The sport of Beach Wrestling has been added to international wrestling, based upon a vote the FILA Congress, held in Athens, Greece on August 20, 2004.     FILA is the international wrestling federation, representing all of the nations around the world involved in international wrestling. The organization is based in Lausanne, Switzerland, and its president is Mr. Raphael Martinetti.    More details on Beach Wrestling, included specific rules and event scheduling, will be posted when available.    Below is the document approved by the FILA Congress:    ---------------    INTRODUCTION OF "BEACH WRESTLING" IN THE FILA PROGRAMME    Preamble  Since the beginning of times on all continents, traditional forms of wrestling are practiced on earth, sand, sawdust, etc. These forms of wrestling with simple rules today still captivate a large public. The FILA Bureau has therefore decided to codify a form of wrestling that can be practiced everywhere, without any technical means, which takes elements from these traditional wrestling forms and which is called "Beach wrestling".    This form of wrestling must serve to:  - Popularize wrestling  - Allow the practice of this sport in countries with few financial and material means  - Animate through a play and natural activity the holiday clubs, etc.  - Put in place for the National Federations a new activity that can stimulate wrestling in their country  - Attract sponsors to wrestling through a new exciting and popular discipline    "BEACH WRESTLING' REGULATIONS FOR MEN AND WOMEN    Age Categories  - 10 to 15 years cadets  - 16 to 20 years juniors  - 21 years and more seniors    Weight categories  The person in charge divides the participants into 2 categories:  - One light category  - One heavy category    There is no weigh-in; the distribution in the categories is done according to the corpulence of the participants and in order to reach the quickest possible the ideal divisible number.    Kind of competition  - Tournament or championship open to al without any affiliation nor license  - Tournament or championship reserved for those affiliated to a National Federation    Competition Dress  - Trunks for men without any other accessory  - Swimsuits in one pieces or two pieces for women without any other accessory    Competition Surface  On sand, inside a circle of 6m diameter    Competition system  The competition is with direct elimination. The losers of the semifinals are both placed in the 3rd place    Identification of the men and women wrestlers  After having been distributed by categories, each wrestler receives an ankle bank numbered from 1 to…(different for each category) to be put around the ankle. After each match the loser hands the band to the referee.    Officiating  The person in charge acts as referee and his decisions cannot be questioned.    Kind of victories  "Beach Wrestling" is held on by in the standing position. The victory can be obtained in the following manner:  - By fall when a wrestler touches both shoulders on the ground  - By throw when a wrestler has succeeded in having his opponent touch twice during the match a part of his body on the ground. In the action the attacking wrestler can put one or both knees on the ground.  - By leaving the competition area if a wrestler has succeeded in pushing twice one foot of his opponent out of the competition area.  - By adding to a throw a leaving of the competition area.  - By decision of the person in charge when at the end of 3 minutes no action was executed by one wrestler compared wit the activity of the other wrestler.    Prohibition  - Kick or punch  - Attack the face or the hair  - Cover the body with an oily and slippery substance  - Holds that can lead to a dislocation  - Stopping the match for any reasons is forbidden    Classification  One 1st, one 2nd, and two 3rd places are declared for each light and heavy category.    The two first of each category must wrestle to determine the winner of the absolute category of the tournament    1st of the light category against the 1st of the heavy category  2nd of the light category against the 2nd of the heavy category