Guangzhou, China, July 14, 2026: As the official observer at the OCA-UWW Asian Wrestling Youth Camp and Course for Coaches in Guangzhou, China, Riad Hassan can see the big picture from both sides in terms of development.
The 62 athletes and 30 coaches from 30 National Olympic Committees have been living in their own wrestling world at the Guangzhou Polytechnic of Sports since the camp opened on July 8.
Wednesday, July 15 will be the eighth and final day of the camp before the participants head for home full of new ideas and new ambition.
“I have an excellent impression - for the first time in history to have this kind of camp in Asia and in the world… with all the diversity of cultures and different backgrounds,” says Riad, Palestinian-born but now living in Canada.
“You see everybody came to wrestle and to learn the best from the best instructors in the world. It’s amazing how you see the language barriers between all these countries and, after two/three days, everyone started communicating with everyone. You see that wrestling can unite countries together and nations together and human beings together.”
Riad, 44, is well qualified to observe the camp in his official capacity. He is an international referee, secretary-general of the Palestinian Wrestling Federation and a member of the United World Wrestling Sports for All Commission.
“One thing about it I notice also in wrestling, something special other than any other sport – that when the wrestlers sweat, they mix their sweat with each other. This is different than boxing, different than in any other game, so you see through wrestling you can build a greater human.”
Riad feels that the combination of athletes and coaches at the same camp is a winning formula.
“It’s very important to teach that connection and good communication,” he adds.
“Even if you are an expert coach or a high-level athlete, this camp shares the knowledge between other experts from other nations.
“It gives the confidence of a future competing for the athletes and it gives the experience also for the coaches, so the only time they meet in the Asian championship or in the world championship, this camp is a big step to break the fear for athletes and to give the confidence for coaches to interact with other coaches.
“It will give the ability for the athletes to believe that I am able to win the Asian championship or world championship, not just a surprise when I go to a competition I see them there. This camp, with my coach behind me - as if he is behind me on the wrestling map in the competition.
“So, it’s a kind of try-out or a stepping stone to the dream of both coaches and athletes.”
One aspect of the camp which really stood out for the official observer concerned the rules.
“One thing I noticed is that most of the elite coaches were surprised from the knowledge that they gained in this camp, especially in the rules. It was very effective as a lot of high-level coaches don’t have the chance to train with their athletes on how to challenge and how to score the right points and how to avoid doing mistakes in the competition.
“So, when you bring a coach and athlete together it is as if you are preparing them to compete as a coach and athlete together in an official competition.”
