Archive from 2017

Closing Ceremony of Rio 2016

The closing ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics was held on 21 August 2016 at the Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee officially closed the Games of the XXXI Olympiad after 16 days of competition, featuring 11,303 athletes exactly a year ago. The Rio Olympics ended with a spectacular carnival-inspired closing ceremony, and the official handover of the Olympic Flag to the host of the 2020 Olympics, Tokyo Japan. The ceremony, watched by billions around the world, featured the parade of athletes and a dramatic extinguishing of the Olympic flame. Take a look back via the following link: Closing Ceremony of Rio

Ali Sekiraca passed away

The IWF presents its sincere condolences to the Family of Mr. Ali Sekiraca, the Founder and President of the Kosovo Weightlifting Federation who passed away yesterday. Today 21 August, 2017 at 12:00 the Kosovo Weightlifting Federation organized a commemorative meeting. It is with deep sorrow that the IWF presents its

Velichko Cholakov passed away

Velichko Cholakov, a former European champion who was part of the Bulgarian weightlifting team has died at the age of 35. Cholakov won Bronze in the Men's +105 kg bodyweight category at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and Silver at the World Championships in 2003. The IWF presents its deep condolences.

PRK sweeps first day of Taipei Universiade

After a fascinating Opening Ceremony, the 2017 Taipei Universiade commenced with weightlifting producing the first medal winners of the Games. FISU President Oleg MATSYSIN presented the gold medal to Olympic champion superstar OM Yun Chol  who excelled with 5 new Universiade records and a very nearly missed world record at 172kg in clean and jerk in the 56kg category. OM opened the streak of victories for DPR Korea that continued in the women's 48kg and the men's 62kg - all completed on the same day. In 48kg RI Song Gum was dominant, twice rewriting the Universiade total record and finishing with 193kg ahead of PIRON Beatriz of DOM and Olympic silver medallist AGUSTIANI of Indonesia. No less supremacy was shown in the 62kg by PRK lifter SIN Chol Bom (303kg) and a new Universiade record in clean and jerk of 171kg. The silver went to VAZQUEZ MENDEZ Antonio of Mexico and TPE athlete KAO Chan-Hung took the

Taipei awaits weightlifters from 53 countries to Universiade weightlifting (START LIST PACKAGE available!)

The first teams have already arrived in Taipei and started their training at the Tamkang University Training Venue. Nearly 300 lifters are expected to participate in the Universiade 2017. The total number of university athletes at these FISU Games is expected to rise above 8,000. The weightlifting competitions will start on 20 August and run through 25 August. START LIST

Rio 2016 Summary

These days marked one year on from the Olympic Games Rio 2016, what was extraordinary in so many ways. Watched by half the world’s population and with a staggering 7 billion video views of official content on social media platforms - Rio 2016 delivered many inspiring athletic achievements and proved once again the tremendous unifying power of sport. The Games produced significant historic sporting moments which should be remembered and celebrated - therefore the IWF made the attached infographics1, infographics2, infographics3 and infographics4 of the Olympic Games Rio 2016. The IOC put in addition to an exceptional effort to significant cost savings and additional financial undertakings by all the Olympic stakeholders that amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars to make these historic Olympic Games possible. The Rio 2016 took place against a background of unprecedented economic, social and political challenges; however the people of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil have delivered marvelous Olympic Games and are working to maximize the legacy of 2016. Perhaps the greatest legacy of the Olympic Games, not just in Rio de Janeiro, but of all editions of the Olympic Games, is their unifying power. In these uncertain times, the Games are the only truly global event where the whole world comes together, and Rio was no different. In the attached newsletter, the IOC has gathered updates on the many legacy programmes that so many people from the Olympic Movement contributed to. On the Olympic Channel, as well as on Olympic.org you will find a number of articles and videos highlighting many legacy stories and athletic accomplishments as