In Geneva, Switzerland, two outstanding athletes and brothers, Ruslan and Ilman Mukhtarov, invited Wrestling for Peace (W4P) to their class at the Strike Force Academy, opening the doors to a room that instantly reflected the spirit of our sport. What unfolded was not simply a training session, but a shared experience that captured the essence of wrestling as a global language. It was a powerful reminder that while nations may differ, the values forged through wrestling remain universal. Different flags, same mat.

Wrestling for Peace continues to strengthen its global mission through meaningful engagement with athletes and institutions, most recently through a Master Class delivered at the Kyrgyzstan State Academy of Physical Training and Sports in Bishkek.

Wrestling for Peace (W4P) continues to be shaped not only by the athletes who compete on the mat, but also by the officials who uphold its integrity, fairness, and spirit across every level of the sport. In every corner of the world, their work often happens quietly, but its impact is fundamental to everything wrestling stands for.

This July in Baku, Azerbaijan, the U17 World Wrestling Championships will bring together the most promising young athletes from around the world. Yet beyond the intensity of competition and the pursuit of medals, something deeper is unfolding, an effort to redefine what it means to compete, to represent, and to belong to a global sporting community.

As Slovakia prepares to host the upcoming U20 World Wrestling Championships in August 2026, Wrestling for Peace is shaping a vision that extends far beyond competition. In partnership with Team USA and Team Slovakia, the Wrestling for Peace (W4P) Global Campaign will highlight the Women’s freestyle teams from both nations, coming together not only as competitors, but as partners in service.

Wrestling has a rich history of teaching values that transcend the mat. The sport has endured across centuries and cultures because it calls people to higher standards of conduct, responsibility, and mutual respect. These ideals allow wrestling to serve not only as competition but also as a force for understanding and good. In moments of challenge, wrestling calls for wisdom, restraint, and responsibility to humanity. Everyone wrestles.

This January, Wrestling for Peace (W4P) was honored to join an extraordinary gathering in Amman, Jordan—the Sport for Peacebuilding in Syria: From Dialogue to Action conference hosted by Generations For Peace under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein. As W4P Executive Director, Dan Russell, stood among energetic global peace builders and sport-for-good advocates, it was clear that our W4P mission resonated deeply with the growing international “sports for peace” movement.

The first ever Wrestling for Peace Winter Gala: Bridging Worlds, Building Futures was held on December 6, 2025 at the historic Army and Navy Club in Washington, D.C. The event brought together athletes, coaches, diplomats, sponsors, and community leaders to honor wrestling ambassadors and celebrate a transformative year of sport-driven international engagement through the 2025 Global Campaign.

From rehab centers to championship arenas, our final stop in the 2025 Wrestling for Peace Global Campaign was in Novi Sad, Serbia during the U23 World Wrestling Championships. In partnership with USA Wrestling, the US Embassy in Belgrade, UWW, and the Serbian Wrestling Federation, it was a full week of community engagement for W4P ambassadors as young Greco-Roman wrestlers and local youth discovered that resilience, courage, and shared community can turn struggle into triumph.

On the third stop of the Wrestling for Peace 2025 Global Campaign, USA Wrestling coach Chris Brown and Wrestling for Peace (W4P) Ambassador, George Porter, led the way, joining the Hungarian Wrestling Federation for a week of humanitarian action and international solidarity. From the hospital halls of Budapest to the wrestling mats of Tatabánya, they saw firsthand how sport connects, heals, and inspires.

In Zagreb, Croatia, at the 2025 Senior World Wrestling Championships, wrestling federation officials from around the globe gathered to hear from Wrestling for Peace Executive Director, Dan Russell. Invited by the United World Wrestling Development team, led by Deqa Niamkey and Yuri Maier, Russell highlighted how W4P is working beyond the mat — to uplift communities, develop emerging leaders, and unite people across borders.

In an effort to promote leadership, empowerment, and international collaboration through sport, Wrestling for Peace proudly joined a landmark U.S. Department of State initiative — “Pinning Dreams” — a sports diplomacy effort using women’s wrestling to uplift and inspire girls across the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Wrestling for Peace (W4P) is thrilled to announce two exciting additions to its first annual 2025 Winter Gala: Bridging Worlds, Building Futures. Renowned wrestling announcer, Bryan Hazard, will emcee the event on Saturday, December 6th at the historic Army and Navy Club in Washington, DC, and Brandon Slay — Olympic Gold Medalist, legendary coach, and new Executive Director of SportLife Wrestling — will serve as Keynote Speaker.

In the town of Samokov, Bulgaria, usually known for its winter sports season, wrestling champions of past and present came together not just to compete, but to connect across cultures — igniting the dreams of a new generation of wrestlers in the heart of Bulgaria.

As anticipation builds for the second stop on the Wrestling for Peace (W4P) 2025 Global Campaign journey, W4P ambassadors and campaign partner Wrestle Like a Girl are gearing up for a dynamic event on August 17, 2025 in Samokov, Bulgaria during the U17 World Wrestling Championships. With a focus on youth empowerment, cultural connection, and community development through wrestling, this event is set to leave a lasting impact on every nation it touches.

Wrestling for Peace (W4P), in strategic partnership with SportsLife and in collaboration with EuroRelief, Hellenic Ministries, and Leven, was honored to stand in solidarity with refugee and Roma communities during a recent initiative in Athens, Greece. This visit marked a significant step in our ongoing mission to bring dignity, empowerment, and hope to those navigating life at the margins.

There are few places in the world where past, present, and future come together as powerfully as they do in Athens, Greece. This summer, on the eve of the U17 World Championships, Wrestling for Peace (W4P) and SportsLife ambassadors had the extraordinary opportunity to stand together in the Panathenaic Stadium, the iconic heart of Olympic history, with delegations from Team USA and Team Greece.

Wrestling for Peace (W4P), an international organization dedicated to building bridges of peace through the sport of wrestling, made a visit to Elpida Children’s Oncology Hospital in Athens, delivering gifts, messages of unity, and moments of joy for young patients and their caregivers. The W4P delegation featured athletes and leaders from both Team USA and Team Greece, united under the shared mission of using sport as a force for good.

The U.S. Embassy in Athens sent a distinguished representative to speak to both Team USA and Team Greece ahead of the U17 Freestyle World Championships and the launch of the Wrestling for Peace (W4P) 2025 Global Campaign. Gathered in a room charged with anticipation and shared commitment, young athletes from two proud nations listened as Lieutenant Colonel Tony George of the United States Air Force delivered a stirring address.

In the sweltering summer heat of Athens, Greece, Wrestling for Peace (W4P) and SportsLife came together this July to host a powerful Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Olympic Wrestling Camp — setting the tone for the U17 Men’s Freestyle World Championships.