United World Wrestling facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
United World Wrestling

Abbreviation	UWW
Formation	1912; 113 years ago (1912)
Type	Sports federation
Headquarters	Corsier-sur-Vevey, outside of Lausanne, Switzerland
Membership	Representatives from 176 national federations
President	Nenad Lalović
Revenue (2017)	US$5.12 million
Expenses (2017)	US$8.89 million
Website	UWW.org

United World Wrestling (UWW) is the main group that manages the sport of amateur wrestling around the world. It helps organize big wrestling events like the World Wrestling Championships and the Olympics.

UWW sets the rules for different wrestling styles. These include Greco-Roman, Freestyle, and Grappling. Before 2014, this organization was known as FILA.

Wrestling Styles and Rules

UWW creates the rules for many different wrestling styles. They also hold international competitions for these styles.

Olympic Wrestling Styles

These are the wrestling styles you see at the Summer Olympics:

• Greco-Roman wrestling: Wrestlers can only use their upper bodies. They cannot grab their opponent's legs.
• Freestyle wrestling: Wrestlers can use their whole bodies. They can grab legs and use leg attacks. This style is for both men and women.

Other Wrestling Styles

UWW also supports other cool wrestling styles:

• Grappling: This style involves holds and submissions. It can be done with a special uniform (Gi) or without one (no-Gi).
• Beach wrestling: This is wrestling on sand. It was officially recognized in 2004.
• Amateur pankration: This is a mix of wrestling and boxing. It was recognized in 2010.
• Traditional wrestling: UWW also helps with many old wrestling styles from different countries. Some examples are Senegalese wrestling, Alysh belt wrestling, Kurash belt wrestling, and Pahlavani wrestling.

Each country's wrestling group usually makes small changes to UWW rules for their own local competitions.

Big Wrestling Events

UWW organizes many important wrestling championships. Here are some of the biggest ones:

Leaders of UWW

Many people have led this important organization over the years. Here are some of the past 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)

Wrestling Competitions and Training

Former FILA logo.

UWW is in charge of wrestling at the Summer Olympics. This means they oversee the freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling competitions every four years.

Besides the Olympics, wrestling is also a sport in other big international events. These include the Commonwealth Games and the Pan-American Games. There are also yearly Continental Championships and Cups, which are run by regional committees.

The World Championships for wrestling happen every year. The only exception is during an Olympic year. Many other international tournaments also take place between countries.

These tournaments are for wrestlers of all ages. They include school-aged kids, cadets, juniors, and senior athletes. Both boys and girls, men and women, can compete.

UWW also helps train wrestlers. They have special training centers in countries like Finland, France, and the United States. The International Wrestling Hall of Fame in Oklahoma, USA, honors great wrestlers and officials.

How UWW is Organized

UWW headquarters in Corsier-sur-Vevey.

UWW's main office is in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland. The two official languages they use are English and French.

UWW is run by a group called the Congress. This group has representatives from 176 national wrestling organizations. Each country's main wrestling group sends people to the Congress.

The Congress meets at least every two years. These meetings often happen during the Olympic Games or the World Championships. The Congress chooses the UWW President and other leaders.

The UWW Bureau is like the main team that directs UWW. It includes the President, Vice Presidents, and other elected members. This team makes important decisions for the organization.

The UWW President manages the daily work of UWW. The President also represents UWW at international meetings. The current President is Nenad Lalovic. Leaders serve for six years and can be re-elected.

A Secretary General also helps run UWW. This person makes sure that all the different parts of UWW work well together.

UWW also has other groups that help. These include Continental Committees for each continent, like Africa or Europe. They help manage wrestling in their regions.

There are also special Commissions. These groups focus on specific areas like rules, officiating, medical safety, and promoting the sport. Experts in these fields are part of these commissions.

Wrestling Hall of Fame

The UWW International Wrestling Hall of Fame is a special place. It honors the greatest wrestlers and people involved in the sport. It is located at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum.

See also

In Spanish: United World Wrestling para niños

• Wrestling World Cup
• World Wrestling 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