There is something about the sport of armwrestling that just screams of Northern Ontario.
Generations ago, mining and forestry towns across the north were home to this impromptu and quite rudimentary test of strength. In 1971, ABC's Wide World of Sports broadcasted the Carling O'Keefe World Wrist Wrestling Championship direct from the city that Shania Twain calls home: Timmins, Ontario.
Celebrating their 50th edition of the world championships next summer, the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF) returned, in some ways, to their roots, awarding the competition that will bring together some 1600 athletes from 80 countries to Sudbury.
At a media reception last month at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex, officials of both the WAF and the City of Greater Sudbury gathered to announce news of the largest international sporting gala to hit this region since the World Junior Track & Field Championships in the summer of 1988.
"We wanted to change the paradigm a little bit," said Simon Berriochoa, president of the United States Armwrestling Federation and vice-president of the WAF. "We wanted to take much of what makes armwrestling great, what draws armwrestlers to remain part of this community and bring it to a place that has that same sense of community - with a real Canadian experience."
With the past three championships having been hosted in Moldova (2024), Bulgaria (2025) and India (2026), the 2027 is most certainly going to have a different feel than some of its predecessors.
"It was super important for us to find that right fit, to be in a community that is going to be supportive," said Berriochoa, a three-time world champion and six-time medallist. "We talked to a lot of cities, some much larger - but this group was as passionate about doing this as we are."
"It's a great partnership."
Mayor Paul Lefebvre certainly believes so.
"This is a great way to showcase the multi-cultural history of Sudbury," said Lefebvre. "We are, after all, built on waves of immigration from around the world. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate our roots, having people here who will be interested in sharing their heritage."
With that in mind, both event organizers and city delegates are excited about the endless possibilities of connections being made, as the very same Sudbury folks who drive past their national flag with a great deal of pride along the Bridge of Nations (Paris Street overpass) also come out to meet and support visitors who share a similar ancestral lineage.
"We're going to be reaching out to all of those members of the community who want to participate," said Lefebvre. "It's all about trying to make sure that the athletes have the best possible experience in Sudbury that we can help make it."
The majority of those locals who will make their way to the Countryside Arena between August 19th and the 31st (2027) will not necessary enjoy much in the way of a frame of reference as to what they are about to witness.
Sudbury Sports Hall of Fame inductee Christine Jaworski most certainly will.
A four-time world champion who attended the global showdown five different times, Jaworski was featured in the movie Over the Top, along with star Sylvestre Stallone after securing a world title in Las Vegas.
"To have the world brought together in such a large forum of spectators, how can you not be excited," said Jaworski, still the only Canadian to ever win both the lightweight and heavyweight divisions simultaneously.
"The news of this touched my heart, my whole soul. It's such a happy event. It brings the world together. And for Sudbury to host it, to host the world .... wow!"
Anyone seeking further information on the event or interested in assisting in some way is asked to contact Joanne Lachance at joannelachance10@gmail.com.
