Cuban wrestling has been boosted by the UWW assistance programme ©Getty Images

United World Wrestling (UWW) has announced it will provide assistance to Cuba and Puerto Rico following the hurricanes which struck the nations last year.

Storms including Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria battered much of the Caribbean, leaving dozens dead and causing widespread damage.

Nenad Lalovic, the UWW President and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has now announced an assistance programme to aid the national wrestling governing bodies in both Cuba and Puerto Rico.

UWW's regional development officer Yuri Maier has visited both nations to evaluate the damage, meeting with National Olympic Committee and Sports Ministry representatives. 

Cuba has enjoyed wrestling success at the World Championships and Olympic Games ©Getty Images
Cuba has enjoyed wrestling success at the World Championships and Olympic Games ©Getty Images

It has been agreed that UWW will now donate competition and training mats, thanks to a contribution from official equipment partner Taishan.

"UWW also agreed to provide additional funding through its development programmes in an effort to help relaunch local activities and repair damaged sites," a statement added.

Serbia's Lalovic was last week nominated for a place on the IOC Executive Board after winning a vote to become the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations representative. 

Cuba won three bronze medals at last year's UWW World Championships in Paris.

The country also won two gold medals and a silver at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.