Sport & International Friendship:
The Transformative Power of Athletes
Ambassadors of International Friendship and Peace
The Baskerville Institute’s Sport and International Friendship program isn’t your average peacebuilding initiative. We recognize the immense potential of athletes, both individual and team-based, to act as powerful ambassadors for global understanding and harmony.
Building Bridges Through Shared Experiences: At the heart of our program lies the creation of shared experiences that transcend language and cultural barriers. Baskerville Institute’s Sport Ambassadors seek to create of empathy and respect. In a world where differences can often lead to conflict, the shared language of sports can pave the way for genuine understanding. By celebrating the values that unite us, you can inspire a new generation to embrace wrestling as a catalyst for peace.
For the latest announcements and program updates, please visit our website: www.baskervilleinstitute.org
Sam Rezaei has been chosen by the Baskerville Institute to serve as our Sports Ambassador for Friendship and Peace from 2024 to 2026. In this role, Sam will participate in various activities and initiatives aimed at strengthening bonds between Americans and Iranians through sports.
As Grand Master Jhoon Rhee said, “The spirit of Taekwondo is one of cooperation and understanding. We train together, compete together, and learn from each other, forging strong bonds of international friendship.”
Baskerville Institute webinar with three distinguished speakers:
Nenad Lalovic, President of United World Wrestling (UWW) and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) The UWW is the international governing body for amateur wrestling and Olympic wrestling. UWW is located in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland. It was established in 1921. It is responsible for overseeing wrestling at the World Championships and Olympics. Lalovic has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 2015. Nenad Lalovic’s leadership as President of UWW and as a member of the IOC has been essential to the sport’s growth and expansion.
Andrew F. Barth (Andy) is a retired chairman of Capital Guardian Trust Company. He is a member of the Board of Trustees at Columbia University and the founder of the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club in the United States. The club includes many Olympic medalists as members. He was the team leader for the United States Men’s Freestyle Wrestling Team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012 as an Outstanding American. Barth was the founding member of the Committee to Preserve Wrestling (CPOW). He has had a significant impact on wrestling’s growth and expansion since 2013. He has been a major contributor to USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Adeline Gray is the most decorated female wrestler in the world and the most decorated wrestler in U.S. history. Six-time Senior World Championships gold medalist—the most of any wrestler in U.S. history, regardless of style or gender. Nine-time Senior World Championships medalist—tied for the most in U.S. women’s wrestling history. Most world & Olympic medals of any female Olympic athlete.
