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Heavy lifting finally completed as IWF overwhelmingly passes new weightlifting constitution

Pyrros Dimas tells Around the Rings “I see happy faces, happy people and I hope everything will be the same from here to the future.”   The International Weightlifting Federation overwhelmingly approves a new constitution just days before the IOC Executive Board is to meet about the future of the sport in the Olympics. The vote came on Sunday at a second IWF Constitutional Congress being held in Doha, Qatar. The first one in late June ended with no agreement.   Pyrros Dimas, the legendary Greek weightlifter who is a member of the IWF Executive Board, tells Around the Rings “we’ve voted with 93.3 percent, a huge percentage, this is for me a victory for our sport. I was very worried before I came here but I see people who support our sport and they decide to keep our sport in the Olympics”. When asked if the new constitution would pass muster with the IOC, Dimas says “”I think yes because we did what the IOC wants. And we have nothing to be afraid about that.” The IOC Executive Board is scheduled to meet on Sept. 8. At the last IOC Session in Tokyo, the EB was given powers to suspend a federation from participating in an Olympics. The IOC has repeatedly warned the IWF that the sport could lose its place at Paris 2024 if specific criteria for internal governance reform and anti-doping measures weren’t implemented in a new constitution. While the 156-page constitution has been approved, there are five amendments to the document that still need to be discussed and decided. This effort will likely run into Monday. After the amendments are handled, the IWF Executive Board is scheduled to meet to discuss specifics including when and where the delayed Electoral Congress will be held. Dimas says that after the EB meeting is completed, the IWF will publish the new constitution in its entirety. But he says the hardest part of the process – the approval of the new constitution – has been accomplished. “I’m seeing all this, what’s happened today here very positive and I see happy faces, happy people and I hope everything will be the same from here to the future.” Source: Gerard Farek - Around the

Jacques Rogge (1942-2021)

It is with great sadness that we heard of the passing of former IOC President, Jacques Rogge.   He was a remarkable sportman who dedicated his life to the Olympic Movement.   IWF sends its condolences for this remarkable loss to his family and loved ones, furthermore to the Olympic Family.

IWF Embraces Better Governance, Adopts New Constitution

Doha, 29 August 2021; During the General meeting today in Doha, the Member Federations of the International Weightlifting Federation voted overwhelmingly to adopt a new, independently-drafted Constitution, that will radically overhaul the IWF’s governance. Of 133 Member Federations represented at the meeting, more than 2/3 voted in favour of the new measures. “It was only in October of last year that the IWF was able to come to consensus around appointing independent members to the Reform and Governance Commission (RGC), a critical step in putting the problems of the past behind us,” said IWF Interim President Dr Michael Irani. “To have adopted an entirely new Constitution after widespread consultation, and in just 10 months during the pandemic, is a real demonstration of the IWF’s determination to move towards a brighter future that is based on solid foundations.” The new Constitution will establish vital principles including athlete representation, gender equality and independent oversight. No fewer than three athlete representatives will serve on the reformed IWF Executive Board, while at least 30% of elected positions will be filled by women. Ethics and discipline issues will be handled independently of the IWF Executive Board, building on interim arrangements that had already been put in place in recent months. Robust eligibility criteria and term limits will ensure that the future IWF Executive Board benefits from a regular influx of new talents and will notably deprive National Federations with a high number of doping cases will not have access to board-level representation. “On behalf of the entire IWF, I would like to sincerely thank all those involved in the creation and refinement of this new constitution,” continued Dr Irani. “Darren Kane, the RGC’s independent chair was tireless in his efforts as were the other independent and IWF members. We are grateful to the ITA, to WADA, to ASOIF and to the IOC for their guidance and of course to our National Federations for having the courage to take this bold step.” Implementing the provisions of the new constitution, the IWF will now move to fresh elections for its Executive Board as soon as is practicable.” The final Constitution will be sent to the Member Federations in the upcoming

IWF EB Approves Draft Constitution Ahead of Key Congress

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) today circulated a revised version of its proposed Constitution with a view to securing approval for it at the forthcoming resumption of the IWF's Constitution Reform Congress on 29 August in Doha. The draft Constitution was approved by the Reform and Governance Commission on 13 August and by the IWF Executive Board on 15 August. "After the IWF's Member Federations approved the Constitution in principle during the first part of our Constitution Reform Congress, the IWF is grateful to the independent experts and others in the Reform and Governance Commission, under the leadership of Darren Kane, for taking the time to make the revisions necessary to ensure the Constitution can achieve the required two thirds majority when we reconvene," said IWF Interim President Dr Michael Irani. "This version also reflects lengthy discussions on our future governance before and even during the weightlifting competitions of Tokyo 2020 aimed at achieving consensus." Revisions to the draft Constitution, which can be found here, include increased women's representation on the future IWF Executive Board and increased representation for athletes. Considering the importance of athlete representation, there will also be a voting presence for athletes within the Congress. "Taken together, the provisions of this new Constitution represent a very significant improvement in the IWF's governance, an improvement that would see the IWF ranked more favourably in the ASOIF governance survey alongside our Olympic counterparts," continued Dr Irani. "The IWF urges its member federations to examine the document carefully and to come to Doha fully prepared to make the changes required to ensure weightlifting's Olympic

