IWF visits and donates memorabilia to the ‘Weightlifting Museum’ in Dongguan (CHN)
The IWF General Secretary José Quiñones and the IWF Executive Board Member Matthew Curtain were recently in Shilong, Dongguan, China, where they had the opportunity to visit and donate some souvenirs to the ‘Weightlifting Museum’. The visit coincided with the start of the weightlifting competition in the 15th edition of the National Games, being held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau.
Mr Matthew Curtain, IWF EB Member (second from the left) and Mr José Quiñones, IWF General Secretary (third from the left) visiting the ‘Weightlifting Museum’
The IWF delegation was warmly welcomed by the Museum responsible, and the tour started with a cultural moment, whereby Mr Quiñones and Mr Curtain enjoyed the traditional dragon dance and were able to beat the Xinchang drum, an important artifact of the local culture.
During this reception, the IWF General Secretary donated a costume from the Colombian team – signed by Luis Mosquera (three Olympic participations, and two medals), and Yeison Lopez (silver medallist in Paris 2024), as well as a jacket that was part of the ITO’s casual uniform at the 2025 IWF World Junior and Youth Championships in Lima (PER). Mr Curtain gave a framed British team costume, used at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and signed by the country’s top lifters.
Mr José Quiñones presenting his donation to the Museum
The two IWF officials highlighted the importance of having this institution in Dongguan, underlining that it certainly attracts many weightlifting fans in the region, but also from other parts of China. They praised the contribution of Chinese weightlifting to the successful history of the IWF and praised the local authorities for their outstanding work in preserving such an important sport heritage.
Mr Matthew Curtain offering his contribution to the Museum’s collection
Moreover, they stated their determination in helping to enrich the museum’s collection, by seeking the support of the IWF’s National Federations. Future donations from the IWF or its members should focus on tangible memorabilia, but also on digital material, highlighting the history of our International federation or celebrating the outstanding performances of our Stars.
The ‘Weightlifting Museum’ was inaugurated in the presence of the IWF President Mohammed Jalood in October 2024, and is the first of his kind entirely devoted to our Sport. China is a powerhouse in weightlifting and the museum is primarily a tribute to the great performances of the nation’s stars.
IWF Communications
