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31st WMC Wrestling – Skopje (MKD) – Day 1
SKOPJE (MKD) – From September 19 to September 25, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is hosting the 31st World Military Wrestling Championship. More than 400 sportsmen and sportswomen from 32 countries and 4 continents will take part in this event (Albania, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, China, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Korea, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, USA and of course, the host country, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).
In the framework of the 31st WMC Wrestling, a press conference was organized in the Sports Center Boris Trajkovski in front of several representatives of local Medias (written press and TV) and the following personalities: Colonel Borko Simoski, Chief of Delegation of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to CISM, Lt-Col Marko Korpela, PCSC Wrestling, Colonel Nelson de Jesus Lopes, CISM OCR, Mr. Sven Levent, neutral referee of the Union World Wrestling and Mr Trajche Dimkov, Macedonian Wrestling Sport Federation and President of the technical commission. During this press conference, the OC presented the championship as well as the schedule of events.
“This is the greatest sports event this year and we are fully prepared. We expect top results both from the participants from the other countries and from the representatives of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, underlined the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, Elizabeta Chupovska – Ristova, who is also the President of the Organizing Committee of this Championship.
Chupovska- Ristova also declared that the realization and the organization of the WMC Wrestling is a proof that the MOD and ARM are committed to developing and fostering sports for the ARM members. She added that Macedonia has a long tradition in this sport and we are therefore very pleased to have this opportunity to host the world championship.
The deputy Chief of General Staff of the ARM, Major General Muhamet Racaj, added that sports activities are very important for maintaining health and improving the individual physical condition and sustenance of the armies. “These competitions are also an opportunity for making new friendships and strengthening mutual respect and cooperation”, General Racaj added.
The Technical Director of the World Championship, Trajche Dimkov, informed that although it is a military championship, all rules and regulations of the World Wrestling Federation apply. He added that the competitions of Freestyle and Greco-Roman style will be held in the VIP Arena and the VIP small hall that are part of the Sports Centre Boris Trajkovski.
The quality of this WMC is indicated by the fact that 19 competitors took part in the Olympic Games in Rio this year, and several of them won gold medals at Olympic Games and other World Championships.
In the evening, Maj-Gen Dimche Petrovski, General Staff of ARM Director, invited the Chiefs of Mission in a vineyard for a presentation of the wines produced in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
For more information (schedule, results and livestreaming), click here.
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department / WMC Wrestling Organizing Committee)
(Pictures: WO Dominique Einsweiler)
