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IWF Development Program 2020

IWF continues to support its National and Regional Federations in 2020 as well. The IWF Development Program 2020 is now open, the Member Federations and Regional Federations can submit their applications until 28th February 2020. The documents are available here. In case of questions, please contact

Tokyo 2020 to Utilize Hydrogen for Games Cauldron and Relay Torch

The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) yesterday announced that for the first time in the history of the Games, hydrogen will be used to power both the Olympic and Paralympic Cauldrons in Tokyo and the Torch during part of its journey through Japan. During its preparations for the Games, Tokyo 2020 has consistently promoted energy conservation and the use of renewable energy with the aim of supporting the realization of a carbon-neutral society, embracing sustainability as one of its core principles. As part of this initiative, Tokyo 2020 has been investigating the use of hydrogen energy; hydrogen emits no CO2 when it is burned and is therefore expected to be a key weapon in the battle to achieve a low-carbon economy. Tokyo 2020 has already deployed about 500 hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles and will take its use of hydrogen one symbolic step further by this use of it as fuel for the Cauldron and the Torch. It will include hydrogen produced in a renewable energy sourced production facility in Namie-cho, Fukushima Prefecture, embodying it with further significance as a new energy for a future full of hope. These initiatives symbolise the overall effort being made to promote and practice sustainability in the preparations for and operation of the Tokyo 2020 Games. They will also help to convey to the world the progress towards recovery being made by the disaster-hit areas in the Tohoku

Roma 2020 starts today!

The 2020 World Cup in Roma kicks off today, 27th of January and will be ongoing until the 31st. The competition is available to watch live at the following link, the first session starts at 9.50 local time. WATCH LIVE To download the Startbook, click here. Good luck to all

IWF-IOC Solidarity coaching course in Albania

A 5-day IWF-IOC Solidarity Coaching course was held in Tirana, Albania. The successful theoretical and practical course was attended by 20 coaches from Albania and Kosovo. The keynote speaker was Tamas Feher. The theoretical and practical topics included principals of weightlifting training, anatomy, building strength, talent and selection for weightlifting, technical practices for beginners, training planning and much more. A 2 hours long Anti-Doping lesson was also presented. The participants took a 25-question exam, which was taken successfully by all the 20

IWF Acts Decisively to Restore Reputation

Doha, 22 January 2020; Meeting in Doha yesterday, an extraordinary meeting of the IWF Executive Board (EB) responded to allegations made by a television report that aired on Germany’s ARD, and acted decisively to restore the IWF’s reputation. A point-by-point analysis of the allegations was considered by the IWF Executive Board before it entered into comprehensive discussions and decided on a detailed plan of action. Consistent with the principle at the heart of the IWF’s successful and widely-welcomeds recent anti-doping reforms, the IWF will now convene a group of independent experts to assess the validity of the ARD allegations. This work is expected to be completed during a 90-day period, starting immediately. “The ARD’s allegations against the IWF in general and against me in particular are unfounded. They are not supported by the relevant documentation or by people involved in the relevant decisions. Consequently, I have no doubt that external experts will vindicate my commitment of nearly fifty years to develop the sport of weightlifting,” said IWF President Tamas Ajan. For the 90-day period, and consistent with the practice of good governance, IWF President Tamas Ajan has delegated a range of operational responsibilities to IWF Vice President Ursula Papandrea, who will temporarily serve alongside Ajan in an Acting President role. “Weightlifting has always been bigger than one man, and I am happy to have Ursula acting by my side me in a presidential capacity. The EB and I know that she will do a great job of ensuring that the validity of these allegations is examined and established in a way that is beyond criticism,” said Ajan. Papandrea will now head an ad hoc Oversight and Integrity Commission whose responsibilities will include identifying, nominating and recommending independent experts in fields including anti-doping and financial reporting. The experts will be appointed by the IWF EB. Serving alongside Papandrea on the commission will be fellow EB members H.E Marcus Stephen, Birendra Prasad Baishya and Karoliina Lundahl. The Oversight and Integrity Commission will also ensure the provision of an interim report to the meetings of the IWF Executive Board and IWF Congress, scheduled for Bucharest on March

Iranian refugee given £90 to find skill opens Olympic-level weightlifting club

When Koroush Valiseh was 16, he fled war-torn Iran with his family and found a home in West London. But Koroush took with him his native love for weightlifting and wrestling – the Iranian national sport. He settled into life in Ladbroke Grove but struggled to fit in. He was handed £90 by a charity to help develop a skill that would make life adjusting to the UK a bit easier. With the small sum, Koroush began training as a fitness instructor and sport became a huge part of his life. Over the next 25 years, Koroush, now 41, has built a career in sport and he represented Great Britain at the 2003 World University Championships in Italy. But seven years ago, he reached his goal of launching Westway Barbell Club – a weightlifting community that trains people from all walks of life and helps them reach their fitness goals – in a bid to help people like him. Some of his clients include those fleeing conflict in Afghanistan who, with Karoush’s help, have gone onto compete at the Olympics. Since the club started, hundreds of weightlifters have found like-minded fitness buddies but they’ve also built a community. Westway Barbell Club is also am Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) gym meaning they are equipped to support users with physical disabilities. ‘As a family, we had to make the decision between leaving and losing our lives,’ Koroush explained to MyLondon. ‘It was very difficult when we came to London but this community gave to me. ‘I knew I had to find people who experienced the pain that I have. I’ve trained students from Afghanistan who have lost everything. When you hear their pain it completely invalidates what I’ve been through. ‘That is what inspires me, to help better their lives in any way I can.’   The Westway Barbell Club also serves as a GP referral gym, which means they help people who need fitness support for health complications such as stroke and arthritis. Koroush also hopes to invite at-risk youth from the Kensington community and invite them to take up the sport. He added: ‘We want to give everyone in the community a home in this club. ‘We have students from all different backgrounds and challenges – refugees, people struggling with mental health, people who have overcome religious and cultural barriers. ‘We want the club to be accessible to everyone.’ You can find out more about the club via the Westway Barbell Facebook page.   Source: metro.co.uk