The decision was made after an international seminar was held in Managua.

The event was held from March 17 to 21, with the support of the Nicaraguan Olympic Committee, the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN) and the Nicaraguan Institute of Sports.

The seminar was aimed at supporting coaches and referees in the Pan American region.

A total of 32 people participated at the seminar, including athletes, coaches and referees.

The participants came from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras and El Salvador.

Luis Bogantes, a member of the Referee Commission of the Pan American Sambo Union, oversaw the seminar.

"The seminar was necessary to deepen and consolidate knowledge of refereeing at competitions," said Bogantes.

"It also became an important part of the preparation of specialists for the Pan American Sambo Championships, which will be held in Costa Rica this summer."

Bogantes, who holds an International Sambo Federation coaching degree, said the seminar included theory and practice of sambo refereeing.

The difference on refereeing between sports, combat and beach sambo were explored.

The features of the FIAS electronic database were also studied, as well as regulations on the procedure for certification of athletes and coaches in sambo.

The FIAS said officials in Nicaragua decided to include sambo on their National University Games programme following the seminar.

The Games are expected to take place at the end of May.