  3rd World Green Festival on Traditional Wrestling Sports, held in Togo International Association of Traditional Wrestling Sports (IATWS), in partnership with UNESCO, organized the 3rd World Green Festival on Traditional Wrestling Sports, held in Lome, Togo from 18 to 25 November, 2008. The purpose of this event was to promote linkages between health, sport and the environment. Organized by IATWS, the 3rd World Green Festival was held under the patronage of UNESCO, and his Excellency, the President of Togo, in collaboration with the Togo National Wrestling Federation, and supported by the National Olympic Committee for Togo. The event was held in Africa to encourage the increased involvement of African States in Traditional Wrestling Sports. UNESCO provided political and intellectual support for all participants during the event. Held annually, the Festival gathered more than 240 participants from all over the world, including representatives from over 45 countries. Murat Kardanov, former Olympic Gold Medalist in the Men’s Middleweight Greco-Roman Wrestling, and Shamil Khisamutdinov, former Olympic Gold Medalist in Men’s Lightweight Greco-Roman Wrestling, attended. Within the framework of the Festival, UNESCO and IATWS organized an International Conference on the role of Traditional Sports and Games (TSG) in Social, Political and Cultural Development, which was held from 19 to 21 November, 2008. The objective of this meeting was to define the notion of Traditional Wrestling Sports. The Conference involved international experts on Traditional Wrestling Sports, government organizations, Ministerial representatives, the President of the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sports (CIGEPS), and the representatives of National Traditional Wrestling Sports Federations. During the Conference it was recommended that an African Platform on Traditional Wrestling Sports is established. IATWS also organized the following activities: - The 7th World Championship on Traditional Wrestling Sports, featuring the International World Belt Wrestling Freestyle and Classical competitions, and the women’s competition. - The 1st World Championship of African Traditional Wrestling Sports. - “Plant for Planet”, held on 24 November, 2008. This activity involved the planting of 40 trees, promoting the link between the environment and sport, and raising awareness of the ecological dimension of sport. |
