Archive from 2017

IWF Congress Bangkok THA

The IWF held its Congress in Bangkok, THA at the Grand Four Wing Convention Hotel prior to the 2017 IWF Youth World Championships that kicked off today. Delegates from 56 Member Federations participated. Congress delegates received a detailed report IWF President Dr. Tamas Ajan about the outcome of the Executive Board meeting. As the deadline for the candidatures of the IWF Elections expired on 28th March 2017, the list of candidates was presented to the delegates. The IWF Electoral Congress will be chaired by Mr. Francois Carrard and hosted by the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association in Bangkok on 29-30 May. The Financial Report was also presented to the Congress by Alain Siegrist and the delegates approved the Financial Statement for 2016 as well as the KPMG Auditor’s Report for the year 2016. Mr. Mohammed Jaloud, IWF Executive Board Member and Chairman of the Membership Commission gave a report on membership issues. The IWF Anti-Doping Commission presented the 2017 IWF Anti-Doping Program and gave a summary of its 2016 activities. Delegates received a detailed report on Anti-Doping related matters. Mr. Jose Quinones, IWF Vice President and Chairman of the Development and Education Commission gave a summary and statistics for 2017. A total value of USD 524 000 will be allocated to the applying National Federations and update was given on the – also substantial – contribution to support the Continental Federations. Delegates received reports on the preparation of the future events: 2017 IWF Junior World Championships Tokyo JPN 2017 FISU Universiade Taipei, TPE 2017 IWF World Championships Anaheim, USA 2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires, ARG 2018 IWF World Championships Lima, PER 2019 IWF World Championships Pattaya, THA 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games,

IWF Executive Board meeting in Thailand prior to the Youth Worlds

Prior to the Olympic qualification Youth World Championships, the IWF Executive Board discussed a number of weighty issues at its meeting in Bangkok, on 2nd April. The Financial Report revealed a highly successful year of 2016 for the Federation, including substantial incomes - largely, but not only - originating from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games revenues coupled with a modest and conservative spending, as typical for the IWF. One area the Federation did not save money, however, was its Development Program, in which the IWF allocated substantial funds to enhance the sport in its Member Federations worldwide. The summary and statistics of the Development Program 2017 were presented by Development and Education Commission Chairman, Mr. José Quinones, accompanied by Ms. Eva Moska, DEC Director and Ms. Timea Horvath, DEC Manager. The Executive Board approved the proposal of the Commission. A total value of USD 524 000 will be allocated to the applying National Federations and update was given on the - also substantial - contribution to support the Continental Federations. The IWF Anti-Doping Commission presented the 2017 IWF Anti-Doping Program to the Board including the 2017 International Registered Testing Pool and the 2017 Anti-Doping Education Plan. The Program is founded on the motto 'quality more than quantity' and efficient collaboration with the IWF Athlete Passport Management Unit and other Anti-Doping Organizations. The ADC gave a summary of its 2016 activities based on which it made several proposals to the Board regarding the further actions to be taken and future amendments of the IWF Anti-Doping Policy. In the presence of M. Francois Carrard to chair the quadrennial elections, details of the IWF Electoral Congress have been finalized. This milestone event will also be hosted by the Thai Weightlifting Association, two months later in Bangkok. The deadline for the candidatures expired on 28th March 2017 and, following an eligibility check, the list of candidates was released. An impressive number of 119 candidates was proposed by 72 countries to the available 37 positions open to election by the Congress (29-30th May

The first World Championships were held on March 28

126 years ago, on March 28th 1891, the first World Championships were held in London. By the time it was very easy to organize World Championships due to the low number of attendees (6 countries, 7 athletes). With no criteria of bodyweight, the local British Edward Lawrence Levy won and became the first World Champion. Two month prior to the competitions, the 39 years old Levy won the – also first time organized -  British Amateur Weightlifting Championship and he set 14 world records until 1894. At the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896, he did not attend as an athlete but as a jury member. At the first World Championships only men could qualify but from 1987 women could compete as well. Donaueschingen, GER gave place to the first combined Men and Women World Championships (64th edition for Men and 5th Women) organized by the IWF at the same time and same place in 1991. If we compare the ones held in 1891 London where 7 athletes competed to the 2015 IWF World Championships Houston where there were 324 men from 76 countries and 261 women from 72 countries, we can easily see the evolution. The next edition, 83rd Men World Championships and 26th Women 2017 IWF World Championships will take place in Anaheim, USA between November 28 – December

Norwegian Weightlifting Federation Elections

The Norwegian Weightlifting Federation held its Elections recently. Two candidates were running for the position of President. A female candidate, Hilde Næss proposed by the Electoral Committee, and Stian Grimseth proposed by one of the clubs. Approximately 60% of the delegates voted for Hilde Næss. This gave Norway the first female weightlifting President in the history of the federation. Congratulations to all the elected

French Weightlifting Federation Elections

The French Weightlifting Federation (FFHM) held its General Assembly and Elections on 25th March, 2017 at the INSEP in Paris. Jean-Paul Bulgaridhes was elected with 67,16 % of the votes under the vision of a “United effective and shared Governance”. In his speech full of hope he paid tribute to his predecessor Marc Andrieux offering him the Honorary President title. He invited all present stakeholders to take part in this new adventure. Already President between 2001 -2013,  he wishes to put as his priority the Clubs.

Ivan Abadzhiev died at 85

Former Bulgarian weightlifting coach Ivan Abadzhiev, one of the sport's most successful and prominent figures, died at age 85. Widely known as "The Pope of Weightlifting," Abadzhiev led Bulgaria to 10 Olympic, 57 world and 64 European titles between 1968 and 2000, making weightlifting the most successful sport in the Balkan country's. As a competitor, he won Bulgaria's first World Championship medal after finishing second in the men’s 67.5 kg bodyweight category in Tehran in 1957. He was voted "Coach of the Century" in Bulgaria. Abadzhiev, who went on to train the Turkish national team in the 1990s, also served as a lawmaker in his homeland before moving to work as coach in the United States. Under Abadzhiev, the weightlifting team hit a low at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul when the country's former Communist authorities sent them home after two athletes were stripped of their gold medals due to positive doping tests. It is very unfortunate that in his latest years, his name was linked to various doping scandals as since 1946, Bulgaria registered 47 doping cases. Source: