This Thursday, the Brazilian Confederation of Associated Wrestling Styles (CBLA in Portuguese), with the support of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB in Portuguese) and the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA in French), inaugurated the sport’s first International Training Centre in South America. The venue is located in the Admiral Adalberto Nunes Physical Education Centre (CEFAN in Portuguese), in Rio de Janeiro, which is listed among Rio 2016™ Pre-Games Training Sites, and is aimed at Brazilian Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestlers preparation for the world’s greatest sporting event.

President of the Rio 2016™ Committee and the COB, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, took part in the inauguration, which FILA President, Raphael Martinetti from Switzerland, the Commander of the Marine Corps and General Commander of CEFAN, Admiral of the fleet Marco Antonio Corrêa Guimarães, and CBLA President, Pedro Gama Filho, also attended.

“Here, the athletes will receive all the support in order to train and prepare for the competitions. Congratulations to FILA for its development of Wrestling in the whole world in general and in Brazil in particular”, commented President Nuzman. “I am sure that our sport will be greatly developed with this Centre and I hope the Brazilian National Anthem will be played often during Rio 2016™”, said Raphael Martinetti.

Third sport in number of medals awarded during a single edition of the Olympic Games, only behind Athletics and Aquatics, Olympic Wrestling is still being developed in Brazil. In London 2012, one athlete, Joice Silva, represented the country, and was present at the inauguration. Felipe Macedo, a former athlete from Rio and current Brazilian Greco-Roman Wrestling Team coach, assured that the investment will produce short-term and, mostly, mid-term and long-term results.

“Here, the athletes will exclusively worry about training. My generation did not have this. The greatest advantage is that our athletes won’t need to travel on exchanges with the world’s best teams. Now, Americans, Europeans and Asians will come here to train with us”, he explained.

At the TC, there will be two Wrestling mats offered by FILA, as well as lodging and board at the athletes’ disposal. As per the agreement with the International Federation, the highest Olympic Wrestling entity intends to send other foreign coaches in order to help in developing the discipline. “This is a historic date for Wrestling. In the name of the athletes, I would like to thank all those who worked for this TC to become a reality”, said CBLA President, Pedro Gama Filho.