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IWF announces the 10 lifters benefitting from the Athletes Direct Support Programme

David Liti (NZL) Following the announcement of the project on April 21, the IWF is pleased to announce that it has selected the 10 lifters to be included in the IWF Athletes Direct Support Programme, as follows: Rachel ENOCK, KenyaDavis NIYOYITA, UgandaPark HYEJEONG, KoreaReza DEHDAR, IranTham NQUYEN, IrelandYusuf GENC, TurkeyMaria Luz CASADEVALL, ArgentinaOmarie MEARS, JamaicaDika Loa TOUA, Papua New GuineaDavid LITI, New Zealand This programme aims at assisting 10 international elite athletes with Olympic potential in their preparation for the Paris 2024 Games. These lifters were chosen by a selection panel composed of one member of the IWF Executive Board, two members from the IWF Athletes’ Commission, and one independent member. In its decision, the panel applied the eligibility criteria and requirements set out by the IWF Athletes Commission and at the same time was attentive to select lifters who have a real possibility to be in the Olympics, do not receive a scholarship as part of the IOC Olympic Solidarity Plan and have never been sanctioned for an anti-doping rule violation. In doing so, the selection panel took special care to allocate the funding to athletes coming from countries which do not have a well-developed support system and, at the same time, to ensure the selected athletes meet the geographic diversity requirements set out by the IWF. In this respect, and considering the number, background and weight categories of the applicants, the selection panel took particular aim at awarding the grant to aid the athletes with the greatest needs of it. Since the principal objective of this programme is the assistance of the selected lifters for their eventual qualification and participation at the 2024 Olympic Games, the amount allocated per athlete is to be distributed in three instalments, while the IWF Athletes’ Commission will follow-up on their progress and may decide to re-allocate the funding if necessary, at its discretion. For more information on this programme, please check:IWF AC Direct Support Program

IWF Continental Federations meet to drive forward reform

Presidents and Secretary Generals of the IWF Continental Federations are gathering this weekend in Rome, Italy to discuss plans to accelerate weightlifting’s reform and development around the world. The annual Intercontinental Meeting is being held for the first time under the sport’s new global leadership, following the election of IWF President Mohammed Jalood and the appointment of IWF Secretary General Antonio Urso in 2022. Representatives from all five Continental Federations were present as the meeting got underway on Friday, February 10 with a visit to the headquarters of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI.) CONI President and Member of the International Olympic Committee Giovanni Malagò hosted the 12-person IWF delegation and heard how significant work undertaken since last June’s electoral congress has created the blueprint for step-change cultural and governance reform in the sport. Mr Malagò praised the new direction as a pathway to a positive future for weightlifting, urging those present to follow the roadmap through the next phase of its implementation. Discussions will continue on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 February, when delegates will also debate and share plans to grow participation and engagement in weightlifting across the five continents. IWF President Mohammed Jalood said: “The positive and active engagement of our IWF Continental Federations will be crucial to achieving our objectives to shape a new and thriving future for weightlifting on a global scale. Our continental colleagues are the ones driving the majority of development in our sport. We are excited to work together to accelerate the growth of weightlifting in line with the principles and values set out in our revised

IWF President visits Cuba and Dominican Republic

IWF President, Mohammed Jalood, together with Pan American Weightlifting Federation President, José Quinones visited, Havana, Cuba between 22nd and 25th January 2023. The aim of the visit was to see the preparations for the IWF Grand Prix, to be organized in June 2023 which is a qualification event for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Mr. Jalood and Mr. Quinones met the Cuban Authorities, the INDER, the Cuban Olympic Committee and also Mrs. Maria de la Caridad Colón Ruenes, Cuban IOC Member. They had the opportunity to visit the Anti-Doping Laboratory, the Manuel Fajardo University of Sciences of Physical Culture and Sport and the different facilities of the Cuban Weightlifting Federation. At these meetings they had fruitful discussions with the Rector of the University, weightlifting professors and coaches, weightlifters. Also, the competition and training venue for the IWF Grand Prix has been presented by the Cuban Weightlifting Federation which is making good progress to host the event in June. ‘The Cuban Federation felt honored with the presence of the IWF and PAWF leadership and looks forward to organize a great event' said Mr. Jorge Luis Barcelán, President. After Cuba, IWF President and PAWF President traveled to Santo Domingo to see the preparations of the Central American and Caribbean Championships, qualification event for the Central American and Caribbean Games. They visited the competition and training venue, the Headquarters of the Weightlifting Federation of Dominican Republic. They had meetings with the Federation, the Organizing Committee of the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, the President of the Olympic Committee of Dominican Republic and Mr. Luis Mejia Oviedo, IOC Member. Mr. Willian Felix Ozuna, President of Dominican Federation said the arrangements are going properly and they look forward to welcome the participants from the Central and Caribbean region.

IWF statement

The IWF stands in solidarity with Ukraine and reaffirms its support for the IOC’s sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian State and Government. The IWF believes strongly in the unifying mission of sport and the Olympic Movement and welcomes the exploration of a pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under strict conditions. The IWF will uphold the current protective measures in place while this pathway is

PARIS 2024 WEIGHTLIFTING AND PARA POWERLIFTING TECHNICAL OPERATIONS PROJECT MANAGER

Paris 2024 is currently recruiting for a Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting Technical Operations Project Manager to join their Sport Competition team. Working for the organising committee, the successful candidate will be responsible for the planning, organisation, and management of the technical functions of the weightlifting and para powerlifting events at Paris 2024. The role will involve working closely with the Sport Manager to ensure that the sport competitions are organised in accordance with the technical rules of the IWF and World Para Powerlifting, respectively.  The role will also work closely with other functional areas and sport team members to provide sport-specific input related to the field of play; training venue; sport equipment; and timing scoring and results. For more details about the role, the required skills and attributes, and to apply please click

ATHLETES ELECTED TO INTERNATIONAL WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION (IWF) EXECUTIVE BOARD

The newly elected IWF Athletes’ Commission met online yesterday (January 11) to appoint three members to the IWF Executive Board. The three chosen representatives, who will remain in post until the next IWF electoral congress, are headed by Forrester Osei (Ghana), who is reappointed as Chair of the IWF Athletes’ Commission. He will be joined by Deputy Chair Hidilyn Diaz (Philippines), Olympic Champion in Tokyo 2020, and Luisa Peters (Cook Islands). The appointments set a new benchmark for athlete representation in international sport governance, with the three athlete representatives also serving as full voting members of the IWF Congress. It follows the first-ever elections for the IWF Athletes’ Commission, which took place alongside the IWF World Championships in Bogota, Colombia last month. Chair of the IWF Athletes’ Commission Forrester Osei said: “It’s a huge honour to be reappointed by my peers as Chair of the IWF Athletes’ Commission. I’m very excited to continue the work we’ve begun – for example, on the athlete scholarships project – with the benefit of even stronger representation on the IWF Executive Board alongside Hidilyn and Luisa. As athletes, we know we have a key role to play in shaping a positive future for our sport in the crucial months ahead.”   IWF President Mohammed Jalood said: “I am delighted to welcome Forrester, Hidilyn and Luisa to the IWF Executive Board. We look forward to working closely together as we seek to shape a new future for weightlifting, which places athletes at the centre of everything we do. As a Board, we have been clear that strengthening athlete representation in decision-making is a key stepping stone to greater accountability and progress in our