TALAKHADZE Makes History in Dramatic Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Conclusion

The weightlifting competition at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 came to a dramatic, spectacular conclusion Wednesday as TALAKHADZE Lasha shattered World Records en route to his second consecutive Olympic Gold medal in the men’s +109kg category. “I feel very happy about it. It was a long training period during this pandemic. I had a great dream and excitement to win the gold medal again (after Rio 2016). That dream came true again,” TALAKHADZE said. In the snatch, TALAKHADZE opened successfully at 208kg, 4kg over the Olympic Standard. He then lifted 215kg for a new Olympic record before hitting 223kg snatch on his third attempt, setting new World, Olympic and European continental records.  In the clean & jerk, took the final three attempts of these Olympic Games in succession. TALAKHADZE opened successfully at 245kg, giving him an Olympic Record total of 468kg. He made his second attempt, 255kg, setting new Olympic Records in the clean & jerk and total (478kg.) For his final attempt, TALAKHADZE hit a World, Olympic and European continental record 265kg lift, capping a perfect six-for-six performance. Like his snatch and clean & jerk, TALAKHADZE’s 488kg total set new World, Olympic an European continental records. He beat his competition by an impressive 47kg. “Each of my opponents are strong opponents, my achievements look high, but they are all just opponents which are well valued and appreciated by me. My major thought (during competition) is that I want to win myself,” TALAKHADZE said. DAVOUDI Ali gave IRI its first silver medal of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with a 441kg total. “I am very happy. It’s been my pursuit since childhood and I’ve been working hard. I congratulate the Iranian people and I am happy that during this quarantine I can make them happy. I am hoping next time I can get them gold,” DAVOUDI said. Rounding out the podium was ASAAD Man, SYR, who took home bronze with a 424kg total. “This is the biggest sporting event in the world and the medal means a lot to me and my country Syria. This is a result of hard work, a lot of exercise, I gift it to my coach and all of the team. My feelings are very high right now,” ASSAD said. In all, 42 athletes from 24 National Olympic Committees took home medals in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games weightlifting competition. CHN topped the medal table with eight medals, seven of them gold, and one silver. ECU will be taking home two medals, including one gold. GEO and TPE tied for third with each nation winning one gold medal and one bronze.  As the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 draws to a close, the International Weightlifting Federation wishes to thank the athletes, coaches, technical officials, volunteers and everyone who helped make the competition a great

UZB Claims Gold in 109kg Nailbiter

Tuesday night DJURAEV Akbar became Uzbekistan’s second man ever to win Olympic Weightlifting gold after taking the top spot on the podium in the 109kg category at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.  Putting up an Olympic Record clean & jerk of 237kg on his final attempt, his 430kg total gave him another Olympic Record and the title Olympic Champion. “I didn’t think I could get these records and this medal, so I'm very confused right now. It's not only my medal, it is Uzbekistan’s medal, and I’m giving it for the 30-year anniversary of Uzbekistan’s declaration of independence,” DJURAEV said. DJURAEV follows fellow Uzbeki athlete NURUDINOV Ruslan as their nation’s only gold medalists in Olympic Weightlifting. NURUDINOV claimed gold in the men's 105kg at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. Despite taking a 2kg lead into the clean & jerks following his Olympic Record snatch of 195kg, MARTIROSYAN Simon of Armenia had to settle for the silver medal. He took two attempts at 238kg to try and win gold, but ultimately came up short. PLESNIEKS Arturs of Latvia is his nation's second athlete to ever medal in Weightlifting at an Olympic Games. His 410kg total earned him the bronze medal. “This medal means 20 years of effort. I have many medals from juniors, from world competitions but this is my first medal from the Olympics, and I’m very happy to have it,” PLESNIEKS said. Fellow countryman SCERBATIS Viktors claimed two medals in the men's +105kg event, silver at the 2004 Games in Athens and bronze at the 2008 games in Beijing.  Wednesday marks the final day of Weightlifting at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Lifting begins at 1:50PM with the men’s +109kg B session. In the final session of the Games, the men’s +109kg A group, TALAKHADZE Lasha of Georgia looks to improve on his World Records and win a gold medal in his second consecutive Olympic Games. The final session lifts off at 7:50PM