The UWW has changed its uniform rules ©Getty Images

United World Wrestling (UWW) has announced that it will no longer insist on traditional red and blue uniforms - in a bid to help fans better identify who is who.

The move is part of an"on-going effort to modernise the sport of wrestling" according to a UWW statement released today.

Instead of the standard red and blue uniforms which were required under UWW regulations, National Federations will now be able to utilise their home colours with light and dark versions of competition gear.

It is thought that the current system made it difficult for some supporters to distinguish between different competing nations.

UWW President Nenad Lalovic welcomed the changes, which will be brought in for the first time at the Asian Rio 2016 Olympic qualifying event in Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar between April 22 and 24.

The new uniforms will then be used again for the European qualifier in Istanbul in Turkey between May 6 and 8.

It is claimed the uniforms made it difficult for fans to distinguish between competitors
It is claimed the uniforms made it difficult for fans to distinguish between competitors ©Getty Images

The UWW opted to act after after the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Agenda 2020 reforms, the "strategic roadmap" for the future of the Olympic Movement. 

A suggestion to change the uniforms was also made in the 2013 Save Olympic Wrestling campaign, which sought to restore the sport to the Games schedule after the IOC recommended dropping it from the programme in February of that year.

The sport, however, was successful in maintaining its place on the programme just seven months later.

“We hope that these adjustments will help generate even more interest in the sport of wrestling,” said Lalovic.

“We are continuing to innovate our sport and take seriously the recommendations of the IOC and the goals of Agenda 2020.

"Their support has been vital to this process.”