May 23 is International Wrestling Day, also known as World Wrestling Day, established in 2013 on the initiative of the wrestlers themselves.
The main goal of the sports date – is to popularize freestyle, Greco-Roman and other types of wrestling. The date for the holiday was chosen due to the fact that on May 23, 1904, the first World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships took place in Vienna (Austria-Hungary), in which 26 athletes took part.
Wrestling – is one of the oldest sports, and today it is a collective name for a martial arts group dominated by capture technique. Wrestling differs from other types of martial arts in the almost complete absence of the technique of striking various parts of the enemy’s body. The wrestlers' task is to unbalance the opponent, knock him down and press him with his back to the mat using a number of permitted techniques.
As a type of sports competition, wrestling has a centuries-old history. For example, already in Ancient Greece, wrestling was included in the program of the Olympic Games, and in the Middle Ages it began to be divided into applied and sports. Due to the advent of firearms, applied wrestling has lost its relevance, and sports wrestling, on the contrary, has begun to actively develop. The birthplace of wrestling, precisely as a modern sport, is considered to be France, where by the end of the 19th century such a sport as Greco-Roman or classical wrestling had developed, and then the rules for holding competitions in this sport were approved. In 1896, Greco-Roman wrestling was included in the program of the first modern Olympic Games, and since then has been included in the program of every Summer Olympics (with the exception of the 1900 Games). The first European Championship in this type of wrestling took place in 1898, and in 1904 the – first World Championship.
In 1912, the International Federation of United Wrestling Styles (Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées, FILA) was created, which today unites representatives of freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling from over 120 countries. She represents Olympic wrestling (Greco-Roman wrestling, men's and women's freestyle wrestling), as well as some types: grappling, beach wrestling, pankration and a number of traditional types of wrestling. Every year the Federation holds about 100 competitions: world championships and continental championships for different age groups, international tournaments, bilateral meetings of wrestlers from different countries, etc.
The date May 23 itself became an official holiday for everyone who devoted their lives to this sport. Russian athletes also joined the celebration of the Day. After all, Russia has always been a forge of champions, and wrestling is considered a popular sport, whose representatives became winners and prize-winners at every Olympic Games and other world forums. The most titled Russian Greco-Roman wrestler is 3-time Olympic champion, 9-time world champion, 12-time European champion and 13-time champion of the USSR and Russia Alexander Karelin.
Traditionally, competitions at various levels, demonstration competitions, master classes and other events are held in honor of the holiday.