#WrestleBelgrade

UWW hosts Congress before World Championships in Belgrade

Friday, September 9, 2022 - 11:15 By United World Wrestling Press

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 9) -- The United World Wrestling hosted its ordinary Congress Friday, a day before the World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

UWW President and International Olympic Committee Executive Board member Nenad LALOVIC opened the Congress which was attended by 106 countries.

President of IOC Thomas BACH addressed the gathering with a message to remain united and work towards Olympic solidarity.

Lalovic, who has attended 11 executive board meetings in the last 12 months, echoed the same views during his opening remark.

Nenad LALOVICUWW President Nenad LALOVIC addressing the Congress in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

"We as sports lose in such [conflict] situation," Lalovic said. "Our family is not about politics but about wrestlers and fans. So we should remain united.

"Our athletes promote peace around the globe. We had problems in the past but we hope our medals will shine in the right way."

The attendees of the Congress also held one-minute silence to mourn the death of bureau member Lucio CANEVA and Francois CARRARD.

The Congress discussed the improvement of wrestling via youth engagement, women's wrestling, associated styles, the image of wrestling and digital transformation. The reports of all the different departments of UWW were also presented during the Congress.

The Congress also held the election for seven bureau members for a five-year term. A total of 122 votes were cast with the majority being 61 votes.

Out of the seven, four were re-elected which include Theodoros HAMAKOS, Karl-Martin DITTMANN, Rodika YAKSI, Namig ALIYEV. The three newly elected members were Daniel IGALI (NGR), Razvan PIRCALABU (ROU) and Zhang YE (CHN).

The Congress emphasized that to continue on their goal to be self-reliant they need overall growth with more sponsors, and engagement and take wrestling to regional and local levels.

Details of the Congress are available at uww.org.

#WrestleParis

Techniques, safety, focus: UWW referees ready for Paris 2024

Thursday, August 1, 2024 - 09:40 By United World Wrestling Press

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ATHENS, Greece (August 1) -- United World Wrestling referees for Paris 2024 completed a three-day seminar from June 21 to 23, hosted by the Greek Wrestling Federation in Athens. The seminar was held to prepare for the Olympics, where referees will be ITOs.

The program consisted of self and group analysis of previous performance, theoretical study, mental preparedness, medical and safety training as well as on-the-mat training with Women's Wrestling, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestlers and coaching experts.

Led by the President of the UWW Athletes Commission, Arsen JULFALAKYAN, as well as coaches Alfred TER-MKRTCHYAN, Patrick NUDING and Amiran KARDANOV and wrestlers Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) and Christos KOUTSOURIDIS (GRE), referees analyzed common wrestling techniques and tactics in all styles and the proper philosophy and mechanisms referees should utilize when evaluating these situations.

Referee seminar

During these sessions, Julfalakyan also emphasized concerns and questions he receives from wrestlers and how we can improve the communication between athletes and referees when discussing the application of the rules.

Mental strength training sessions were led by Holger KNOLL, a trained mental strength coach specializing in athlete training. His sessions focused on how referees can improve their concentration and focus before, during and after competitions.

Babak SHADGAN, President of the UWW Medical Commission, provided medical and safety training, with focus on the role a referee plays in injury prevention.

In addition to the referee's instruction, Tristan MORAD, UWW Sports Department Coordinator, provided a presentation on the logistics and schedule of the wrestling of Paris 2024.

United World Wrestling and the UWW Referee Commission graciously thank the Greek Wrestling Federation and its President, Stergios LEONKIS, and UWW Bureau Vice President, Theodore HAMAKOS and numerous volunteers for their organization and hospitality in hosting the seminar.