Through the World Sport Chicago International Sport Exchange Program, young athletes have the opportunity to travel abroad while sharing their different cultures, ideas, and training techniques with Chicago area youth and clubs.  WSC brings these athletes to Chicago and partners them with local clubs where they train daily; breaking down language barriers and cultural differences.  The exchanges help WSC to form international networks which allow it to send local athletes as guests to foreign host clubs.  The ISEP connects youth here in Chicago to the global community of sport and opens the door to young elite and sub-elite athletes in order to experience the unique aspects of international competition.  No matter where one is from and what language one speaks, when one is in a gym, on the field, on the track, on the court or on the mat, there exists a common passion and common understanding around sports.

The ISEP was officially launched in December of 2007 when WSC hosted a team of wrestlers and a team of judoka from the Slovak Republic.  A Slovakian Wrestling Federation youth club was hosted by the Overtime School of Wrestling and other partner clubs throughout the city and the One Judo Club Pezinok was hosted by the Tohkon Judo Academy.  The delegation was led by 1988 Olympic Bronze Medalist in Wrestling Jozef Lohyna who helped to lead a demonstration and clinic in both sports at Lane Tech High School.

To view more photos from this program, please visit our Flickr page.