UWW postpones 2026 World Wrestling Championships scheduled for Bahrain in Oct-Nov
Corsier-Sur-Vevy, May 22
The United World Wrestling, the governing body for the sport, has postponed the 2026 World Championships originally scheduled to take place from October 24 to November 1 in the Kingdom of Bahrain because of the prevailing geopolitical situation in the region.
"United World Wrestling (UWW), in close coordination with the Bahrain Olympic Committee and the Bahrain Wrestling Federation, announces the postponement of the 2026 World Championships originally scheduled to take place from October 24 to November 1 in the Kingdom of Bahrain," said the sport's global governing body in a statement on Friday.
This decision was taken after careful and responsible consideration of the current geopolitical situation in the region, particularly the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the pending conflict involving the Gulf region and its broader impact on regional stability and international travel, the statement said.
"While Bahrain remains fully committed to hosting world-class sporting events, all parties believe that the safety, confidence, and overall experience of athletes, officials, delegations, partners, and fans must remain the highest priority," the UWW statement said.
The UWW said it was important to make the decision early and with transparency, as it gives it sufficient time to identify a new host.
"As organisations dedicated to the growth and integrity of international sport, UWW, the Bahrain Olympic Committee, and the Bahrain Wrestling Federation believe it is important to make this decision with adequate time and transparency, rather than waiting until the final stages of preparation. Acting responsibly now allows sufficient opportunity to evaluate a potential new host nation for 2026, so the competition host can be identified and the event can be prepared in a professional and orderly manner," the statement said.
The UWW statement said that though it has taken this decision, it is still reminded that sport 'remains a universal language of peace, respect, and unity.
"Wrestling has always been more than competition. It is a bridge between nations, cultures, and people. At a time when the world faces uncertainty and division, we are reminded that sport remains a universal language of peace, respect, and unity. It is in this spirit that UWW, the Bahrain Olympic Committee, and the Bahrain Wrestling Federation issue this joint statement together," the statement said.
"We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the global wrestling family -- athletes, national federations, coaches, officials, partners, and supporters around the world -- for their understanding, solidarity, and continued support. United World Wrestling works with the national members in close cooperation, trust, and shared commitment to protecting the interests of the sport and its community worldwide," the statement added, claiming that further updates regarding future dates and hosting considerations will be communicated in due course.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Sad to see sports getting impacted by politics again 😔 Our wrestlers train so hard for these championships. But safety first, no argument there. Just hope this doesn't mess up the qualification pathways for Olympics. UWW needs to communicate clearly about rescheduling timelines so federations like ours can plan accordingly.
As someone who follows international wrestling closely, I think this decision was inevitable. The Gulf region has been a powder keg for months. Kudos to UWW for making the call early rather than waiting till the last minute. From a Western perspective, it's refreshing to see governing bodies prioritize athlete welfare over commercial interests.
Genuine question: why was Bahrain even chosen to host in the first place? The region has been unstable for years. This feels like a case of poor planning by UWW. They should have done their homework before awarding the championship. Anyway, now they need to act fast - maybe split the event across two venues if needed. India has the infrastructure and experience to host if they need options.
Disappointed but understandable. Bahrain has been a good host for many events, but current situation is too risky. I just hope our Indian wrestlers don't lose training momentum because of this. They were preparing for Bahrain's conditions. Hope UWW picks a venue with similar climate so preparation doesn't go waste. Also, glad they're being transparent about the process.
As an American, I'm relieved to see this level of caution. The safety of athletes from all nations should always come first. This also sends a
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