Bolivian SAMBO Federation Partners with University of El Alto to Integrate SAMBO into Academic Training

The Bolivian SAMBO Federation has signed a cooperation agreement with the Public University of El Alto (Universidad Pública de El Alto – UPEA), marking a significant step toward embedding SAMBO into formal higher education in Bolivia.

The document was signed by César Castro Fernández, President of the Bolivian SAMBO Federation. The agreement covers the university's “Psychomotricity and Sport” program within the Faculty of Education, with the shared goal of strengthening institutional ties and actively developing the sport across the region.

Under the terms of the partnership, the Bolivian SAMBO Federation will now be able to host final-year students for professional internships. This opens a practical pathway for future educators and sports specialists to gain hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge of SAMBO – its methodology, training principles, and the specific physical and psychological demands the sport places on athletes.

“For SAMBO, integration into an academic curriculum represents more than a promotional opportunity. It positions the sport as a subject of serious educational and scientific inquiry, capable of contributing to the professional development of specialists in physical education and psychomotricity. For students, an internship within the federation structure means direct contact with competitive practice, coaching methodologies, and the organizational side of the sport,” César Castro Fernández said.

The agreement between the Bolivian SAMBO Federation and UPEA reflects a broader trend seen across the SAMBO world: the sport's growing recognition not only in competition halls, but in classrooms and academic institutions as well.