#WomenInWrestlingForum

UWW to Virtually Host Women in Wrestling Forum

By Eric Olanowski

VEVEY, Switzerland (October 25) --- United World Wrestling will virtually host the ’21 Women in Wrestling forum November 29th and December 6. They've partnered again with the Switzerland based leading institution Women Lead Sports (https://www.womenleadsports.com) and the renowned expert Gabriela Mueller to bring you the Women Lead Sports Master Program. 

The admitted participants will be divided in two groups to best suit their time zones:
For Europe/Africa/Asia and Oceania  
• Session One 29.11.2021 from 9-11 hrs. CET.
• Session Two 6.12.2021 from 9-11 hrs. CET.
• Session Three Q&A and Graduation/Certificates 17.01.2022 from 9-10:30 hrs. CET. 

For Europe/Africa/Americas: 
• Session One 29.11.2021 from 14-16 hrs. CET.
• Session Two 6.12.2021 from 14-16 hrs. CET 
• Session Three Q&A and Graduation/Certificates 17.01.2022 14-15:30 hrs. CET.

WWF
Deqa, NIAMKEY, UWW Development Director, presents at the '19 Women in Wrestling forum. There were 50 female participants from 40 nations in attendance at the four-day forum in Istanbul. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

The core aim of the program is: to help women and supportive men in sports to lead, to get better results in their organizations, and to increase influence. The program is backed up by a successful track record (over a decade, updated to today's reality) – taught by experts and it includes strategies that really work.

The objectives of the Women Lead Sports Master Program are:
• To learn effective leadership strategies, techniques, and applicable tactics that work today. 
• To empower participants to shape the future of Wrestling as a global sport.
• To coach women to get elected, promoted, or nominated as leaders.
• To increase a diverse talent pool in leadership within UWW at all levels.
• The program has been adapted to the new normality in Post-Covid reality.
• To add concrete value in a unique training online experience and empower women leaders in every latitude who want to step up and lead.
    

We are enthusiastic and convinced that the online experience will be empowering and create real change in gender-balanced leadership teams of the future. This program will be conducted in English. Participants are required to obtain the adequate language proficiency to participate in discussions and group works. Both women and men are encouraged to apply through their national federations. 

Each federation could propose a maximum of two (2) candidates. If you're interested in attending the '21 Women in Wrestling forum, please apply by contacting your national federation. Applications sent by individuals will not be accepted.

We remain at your disposal should you have any questions. You may also contact the UWW Development representative who is responsable for your continent 

For Africa, please contact Vincent Aka: vincent.aka@unitedworldwrestling.org
For Americas, please contact Yuri Maier : yuri.maier@unitedworldwrestling.org
For Asia, please contact farnaz.panahizadeh@unitedworldwrestling.org
For Europe and Oceania, please contact development@unitedworldwrestling.org 

United World Wrestling looks forward to receiving your candidate proposals. Thank you for your support and commitment to advance gender parity in wrestling.

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.