#WWWA

United World Wrestling Partners with Nike Wrestling for ‘We Will Wrestle Again’ Campaign

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (July 27) – United World Wrestling, the international governing body for the sport of wrestling, has teamed up with global supplier Nike Wrestling for the “We Will Wrestle Again” campaign. The effort is focused on providing financial relief to wrestling organizations impacted by the global pandemic.

'We Will Wrestle Again' aims to maximize the reach of UWW and Nike to raise money via tee shirt sales and direct the relief to National Federations, host-cities, and other grassroots activities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The tee shirts are available for sale on the United World Wrestling online store: uwwstore.com

“We are pleased to join with Nike Wrestling for this important mission,” said United World Wrestling president Nenad LALOVIC. “We are facing unprecedented times and the strength of our future will depend on our ability to come together in support of our community members around the world – from athletes to national federations. We must remember that we will wrestle again.”

Money generated from the campaign will also go into a scholarship fund, managed by the Development Department, which will provide financial aid to athletes with dreams of competing at the international level.

“Nike Wrestling understands the obstacles that the wrestling community faces in response to the global pandemic,” said APS/Nike Wrestling president Eddie Brown. 'We Will Wrestle Again' came from the notion that we want to support those most effected and create a positive campaign that will help during these trying times.”

Nike Wrestling has been a global sponsor of UWW since 2017 and at the direction of the federation’s development department has supplied equipment to several disadvantaged wrestling communities around the globe.

To purchase tee shirts, or donate to the campaign, please visit http://uwwstore.com

#WrestleParis

UWW Statement: Lalovic meets IOA President, WFI in Paris

By United World Wrestling Press

PARIS (August 7) -- United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC met with Wrestling Federation of India President Sanjay SINGH and Indian Olympic Association PT USHA in the wake of Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) disqualification from the 50kg competition after the wrestler failed the weigh-ins on the second day of her competition in Paris Olympics.

During the meeting at the Wrestling House in Paris, Lalovic said that strict rules for weigh-in on competition days were drawn up keeping the wrestlers’ long-term health in view. The rules dissuade athletes from competing in lower weight categories with weight loss methods that could impact their health in the long term.

On IOA’s suggestion that a wrestler's results from the day on which the athlete met the weigh-in requirements should not be disqualified, the UWW President was sympathetic. UWW will also discuss the suggestion at an appropriate platform but it could not be done retrospectively.

IOAUWWUWW President Nenad LALOVIC with IOA and WFI delegations at the Wrestling House in Paris.

Usha thanked Lalovic for taking in the Wrestling Federation of India’s appeal and giving her a patient hearing. She said as an athlete herself she understood the importance of the need for rules to be drawn up to protect athletes from taking health risks. She also said it was important for all athletes to uphold Olympic values and fair play.

UWW follows the set rules in all competitions including the Games. Its decision to disqualify Vinesh is in line with the rules of international wrestling, like all other instances of wrestlers failing to weigh in on the day of the competition.

UWW wishes Vinesh a speedy recovery and hopes Vinesh can continue to perform in the inspiring way she did in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.