Development

Palau Showing Support for Peace-Through-Sport Movement with White Cards

By United World Wrestling Press

Palau has been actively supporting the peace-through-sport movement by displaying a white card as part of their digital campaign to show their commitment to peace and sports efforts worldwide. 

The annual campaign recognizes the importance of the peace-through-sport movement, capturing the attention of millions of people each year through social networks in the lead up to International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP). As part of the White Card campaign, Olympians and members of the Olympic family are invited to hold up a symbolic white card and share a photo of themselves doing so on social media.

The first display of the white card was in Peleliu State during the outreach program and sports events that began on April 7 and concluded on April 9 in commemoration of Palau National Olympic Day and the third anniversary of the Emperor and Empress of Japan historic visit to Palau. Mats were provided by United World Wrestling.

On April 9, the first beach wrestling competition took place in Peleliu. After the competition, wrestlers displayed the white card as part of their Olympic support. 

The symbolic white card was displayed by students at Ngarchelong Elementary, Ngeremlengui Elementary and Ngaraard Elementary after taking part in the wrestling outreach PE program. 

According to John Tarkong Jr., Olympian and President of the Palau Olympians & Athletes Commission (POAC), "This is our way of showing the world that Palau is committed on promoting peace and sport as a means of change in Palau and the world when conducting our activities and events. This effort is also in line with the Presidential Proclamation designating 2018 as the Year of Good Health."

Development

Joint Referees and Coaches Educator Courses for Wrestling Hosted in Guatemala, Georgia 

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (November 30) – Oil and water. Cats and dogs. Referees and coaches. Some things in this world simply don’t mix.

In wrestling that conflict between referees and coaches may soon be improving. In an effort to harmonize the rule keepers and the men and women tasked with leading teams to victory, United World Wrestling has delivered a pair of educator courses in Guatemala and Georgia attended by both referees and coaches.

“The aim of the course is wonderful because the referees and the coaches learn new teaching techniques and debate on various areas to improve the sport of wrestling,” said United World Wrestling development director Deqa Niamkey. “It’s all about perspective and now they have shared experience and dialogue which will serve the sport.”

The courses were the result of the Referee Development Programme launched after the UWW Bureau Meeting in Paris 2017, with numerous educational courses organized to enhance and synchronize the courses provided by UWW. The first course was delivered in Manchester, Great Britain for English speakers in November 2017 and was available to referees and coaches from all five continents.

“We reached an important milestone in such short time,” said Niamkey. “Through the realization of these three courses, we transmitted andragogy teaching and pedagogies transmission to highly experienced referees and coaches that will deliver high quality courses worldwide to further develop wrestling.”

The 2018 Americas course was delivered at the Centro Alto Rendimentio (CARDA) in Guatemala City November 15-20 under the supervision of referee instructor Abraham GALVA (PUR) and development officer Vincent Aka .

“The course is fantastic. I feel part of United World Wrestling,” said Raul Diaz TRUJILLO (CUB). “I have been a coach for the last 40 years and never felt this much a part of this wrestling family. It is a dream come true.”

The Georgian Wrestling Federation hosted the Russian speakers course under the supervision of referee instructor Ibrahim CICOGLU (TUR) and Vaclav SCHEINER (CZE) and Vincent AKA (CIV) with the assistance of Petru TOARCA (ROM).

“The course was amazing. It is an eye-opener of new views, approach, philosophy of learning and transferring knowledge to younger generations,” said Davor PETANJEK (CRO) 1s Referee and instructor. “We need more collaboration and communication between the two groups. It is time that we assist our national federations in their development process and provide educational courses in the future with trained UWW Educators”

“My hopes are UWW continues in this path with joint courses for referees and coaches,” said Petanjek.

United World Wrestling will provide funding for the organization of the refereeing courses when the national federation hosts an Olympic Solidarity Technical Course for coaches. Additional assistance will also be provided for the developing nations that organize a competition right after the educational courses

Guatemala City, GUA:  November 15-20

COACHES:

Raúl Trujillo Díaz (GR) CUB
Aguilar Cañizalez Millie Mayola (WW) VEN
Néstor Almanza (GR) CHI
Filiberto Delgado (FS-WW) CUB
Pedro Rojas (FS + WW) PUR
David Gutiérrez (GR + FS) COL
Camacho Pedriquez Hector Luis (GR) VEN

REFEREES:

Carlos Garcia (ESP)
Juan Arturo Camacho (MEX)
Juan José Maldonado (CHI)
Eduardo Goncalves (BRA)
Ignácio D’Alessandro (ARG)

Georgia November 24-29

Referee

Norovard ARUSTAMYAN (RUS)
Alexey BAZULIN (RUS)
Levent SEN (TUR)
Karol LEBKOWSKI (POL)
Roman PAVLOV (UKR)
Edisher MACHAIDZE (GEO)
Davor PETANJEK (CRO)
Stanislav SERNEK (SLO)

Coaches

Anatoli GUIDIA (ROM)
David OTIASHVILI (GEO)
Yusup ABDUSALAMOV (POL)
Adem BEREKET (TUR)
Georgii SREDKOV (BUL)
Anzor TEMBOTOV (RUS)
Abdurozik OLIMOV (TJK)
Buyandelger BATBAYAR (MGL)