News and Media

Archive from

SPORTFIVE becomes exclusive partner of the International Weightlifting Federation

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has assigned its international media rights for two upcoming World Championships to SPORTFIVE.    As IWF's exclusive partner, SPORTFIVE will distribute the media rights to the World Championships in 2022 and 2023, as well as to the Grand Prix in 2023 and the IWF World Cup in 2024. The cooperation marks a further step in a close collaboration between SPORTFIVE and the international weightlifting sport.  The cooperation with IWF enables SPORTFIVE to take another step towards marketing of major international weightlifting tournaments. Earlier this year, SPORTFIVE has signed a long-term agreement with the European Weightlifting Federation (EWF) for its flagship events – the senior European Championships. Tigran Sirunyan, Senior Vice President Media at SPORTFIVE said: "SPORTFIVE has extensive experience and proven track record in media rights distribution to major weightlifting events, and we are more than pleased with our new partnership with IWF. I am convinced that we will justify IWFs trust via contemporary distribution models, which will raise the profile and popularity of the world's best weightlifting competitions to a new level." “SPORTFIVE has extensive experience in media rights distribution [...] to major weightlifting events.”TIGRAN SIRUNYAN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT MEDIA AT SPORTFIVE Antonio Urso, IWF General Secretary said: “We are very happy open once again the cooperation with SPORTFIVE. In this process of growth of our sport and our image we needed to rely on professionals’ company who with their experience can contribute to a renewed image of world-class weightlifting. We are confident that this collaboration trough IWF and SPORTFIVE will bring undisputed advantages and moments of professional exchange useful for new visions of this important challenge.” “We are confident that this collaboration through IWF and SPORTFIVE will bring undisputed advantages.”ANTONIO URSO, IWF GENERAL SECRETARY ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATIONThe IWF is one of the oldest federations in the world, founded in 1905 and is responsible for managing, regulating and organizing weightlifting at an international and Olympic level. The IWF boasts the affiliation of 196 countries and is among the international federations with the greatest diffusion in the world.ABOUT SPORTFIVESPORTFIVE is a global sports marketing agency that delivers customer-centric solutions based on trust and transparency, deep industry experience and global relationships, digital intelligence and innovation. SPORTFIVE strategically and creatively connects brands, rightsholders, media platforms and fans to create and enable contemporary partnerships in sports.While creating and growing long-term value for all, SPORTFIVE often leads the sports business into the future through innovative digital solutions and strives to be the most progressive and respected partner in sports.Being at the centre of professional sport SPORTFIVE will use its unique position, in order to make a positive contribution to sustainability and to live up to the social and economic duty and responsibility, which sport and consequently all parties involved, also have.SPORTFIVE operates with a global mindset and network of over 1,200 local experts based in 15 countries around the world, active in Football, Golf, Esports, Motorsport, Handball, Tennis, American Football, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Rugby, Olympics and Multi-Sport Events and many more.Source:

IWF WELCOMES NEW SPORT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Evelin Gondos as its new Sport Development Manager. With an academic and professional background in Leadership, Management and International Relations, Evelin will work closely with the five Continental Federations, Member Federations, and external stakeholders to ensure the IWF’s operational activities align with objectives set out by the IWF Executive Board. A fluent English and Spanish speaker, Evelin brings experience from her previous role with FITEQ, where she served as continental development manager for the sport of Teqball in the Pan-American region. Antonio Urso, IWF Secretary-General said: “I am very happy to welcome Evelin to our staff. Her background and experience in building relationships internationally, and across a wide range of stakeholders, will be extremely valuable as we seek to implement the new priorities of the Executive Board throughout our worldwide

Antonio Urso, Secretary General of the IWF was awarded the highest honor conferred by CONI “the Golden Collar”

