United World Wrestling

United World Wrestling (UWW) is the international governing body for the sport of amateur wrestling; its duties include overseeing wrestling at the World Championships and Olympics. It presides over international competitions for various forms of wrestling, including Greco-Roman, Freestyle, Grappling, as well as others. The flagship event of UWW is the Wrestling World Championships. The UWW was formerly known as FILA (French: Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées, lit. 'International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles'), having assumed its current name in September 2014.

United World Wrestling

Abbreviation	UWW
Formation	1912; 111 years ago (1912)
Type	Sports federation
Headquarters	Corsier-sur-Vevey, outside of Lausanne, Switzerland
Membership	Representatives from 176 national federations
President	Nenad Lalović^[1]
Revenue (2017)	US$5.12 million^[2]
Expenses (2017)	US$8.89 million^[2]
Website	UWW.org

Disciplines

As of 2016, UWW sets rules and regulations and holds international competitions in the following wrestling styles:^[3]

Olympic styles

• Greco-Roman wrestling
• Freestyle wrestling (Men's & Women's)

Associated styles

• Grappling (Gi and no-Gi)
• Beach wrestling (recognized by the FILA Congress in 2004^[4][5])
• Amateur pankration (recognized by the FILA Congress in 2010^[6])
• Traditional wrestling
  • Senegalese wrestling^[7]
  • Alysh belt wrestling^[8] (recognized by the FILA Congress in 2008^[9])
  • Kurash belt wrestling
  • Pahlavani wrestling^[10]

Adaptations to the international regulations set by UWW are usually made by each national federation for all national and regional competitions.

Events

See also: Wrestling at the Summer Olympics

Wrestling Championships held:^{[11][12][13][14][15]}

Number	Events	First	Last
1	World Wrestling Championships	1904	2022 (62nd)
2	Wrestling World Cup	1973	2022 (46th)
3	World U23 Wrestling Championships	2017	2022 (5th)
4	World Junior Wrestling Championships	1969	2022 (45th)
5	World Cadet Wrestling Championships	1975	2022 (27th)
6	World Veterans Wrestling Championships	1994	2022 (28th)
7	World Beach Wrestling Championships	2006	2018 (11th)
8	World Espoir Wrestling Championships	1983	1995 (7th)
9	World Wrestling Clubs Cup	2014	2018 (5th)
10	World Military Wrestling Championships	1961	2018 (33rd)
11	World University Wrestling Championships	1968	2018 (13th)
12	UWW World Pahlavani Wrestling Championships	2016	2018 (2nd)
13	UWW World Grappling Wrestling Championships	2008	2019 (12th)
14	UWW World Pankration Wrestling Championships		(th)
15	UWW World Belt Wrestling Championships		(th)

Presidents

•   Einar Råberg (1921–1924)
•   Alfréd Brüll (1924–1930)
•   Viktor Smeds (1930–1952)
•   Roger Coulon (1952–1971)
•    Milan Ercegan (1971–2002)
•   Raphaël Martinetti (2002–2013)
•   Nenad Lalović (2013–present)

Events, activities, and honors

 

Former FILA logo.

UWW is the body responsible for supervising Olympic wrestling, and so competitions for freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling take place every Summer Olympiad.

Besides the Summer Olympics, there are also various international competition such as the Commonwealth Games, the Pan-American Games, etc. that have wrestling as an official sport. Also, the Continental Championships and Continental Cups usually take place annual and are regulated by each Continental Committee. Then, there are World Championships that usually take place among the various nations every year (for the senior age category, every year except the year the Summer Olympics are held), and many international tournaments that take place between countries and among wrestlers of the same country (such as the United States Nationals in freestyle and Greco-Roman).

These tournaments encompass a wide variety of age categories and also both genders, but can also take place separately for each gender or for each age category (schoolboys or schoolgirls, cadets, juniors, and seniors).

UWW also sponsors training for athletes in the various wrestling styles at training centers, currently located in Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, Turkey, and the United States.^[16] The International Wrestling Hall of Fame, located in Stillwater, Oklahoma awards individuals with honors in Greco-Roman wrestling, freestyle wrestling, women's wrestling, and officiating.^[17] The UWW also sponsors the Cerro Pelado International in Cuba.^{[citation needed]}

Organization and governance

 

UWW, Corsier-sur-Vevey.

