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Buenos Aires 2018 YOG mascot has been launched!

The official mascot for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games has been revealed by the Organising Committee today. Named #Pandi, inspired by the jaguar, the country's most emblematic wild animal found in Northern Argentina. The mascot aims to inspire youth to embrace sport as a tool to make the world a better place, while also raising awareness about the species risk of extinction. The hashtag in his name meant to demonstrate the strong online presence. In the animation revealed, we can see the young jaguar making his way through the city, finally reaching the iconic Obelisc, the location of the Opening Ceremony.   Throughout his journey, #Pandi doesn't give up when faced with challenges as it tries to reach the ribbons with colors that symbolize Buenos Aires 2018. With perseverance and the festive spirit it reveals upon reaching its goal, #Pandi symbolizes the desire for Buenos Aires 2018, the first edition of an Olympic celebration with strict gender equality, to serve as an important source of inspiration to build a better world through sport. "Like the young athletes that give their best to qualify for the Games, the Buenos Aires 2018 mascot overcomes all types of adversity to reach its goals", said the president of the Buenos Aires 2018 Organising Committee, Gerardo Werthein. https://youtu.be/cOw3hIfotFI Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

Turkey’s 2017 Fair Play Grand Prize awarded to Valerios Leonidis

Turkey's National Olympic Committee (NOC) announced the 2017 winners of the Fair Play Awards last Monday, awarding Greek former weightlifter Valerios Leonidis the grand prize. The winners were announced at a news conference held in Ataköy Olympic House, hosted by NOC Fair Play Commission President Erdoğan Arıpınar and other members of the commission. The three categories of awards distributed were "Fair Play Conduct," "Fair Play Career" and "Community Fair Play." For the Fair Play Conduct category, the grand prize was awarded to Leonidis, a Greek former weightlifter and current weightlifting trainer. In November 2017, he attended the funeral of his longtime rival, Turkish world record holder Naim Süleymanoğlu. Among the dozens of fellow athletes and dignitaries at Süleymanoğlu's funeral, Leonidis stood out as he quietly approached the late weightlifter's coffin draped with a Turkish flag and kissed it. Leonidis told reporters at the funeral that he was "devastated" to learn about the death of his Turkish "friend," as the two had pushed each other to greatness in the sport. "I never forget [the 1996 Olympics in] Atlanta. He took gold and I took the silver [medal]. Before the medal ceremony, I told him 'you are the best' and he responded, 'We are the best,'" Leonidis said. Read more: https://www.dailysabah.com/ IWF congratulates Mr. Leonidis! Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games final technical visit concluded

Attila Adamfi, IWF Director General has concluded the final technical visit as Event Delegate on the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games site. [caption id="attachment_22434" align="aligncenter" width="416"] Anabella Moccia, Head of Sport; Attila Adamfi, IWF Director General; Marcelo Melnick, Argentinian WF; Noelia Garcia Lezcar, IF Relations and Services Coordinator[/caption] The Olympic Village is ready to welcome the athletes, all the weightlifting venues have been completed. During the Youth Olympic Games, the Village will house 6,286 residents, composed of athletes, coaches and NOC representatives. In total, there will be 7,016 beds available and a dining room with the capacity to seat 2,300 people. Attila Adamfi: "I have talked extensively to the Organising Committee, about different services, including transportation, accommodation and uniforms. I believe our colleagues from Buenos Aires are ready to host a fantastic event, I am pleased with what I've seen." "I feel like the Youth Olympic Games is finally on the right track. The service levels on the event will be more sustainable and more in harmony with the original YOG concept." The organisers paid particular attention to the cultural events and educational programs, as the Youth Olympic Games isn't only about sport.   Read more: https://www.olympic.org Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

The newest issue of the South American Weightlifting Confederation Magazine is available online!

The fourth and newest issue of the South American Weightlifting Confederation Magazine is out and available online! It contains information about the latest competitions such as the Anaheim World Championships, 2nd South American Youth Games. An article discusses the dilemmas when judging in a weightlifting competition and it lists all the different seminars organized by the South American MFs and Confederation, supported by IWF. Constantino Iglesias, President of the Spanish Weightlifting Federation wrote a report on Spain's participation in the South American event, which was held between December 14th and 18th and comprised four competitions: South American Youth Championships, Copa Internacional, Copa Iberoamericana, and Copa Tamás Aján (in honour of the President of the International Weightlifting Federation). The magazine is available in Spanish language. Click here to read

How to Watch the 2018 USA Weightlifting National Championships

This year’s USA National Championships are taking place in Overland Park, Kansas and will begin on May 24th and run through May 27th.   Fortunately for weightlifting fans, there will be two live streams running for the full competition days for the red and blue platforms. For those interested in watching the competition live, click on the links below. Red Platform Blue Platform This year’s final date to qualify was in late April, and in lead, to this cutoff, there had been a slight shift in qualifying totals. Many of the women’s weight classes have been increased to make it slightly tougher to qualify and to improve the level of competition. Outside of the upcoming National Championships, USA Weightlifting’s senior team just competed and had a successful trip down in Santa Domingo, the Dominican Republic at the 2018 Senior Pan American Weightlifting Championships. The women’s team obtained 11 medals (2 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze) and the men’s team walked away with 9 (3 gold, 6 silver). Overall in points, the women’s team came in first and the men’s team came in sixth.

Technical Course for Coaches in Ashgabat

A Technical Course for Coaches was held in the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat between 5 and 15 May, supported by the Olympic Solidarity.   The presentation - introduced by Mr Andras Szabo - included many important topics, such as the changing technical rules; basics of biomechanics; updates on what a coach should know about diets, physiology, biochemistry, selection methods and up to date expectations towards coaches and their roles. Mr Szabo also tutored the coaches on legal performance and regeneration enhancement options; adverse effects of taking anabolic steroids; weight control and changes in the bodyweight categories. Practical sessions were included and in the end, theoretical and practical tests were done. The 27 participants, as well as the sports leaders who attended, were impressed with the course and all the practical and theoretical knowledge they gathered. Ashgabat will be the host city of the IWF World Championships 1-10 November 2018.