Jordan: Women Take Center Stage in the Middle East
In February 2024, a dynamic wrestling delegation visited the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan where current Board Chair, Dan Russell, serves as a Wrestling For Peace Ambassador. Sally Roberts, Two-time World Bronze Medalist and Wrestle Like a Girl Co-Founder and CEO, Afsoon Johnston, first ever US Women’s World Medalist, Amy Zirneklis, Wrestle Like a Girl Co-Founder and COO, Hooman Tavakolian, founder of Hoomanities, and Jonny Ruggiano, Titan Mercury Wrestling Club Executive Director, met with key leaders in the small kingdom while raising awareness for the growing Olympic Women’s Wrestling movement throughout Asia.
The delegation kept a busy schedule hosting wrestling clinics for the new Jordan Women’s Wrestling team and a group of talented female Syrian refugees at the Al-Azraq Refugee Camp near the Syrian border. They met with His Royal Highness, Prince Ali, a former Wrestle Like a Girl board member and President of the Jordan Football (Soccer) Association, the Jordan Olympic Committee, and the Jordan Wrestling Federation, signing a two-year MOU with the Jordan Wrestling Federation to support wrestling and to sponsor the adoption of a new standard for cultural and religious compliance gear in international competitions, including head coverings.
Jordan is set to host the Arab Wrestling Championships in May 2024, allowing women to compete for the first time in its history. The delegation is hopeful that this historic event can be a catalyst to inspire more women wrestlers and to allow for further diversity on the women’s world stage.