UWW is now based in Corsier-sur-Vevey, outside of Lausanne, Switzerland. The official languages are English and French. UWW is governed by a congress made up of representatives from each of the 176 national wrestling federations (the nation's governing body for wrestling). National federations that at least govern the two Olympic wrestling styles are admitted as affiliate members. Those national federations that exclusively govern traditional wrestling and other styles can be admitted as associated members. Up to three representatives from each federation may attend the conference, and only one may vote. The congress meets at least every two years, usually during the Olympic Games or during the World Championships that meet between Olympic Games. The UWW Congress in turn elects members of the UWW Bureau and the UWW President.^[18]

The bureau serves as the directing and administrating body of UWW. The UWW Bureau is composed of the president, four vice presidents, the Secretary General, 12 other elected members (with two seats reserved for women), the presidents of the five Continental Committees, and an Honorary President who advises but has no vote (currently, Milan Ercegan). Honorary members are also in turn elected to the bureau but do not vote. The President, the Vice presidents, and the Secretary General make up the Executive Committee. Each of the members represents himself or herself personally and has an individual vote in the Congress. No two members represent the same nationality (exceptions may be made for the president, the two female members, the Continental Committee presidents, and the Honorary President).^[19]

The UWW President manages the day-to-day affairs of the organization. The president represents UWW at international meetings, before the International Olympic Committee, and before the general public.^[20] The current interim President of UWW is Nenad Lalovic from Serbia who has served in that role since 2013. Bureau members and the President serve for six-year terms and can be reelected. Usually one third of the Bureau members are up for reelection every two years.^[21]

A Secretary General is chosen by the bureau for six years and is the secondary director of UWW behind the President, serves as secretary of both the Bureau and the Congress, and maintains healthy communication between the national federations, the Continental Committees, the Commissions, and all the departments of UWW.^[22] The current Secretary General is Michel Dusson from France.

There are also auxiliary bodies of UWW. One group of auxiliary bodies is the Continental Committee, made up of each of the national federations on each continent (currently Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania). The Continental Committees are directed by an executive bureau composed of a president, vice president, and three other members who all serve for a term of four years. Continental Committees meet at least every two years in the year following the Summer Olympics, in which there is usually the Continental Championship.^[23]

Other auxiliary bodies include commissions, which are made of a president, vice president, secretary, and four other members who all serve for four years. Commissions include those dealing with Technical issues; Officiating; Medical Safety and Anti Doping; Promotion; and for Athletes. The members of the commissions are nominated and financially supported by the national federations that they originate from and are generally specialists in the field that the commission supervises.^[24]

Controversies

Biased refereeing

Pelle Svensson, a former two-time world champion (Greco-Roman 100 kg class) and member of board of FILA from 1990 to 2007, has described FILA as an inherently corrupt organization.^[25] During the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Svensson served as chairman of the disciplinary committee of FILA.^[25] As he was watching the final in the men's Greco-Roman wrestling 84 kg class between Alexei Michine from Russia and Ara Abrahamian from Sweden, Svensson witnessed how the Russian team leader Mikhail Mamiashvili was giving signs to the referee.^[25] When Svensson approached him and informed him that this was not allowed according to the rules, Mamiashvili responded by saying: "you should know that this may lead to your death".^[25] Svensson later found proof that the Romanian referee was bribed (according to Svensson the referee had received over one million Swedish krona).^[25]

Svensson also spoke out in support of the allegations of corruption during the semifinals in the men's Greco-Roman wrestling 84 kg at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, when (again) Ara Abrahamian lost against Andrea Minguzzi from Italy after a controversial ruling by the referee.^[25] It was later reported that the referee of the match, Jean-Marc Petoud from Switzerland, is a first cousin of the current President of FILA Raphaël Martinetti.^[26] Abrahamian, who was stripped of his bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics after dropping the medal in protest, has received a level of vindication through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). His protest revolved around a second round bout with Italian Andrea Minguzzi, where a penalty wasn't assessed until after the round had concluded. Abrahamian's coach was denied a chance to review the call via video, and FILA also refused an official protest from the coach.^[27] Minguzzi later took gold in the event.

CAS ruled in favor of Abrahamian that in future Olympic matches FILA must have an appeals process that affirms the Olympic Charter in addition to FILA's own rules concerning fair play:

"FILA is required by the Olympic Charter and its own internal rules, to provide a procedure in its rules for an appeal jury (or some equivalent) to hear promptly claims by athletes or others affected that in a competition the relevant officials have not complied with FILA rules and procedures. Article 22 of its Wrestling Rules may provide such a procedure.

If so, FILA should clarify that mechanism. In any event, FILA did not follow Article 22 properly, if at all, or provide any other appropriate appeal mechanism in this case. The Athlete is also entitled to invoke the disciplinary process contemplated by Article 36 of the Constitution."''^[28]

In their ruling, the CAS judges specifically noted the absence of FILA officials at the Abrahamian hearing:

"On 21 August 2008, FILA corresponded with the CAS and indicated it was unavailable to attend the hearing at the proposed time and date. In order to allow the attendance of FILA’s officials at the hearing, the Panel offered a different time that would be suitable to all parties. FILA repeated that it would not attend the hearing."^[29]

Inclusion in the Olympics

Because of growing costs, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been under pressure to reduce the number of events and the number of athletes in each summer game. The IOC has adopted a system where "core sports" would continue indefinitely in future Olympics, but "non-core" sports would be selected for inclusion on an Olympic game-by-game basis. Wrestling was one of the 26 core sports. However, following the 2012 London Olympics, the IOC's Executive Committee conducted a study of the 26 core sports in terms of their success at the London Olympics as well as worldwide grassroots support. The study sought to trim one core sport so that starting with the 2020 Olympics, only 25 core sports would continue. On 12 February 2013, the IOC Executive Board voted to recommend that wrestling be dropped as a core sport.