Antonio Urso, Secretary General of the IWF was awarded the highest honor conferred by CONI "the Golden Collar"He received the Golden Collar from the President of Coni Giovanni Malagò. The Ceremony took place at the Monumental Gym of the Foro Italico University of sport, in the presence of the highest Italian sporting leaders.The event was attended by the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò and the President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Luca Pancalli.CONI President Giovanni Malagò IOC Member underlined in his opening speech: "Never has Italy won so many titles in history, thanks to technical athletes and sports federations that contribute to increasing the value of Italian sport"A very special day therefore for the IWF Secretary General and FIPE President Antonio Urso who receives, in his already rich and vast palmares of awards and merits at national and international level, a recognition of such high and prestige that celebrates his tireless commitment, dedication and the results achieved both within the Italian Federation and in the international arena as well as in sport in general.Antonio Urso said: ”Today was a special day for me and for weightlifting. In Italy it is the first time that a gold collar has been recognized to a President of weightlifting and if I then think that just a few days ago the same recognition was given to the President of the IOC, I remain even more particularly grateful to the Italian Olympic Committee and to the its President Giovanni Malago for having valued all the great work done in these past years"Also on this occasion, as has already happened in previous years, in addition to the world champions of the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, the male and female athletes who boasted the world title in 2022 are awarded the prestigious award.Among the personalities awarded together with the IWF Secretary General Antonio Urso, the following received the recognition: Stefano Domenicali, President and managing director of the Formula One Group, the Federal Presidents Luciano Rossi, Ugo Claudio Matteoli and the world president of sports doctors, Fabio

In Memoriam Pekka Kare 1931–2022

Mr. Pekka Kare, the Honorary President of Finnish Weightlifting Federation, passed away in Siuntio, Finland,  after a short illness on November 8, 2022. He was born in Perojoki in the Viaborg municipality on April 14, 1931, and was 91 years old at the time of his death. War was present in Pekka’s early years. In the beginning of the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union in December 1939, when the Soviet Union bombed Viaborg, Pekka’s mother took Pekka and his two siblings away from the area. The father served in the Finnish army driving a fuel truck. After the war the family settled down in Valkeakoski in Finland where Pekka was active in founding a local weightlifting club. He moved to Helsinki to study law and in the early 1960s he became an attorney of law. Pekka’s younger brother Tauno Kare was one of the best weightlifters in Finland as he competed for Finland in over forty national competitions. As the little brother succeeded as a lifter, Pekka built his career as a sports official in leadership positions. When Pekka became the President of Finnish Weightlifting Federation, he told that he would follow in the footsteps of Mr. Bruno Nyberg, the Finn who was President of the International Weightlifting Federation in the 1950s. Mr. Nyberg had valued international work beyond political borders both nationally and internationally. Mr. Pekka Kare was elected into the IWF Executive Board in 1968. The next year he was a part of the delegation in Poland which founded the European Weightlifting Federation. Pekka served on the IWF Executive Board in 1968-1974 and again in the 1990s and he was a member of the European Weightlifting Federation Executive Board since it was founded in 1969 until 2003. At the Mexico City Olympic Games in 1968 Mr. Pekka Kare was the Team Leader of the Finnish weightlifting team. In these Games Mr. Kaarlo Kangasniemi became the first Finnish Olympic Champion and consequently the best ever Finnish weightlifter. Four years later Mr. Kare was elected as the Team Leader of the Finnish Olympic Team in München Olympic Games 1972. In those Games Finland had a full weightlifting team with a lifter in each bodyweight category - the only time it has ever happened at the Olympic Games. At the national level Pekka’s greatest acheivement was to secure the 1998 IWF World Championships to Lahti, Finland. He was the President of the Finnish Weightlifting Federation in 1967-1974 and 1980-1992, after which he was nominated the Honorary President of the Finnish Weightlifting Federation. Pekka was elected as Vice President to the Finnish Olympic Committee as well as the national sports organization (SVUL) which governed over all sports in Finland. Professionally Pekka worked at the CEO of Kvartto Inc., a printing house. Pekka’s memoirs were published only a half a year before his death. He will be missed by his children, grandchildren and relatives as well as a large circle of friends. They will miss Pekka as a reliable friend and a lover of poems and singing. Text by Kalle Virtapohja, a friend of Pekka and the writer of his memoirs.Translation by Karoliina