May 1 kicks off World Wrestling Month, which has been established by FILA, the international wrestling federation. The 177 countries that are members of the organization will feature activities which promote the sport of wrestling and its campaign to remain in the Olympic Games.

“World Wrestling Month will feature a variety of activities for our athletes and national federations,” said FILA’s Acting President Nenad Lalovic. He added, “The month will celebrate our storied past as well as our strong future. Many of the countries around the world will be announcing their celebrations and plans in the coming weeks. ”

The United States will be very active during World Wrestling Month, with three major international competitions already announced and more activities which are in the works.

The United States will take on the national teams of Hungary, Lithuania and Serbia in a world-class international Greco-Roman wrestling event at the 2013 Curby Cup at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Ill. on Saturday, May 11.

Three of the world’s top powers, Iran, the United States and Russia will come together in solidarity at “The Rumble On The Rails,” in Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal in New York City, N.Y. on Wednesday, May 15, starting at 3:30 p.m.

Iran and the United States will also face off in a friendly international dual meet at “United 4 Wrestling,” on Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m. at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, Calif. 

Numerous other exciting events and activities will be held around the world as part of World Wrestling Month.

Included are two key meetings which will help shape the future of wrestling internationally. The FILA Extraordinary Congress will be held in Moscow, Russia on May 18, to discuss and make changes in the sport in its effort to keep wrestling in the Olympic Games. Also in May is the International Olympic Committee Executive Board meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia on May 29, where wrestling will make a presentation and be evaluated with seven other Sports seeking a spot on the 2020 Olympic Games program as a provisional sport. 

To keep up with the activities of World Wrestling Month, please visit TheMat.com regularly.

There are other key ways to stay informed about the effort to Keep Olympic Wrestling.

In the United States, the official website is href="http://www.KeepWrestlingInTheOlympics.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/officialkeepwrestlingintheolympics, and on Twitter @wrestlingvision. 

The international links for FILA are http://www.fila-official.com/, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/fila.official and on Twitter @FILA_Official.

Here is a preliminary schedule of FILA international wrestling events and special events as part of World Wrestling Month. This schedule is expected to expand with more activities all around the world.

TENTATIVE World Wrestling Month Schedule
May 1-2 – Black Sea Championships, (freestyle), Odessa, Ukraine
May 2-7 – African Championships (all styles), N;Djamena, Chad
May 9-12 – African Junior and Cadet Championships (all styles), N;Djamena, Chad
May 9-10 – Takhti Cup (freestyle), Tehran, Iran
May 11-12 – Palestra Cadet and Junior International (all styles), Thessaloniki, Greece
May 11-12 – Nordic Senior, Junior and Cadet Championships (freestyle, women), Eslov, Sweden
May 11-12 – Mongolia Senior Open (freestyle, women), Ulanbaatar, Mongolia
May 11 – Curby Cup of Greco-Roman, USA, Lithuania, Serbia, Hungary, LaGrange, Ill. (Chicago), USA
May 15 – USA vs. Iran vs. Russia Beat the Streets Gala, Grand Central Terminal, New York, N.Y., USA
May 16-17 – Martyrs Junior Cup (freestyle, Greco-Roman), Qazvin, Iran
May 17-19 – Victory Cadet Cup (all styles), Antalya, Turkey
May 18-19 – Grand Prix of Germany, Senior, Junior and Cadet (freestyle), Dormagen, Germany
May 19 – USA vs. Iran, (freestyle), Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, Calif., USA
May 23-27 – Ali Aliyev International, (freestyle), Qom, Russia
May 25-26 – Bucharest Junior International (all styles), Bucharest, Romania
May 21-June 2 – Beach Wrestling World Championships, Cadet, Junior and Senior, El-Jadida, Morocco
May 31 – Trophy Milone International (Greco-Roman), Sassari, Italy
May 31 – June 1 – Sassari City International (freestyle, women), Sassari, Italy
May 31-June 2 – Champions Junior International (all styles), Ankara, Turkey