FILA responded with a statement the same day:

FILA was greatly astonished by today's recommendation of the IOC Executive Board not to maintain wrestling among the 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympic Games. FILA will take all necessary measures to convince the IOC Executive Board and IOC members of the aberration of such decision against one of the founding sports of the ancient and modern Olympic Games.^[30]

On 15 February, FILA held an emergency meeting and its President, Raphaël Martinetti, asked for a vote of confidence. When only 50% of his Board voted to support him, he resigned as FILA President.^[30] Although wrestlers would be able to continue to compete in the World Games, United States wrestlers expressed grave disappointment at the possibility that they could be excluded from future Olympics.^[31]

Subsequently, wrestling had to compete with seven other non-core sports – baseball/softball, squash, karate, sport climbing, wakeboarding, wushu and roller sports – for a place in the 2020 Games.^[32] On 8 September 2013 the IOC voted to restore wrestling as an Olympic sport for 2020.^[33]

Biased Visa Enforcement

In March 2019, the UWW recommended that its national federations end discussions or relations with the Wrestling Federation of India in the wake of visa denials to Pakistani Shooting sportspersons.^{[34][35][36][37]} In October 2022, the Spanish Embassy in New Delhi arbitrarily denied visas to 21 female and male Indian wrestlers, preventing them from participating in the U23 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain. Denials included the U20 Gold Medallist Antim Panghal.^[38][39][40] As of October 17, 2022, the UWW has not made any statements or recommendations about the situation.^[41]

Hall of Fame

The UWW International Wrestling Hall of Fame is located in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. It contains a Hall of Honors and the Hall of Fame.^[42]

See also

• List of World Champions in Men's Freestyle Wrestling
• FILA Wrestling World Cup
• FILA Wrestling World Championships
• World Wrestling Clubs Cup
• World Beach Wrestling Championships
• List of World Championships medalists in wrestling (freestyle)
• List of World Championships medalists in wrestling (Greco-Roman)
• List of World Championships medalists in wrestling (women)
• List of World and Olympic Champions in Greco-Roman wrestling
• List of World and Olympic Champions in men's freestyle wrestling

References

1. "Wrestling chief resigns after Olympic snub". Al Jazeera English. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
2. Perelman, Rich (24 May 2020). "Who's in the money? EXCLUSIVE analysis of our survey of International Federation finances". The Sports Examiner. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
3. "Disciplines". UWW. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
4. Maria Helena Guedes (27 September 2016). As Grandes Lutas Sobre MMA (in Spanish). p. 44.
5. Disciplines | United World Wrestling Official Website.
6. Italo Morello (2008). The Origins of Martial Arts: Pankration. Lulu.com. pp. 5–6, 60. ISBN 9781471658617.
7. "African Wrestling Committee". UWW. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
8. "World Belt Wrestling Committee". UWW. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
9. Rafael Martinetti, Gintautas Vileita (2008). (PDF). p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2020.
10. "Pahlavani Committee". UWW. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
11. "unitedworldwrestling".
12. "unitedworldwrestling".
13. "milsport".
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16. . FILA. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
17. "FILA - International Wrestling Hall of Fame". FILA. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
18. "FILA Constitution" (PDF). pp. 3-4, 6-7. FILA. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
19. "FILA Constitution" (PDF). pp. 8-10. FILA. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
20. "FILA Constitution" (PDF). pp. 10-11. FILA. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
21. "FILA Constitution" (PDF). pp. 9, 10. FILA. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
22. "FILA Constitution" (PDF). p. 11. FILA. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
23. "FILA Constitution" (PDF). p. 12. FILA. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
24. "FILA Constitution" (PDF). pp. 12-13. FILA. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
25. Sjöberg, Daniel (14 August 2008). "Pelle Svensson: Jag blev mordhotad" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
26. Sundberg, Andréas (14 August 2008). "Mattdomaren är kusin med presidenten för internationella brottningförbundet" (in Swedish). Expressen. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
27. [1] 5 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
28. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
29. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
30. . Archived from the original on 28 January 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
31. Sheinin, Dave (15 February 2012). "Wrestling prodigy's Olympic dream in jeopardy". The Washington Post. p. A1.
32. "Wrestling to be dropped from 2020 Olympic Games". Retrieved 18 February 2013.
33. "3". Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
34. "World wrestling body asks all federations to suspend ties with India". Daily Times. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
35. "World wrestling body asks all national federations to suspend dealing with India | More sports News - Times of India". The Times of India. PTI. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
36. . The Indian Express. 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
37. . The Times of India. 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
38. Selvaraj, Jonathan (17 October 2022). "Spain rejects visa of 21 Indian wrestlers for U-23 world championships, embassy doubts 'intention to leave territory'". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
39. Service, Tribune News. "Spain denies visas to U-23 Indian wrestlers". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
40. . 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
41. "United World Wrestling". Twitter. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
42. "Document sans nom". Fila-wrestling.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.

External links

• Official website  
• at the Wayback Machine (archived 2007-09-11)