Development

Portugal Pursuing Olympic Solidarity Development of National Sports System

By Tim Foley

LISBON (May 21) – The Portugal Wrestling Federation has been accepted into the Olympic Solidarity Development of National Sports System (DNSS) program.

The five stage plan began in February and has since completed additional phases in April and May. The fourth phase will be in September and the fifth in December. The five phases were staggered throughout the nation to help promote nationwide participation in the sport. The final plans call for unified education and development.

The program is being led by Luis FONTES, coach and Technical Director for the Portugal Wrestling Federation.

United World Wrestling encourages eligible National Federations to apply the program through their National Olympic Committee. The maximum amount that one National Federation could receive is 30,000 USD through the development program.

The details of this program is on our web in the development section, the link is as follow:

https://unitedworldwrestling.org/sites/default/files/c03en-development-of-national-sports-system.pdf

For more information, please email development@unitedworldwrestling.org

Russia, Belarus wrestlers to compete under UWW flag

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 21) -- All eligible wrestlers from Russia and Belarus will now compete under United World Wrestling flag.

The UWW Bureau, which met on February 5, gave a green signal for wrestlers who previously competed under neutral flag as Individual Neutral Athletes, to compete under UWW Flag effective immediately. This also includes the staff of the two countries.

However, UWW will continue with UWW anthem for ceremonies with no reference to the flag, symbols, or coat of arms of Russia and Belarus will be authorized.

Furthermore, no team ranking will be considered of these two countries at any championships.

This is the third major update for eligibility of wrestlers from Russia and Belarus. UWW had announced the first set of eligibility criteria for Russia and Belarus wrestlers in 2023. The criteria was further revised in 2024 to state that only evidence of direct military participation in the war against Ukraine or public declarations [in written or orally] in support of the war and/or of their promoters or participants will be considered to declare an athlete as ineligible.