foundation is owned by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and supported by the International Olympic Committee, United World Wrestling and other partners, for the development of sports at a recreational and grassroots level in many African countries.

OlympAfrica has set up centers dedicated to sports activities, workshops, HIV prevention, coaching education and much more. The aim of these centers is to involve the youth in sports and activities that are good for their future development once they have finished their day at school. It's an excellent talent identification tool, particularly with the introduction of the Youth Olympic Games in the Olympic program.

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Al Awamleh elected UWW Asia president

By United World Wrestling Press

AMMAN, Jordan (March 23) -- Mohamad AL-AWAMLEH, the president of the Jordan Wrestling Federation, was elected as the president of United World Wrestling Asia at the General Assembly held on the sidelines of the Asian Championships 2025.

The election for new UWW Asia council was held Monday for seven members. 14 nominations were received for the same and 38 national federations participated in the elections.

Four out of the seven are newly elected:

Mohamad AL-AWAMLEH (JOR)
Alireza DABIR (IRI)
Lana KHDOUR (PLE)
Sanjay SINGH (IND)

Three members were re-elected:

Kenneth LEE (KOR)
Melis TURGANBAEV (KGZ)
Ye ZHANG (CHN)

After the elections, the council members elected the president, vice-president and secretary general for UWW Asia.

Al-Awamleh as elected as the president while Dabir was elected as the vice-president of UWW Asia.

Lee, who was the vice-president in the previous term, was elected as the secretary general of UWW Asia for the next four years.