United World Wrestling was endorsed as the name of Wrestling’s International Federation at Sunday’s United World Wrestling Congress in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent, where the World Wrestling Championships takes place this week.

United World Wrestling replaces FILA in a a comprehensive brand overhaul.

Also at the Congress, Nenad Lalovic of Serbia was elected unopposed as President of UWW for a period of six years.

Lalovic, (who was previously acting-President,) immediately launched his vision for the organization and its efforts for closer integration into the Olympic Movement.

“The Olympic world is changing,” said Lalovic. “Under (IOC President) Thomas Bach and his vision of Agenda 2020 the Olympic Movement could undergo more revisions, more changes,” he explained. “We need to part of that change … We are not guaranteed anything.”

Marina Pellicone was also elected to a six-year term. Her position was added to help wrestling meet its mandate for having three female members for the World Wrestling Bureau.
Said Lalovic, “I promise you that the steps all of us are taking now will be huge. They will propel us into a new age in our sport.”

“We will look different on the mats, in our competitive dress and in our brand. We will take our message to sponsors and media that wrestling is worth investing in.”

British Wrestling signs up to Lalovic’s final remark – “We will become good partners in telling the story of wrestling.”

• Insidethegames article on President Lalovic election and UWW launch
• Insidethegames article on rebranding of FILA (15 June 214)
• United World Wrestling Homepage