Agreement to support Jordanian wrestling and promote community peace
In the presence of Princess Aisha bint Faisal
Amman4 min read
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In the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Aisha bint Faisal, the Jordan Wrestling Federation and the "Wrestling for Peace" organization signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a pilot program for community wrestling in Jordan, aiming to utilize sports to promote values of peace, social cohesion, and youth skill development.
The memorandum was signed at the headquarters of Generations For Peace, in the presence of the President of the Syrian Wrestling Federation, Mohammad Al-Qazzaz, and a number of sports figures and interested parties.
The attendees listened to a presentation by the CEO of Generations For Peace, Lama Hattab, which covered the organization's history, its most prominent programs, and its strategy for employing sports to build peace.
The memorandum of understanding aims to support the establishment of a community program that combines wrestling training with the implementation of the "Wrestling for Peace" initiative methodology, contributing to the consolidation of values of respect, discipline, leadership, and teamwork, and enhancing conflict resolution and peaceful interaction skills among participating youth.
Under the agreement, the "Wrestling for Peace" organization will provide the necessary support to implement the program over 12 months, including providing a specialized wrestling coach to oversee training and qualify participants, contributing to achieving the program's goals and enhancing its sustainability.
The President of the Jordan and Asian Wrestling Federations, Mohammad Al-Awamleh, welcomed this partnership, expressing his optimism for establishing a long-term cooperation with the "Wrestling for Peace" organization, which has proven its commitment to employing wrestling in the service of communities and promoting the principles of peace.
Al-Awamleh pointed to the significant development witnessed by Jordanian wrestling in recent years, saying: "We have seen growth from 60 wrestlers to 3,000, and we have organized three world championships and three Asian championships in a short period."
For his part, the CEO of the "Wrestling for Peace" organization, Dan Russell, confirmed that the memorandum of understanding aims to encourage the practice of community wrestling in Jordan and support its spread among both males and females alike.
Russell added: "During the coming year, a specialized coach will be appointed to work under the supervision of the Jordan Wrestling Federation, and in cooperation with local clubs, with the aim of attracting Jordanian wrestlers and training and qualifying them to participate in local, regional, and international championships."
According to the terms of the agreement, the Jordan Federation will provide a suitable wrestling mat and coordinate with a qualified coach to implement the pilot program, in addition to cooperating with the relevant government and local authorities to secure a suitable facility to host the training and activities.
The Federation will also cooperate with the "Wrestling for Peace" organization in implementing the program's training and educational curriculum, attracting participants, ensuring their safety, and providing them with appropriate training, as well as following up on the evaluation of the program and working to create the necessary conditions for its sustainability and future expansion.
During the pilot phase, the two parties will implement regular wrestling training sessions, in addition to educational and awareness-raising activities that focus on character building, life skills development, and enhancing understanding and communication among participants.
It is noteworthy that the Jordan Wrestling Federation was established in 1982, coinciding with the spread of Olympic wrestling in the Kingdom in the early 1980s, with the aim of organizing the affairs of the game, developing it, and qualifying technical staff such as coaches and referees, before officially joining the United World Wrestling in 1984.
The Federation recently witnessed an administrative achievement with the election of its president, Mohammad Al-Awamleh, as President of the Asian Wrestling Federation.
As for the "Wrestling for Peace" organization, it was launched in 2017 by Dan Russell, a two-time world junior wrestling champion and former Olympic coach, under the umbrella of USA Wrestling, before being officially established in 2025 as an independent non-profit organization that seeks to employ sports diplomacy and humanitarian work to promote rapprochement between different communities and consolidate the values of peace and coexistence through the sport of wrestling.
