#CWG2022

Two-Year Countdown to Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

By United World Wrestling Press

Today marks the two-year countdown to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, set for July 28, 2022.

The Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event held every four years with athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The sport of wrestling has been ncluded in every Commonwealth Games except 1990, 1998 and 2006. Women's wrestling made its debut at the Commonwealth games in 2010 in New Delhi, India.

"Today marks exactly two years to go until the official opening ceremony for Birmingham 2022 and we're on track with our plans to host a spectacular event which will not only put Birmingham and the West Midlands centre stage but will also be an integral part of the region’s recovery plan following the global pandemic, bringing jobs for local people and contracts for local businesses," said Ian Reid, chief executive officer for Birmingham 2022.

Over 100 wrestlers from 19 nations competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. Olympic gold medalist Erica WIEBE (CAN) and two-time Olympic medalist Sushil KUMAR (IND) were among the champions at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games wrestling events will take place at Coventry Stadium & Indoor Arena.

#development

UWW Organizes International Training Camp Before African Championships

By United World Wrestling Press

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (May 11) -- United World Wrestling hosted a international training camp before the 2026 African Championships in Alexandria from April 20 to 26.

The camp, organized with a focus on performance, technical exchange, and sporting cooperation, brought together coaches and wrestlers from across the continent with participants from Burundi, the Central African Republic, Cape Verde, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tunisia, Guinea, Namibia, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, and Zambia.

One of the major highlights of this edition was the historic participation of Zambia, which took part for the first time in a continental wrestling activity. The participation symbolizes the steady expansion of African wrestling into new nations and confirms the growing development of the sport across the continent. The Zambian delegation included wrestler Martin JERE (ZAM) and Stephen FULANGANI (ZAM), accompanied by their coach Eugine CHIPOKOLO.

Alexandria

Throughout the week, wrestlers took part in specialized sessions combining standing and ground techniques, upper and lower-level attacks, targeted defense drills, technical combinations, aerobic preparation, acrobatic exercises, and individual training. Coaches would also use this gathering as an opportunity to exchange training methods and share their expertise within a high-level international environment.

The camp will bring together several experienced athletes and international competitors in Freestyle, Women’s Wrestling, and Greco-Roman. Among the participating nations were also several Sub-Saharan African countries that continue to strengthen their presence on the continental stage through increasingly strong participation.

Beyond the sporting aspect, the program also included awareness sessions focused on environmental protection in sport through the “Wrestle Green” initiative, as well as workshops dedicated to anti-doping education and athlete protection.

Alexandria

Participants also received dedicated camp equipment, including sportswear, “Wrestle Green” materials, and training accessories intended for daily practice sessions.