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IWF Executive Board meeting and Congress in Las Vegas

The first Executive Board meeting and Congress of 2019 were held in Las Vegas, USA prior to the Youth World Championships, 5-8 March. Executive Board Meeting The Board agreed to launch an IWF Strategic Plan 2020 - 2024 to strengthen the IWF's position in the global sport environment and the Olympic Movement. Its elaboration will be preceded by a wide consultation with Member Federations and other members of the weightlifting family to achieve an athlete centred, sport focused concept. The EB welcomed the IOC initiatiave of a Refugee team for Tokyo 2020. It set the task of outlining the concept of Refugee athlete. The Executive Board also allocated upcoming IWF World Championships. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia was appointed as the host of the 2021 Junior World Championships. This event will be of historic significance of more than one point of view: it will be the first World Championship and certainly the first to include women is Saud Arabia.  Tashkent, Uzbekistan - host of several recent World Championships - was voted as host of the 2021 IWF Youth World Championships. With respect to Thailand's multiple AAF's and their potential consequences that seriously damage the integrity of the sport, Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association (TAWA) undertakes not to participate at any IWF events, including the Qualification Events and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.  The IWF Executive Board acknowledged TAWA's undertaking. TAWA still continues to fulfil its obligation and will deliver the organisation of the 2019 IWF World Championships despite the fact that no Thai athletes will be entitled to participate. Congress Congress delegates received reports of Committees and Executive Board. A new member was entered into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: Ing. Miguel Nino from Nicaragua was honoured for his lifetime devotion and contributions to weightlifting. His condition not permitting personal appearance, the recognition was taken over by his son. Mr Jose Quinones, IWF Vice President and Chairman of the Development and Education Commission gave a report on the 2019 IWF Development Program and Olympic Solidarity. The Financial Report was also presented to the Congress by Alain Siegrist and the delegates approved the KPMG Auditor’s Report for the year 2018 and the IWF Budget Status Report for 2019. Finally, an election of Technical Committee Member was held to replace Mr Aleksandr Kurlovich, who passed away last April. From five candidates, Mr Pedro Sanchez (AUS) recieved the highest number of votes, 37 from a total of 59 countries present and voting. Delegates received reports on the preparation of future events and three sponsors of the IWF, Eleiko, UESAKA and

IWF Committee Meetings in Las Vegas

After the joint meeting, all 3 IWF Committees held their meetings prior to the 2019 IWF Youth World Championships Las Vegas, USA to kick off on 8 March. Technical Committee First, the new Video Playback Technology was introduced to the Technical Committee Members. Teaming up with Dartfish, IWF will be able to use the new technology to clarify controversial decisions and undertake medical and coaching researches. The 2019 IWF Youth World Championships will be the first occasion to record and archive the lifts of athletes. Next on agenda was the ITO Appointment Policy modification. A proposal was accepted, explaining that TC should encourage athletes’ further participation in World Championships, prepare for athletes’ pathway for being ITOs and enforce TC’s more involvement into the process of TO Selection and allocation. The Members also discussed some remaining item from the Ashgabat meeting, such as Technical Officials training, examination, selection, location, and evaluation. Last but not least, the Members agreed on the 4-year plan.   Coaching and Research Committee The Coaching and Research Committee had several topics on its Agenda for the meeting in Las Vegas. First, the IWF Female Train the Trainers Course, held in February 2019 was evaluated and the next steps were decided such as focusing on updating the web material. CRC agreed on the guidelines on appointing presenters for IWF Coaching Courses. The Members discussed the new IWF Technical Rules and impact on the sport, especially the newly introduced video playback. There was a discussion about the E-learning platform for Coaches to be introduced in 2019. Several alternatives have been examined and the new platform is planned to be presented at the Senior World Championships. IWF wishes to launch a Coaches' Corner on its website where anyone with a passion for Olympic weightlifting can learn and share knowledge. Publication guidelines will be created to facilitate the submission of articles. Medical Committee The IWF Medical Committee had a fruitful meeting in Las Vegas, concentrating on the key points of the 4-year work plan. The Chairman, Dr. Michael Irani and the MC Members discussed the updates of the Transgender topic regarding Caster Semanya and Dutee Chand vs. IAAF case, which may affect the Transgender Guideline of the International Olympic Committee. The other focus point of the meeting was -  also important elements of the 4-year plan -  the research projects of the Members. Several projects were presented and discussed by the Medical Committee Members, such as: Hip – Waist – Girth - for which data will be collected at the Youth World Championships; Hip problems of the Athletes; Sport Specialization in Elite USA Weightlifting Athletes; Mental health of the Athlete. Follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Lidia Valentin recieved her Olympic gold medal

On 1 March Lidia Valentin received her well deserved Olympic gold medal at the Spanish Olympic Committee in Madrid. The Spanish superstar originally finished in fourth place at the 2012 London Olympic Games and has recently been upgraded to the rank of Olympic Champion. Accompanied by authorities, family, technical team, training partners and a multitude of press, Lidia was protagonist of the event since she entered the auditorium of the Spanish Olympic Committee with Mr. Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee , Dr Tamas Ajan, President of the International Weightlifting Federation and IOC Honorary Member, Ms. Marisol Casado, member of the International Olympic Committee and Mr. Constantino Iglesias, President of the Spanish Weightlifting Federation. Unprecedented among female weightlifters, Lidia Valentin is now three times Olympic medal winner (having already collected a bronze from Beijing 2008 and a silver from Rio de Janeiro 2016. At the ceremony, Mr. Alejandro Blanco highlighted the role of Dr Tamas Ajan and the IWF in serving justice to clean athletes such as Lidia Valentin. Later the IWF President added emotional words about the outstanding Spanish athlete, highlighting her carrier and called her a global role model for the weightlifting sport. In her concluding words Lidia expressed her gratitude to the Spanish Olympic Committee and the IWF. Lastly, she thanked her coaches, technical team and, most importantly, her family, who supported her all these years. Both the athlete and the Spanish Olympic Committee are also very proud of the 2018 Lifter of the Year title, which Lidia won in two consecutive years. Follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter

iLiftCLEAN On The Move As World’s Young Weightlifters Head to Vegas

The world’s best young weightlifters are making their final preparations for the IWF Youth World Championships, encouraged by the IWF to successfully complete the iLiftCLEAN E-learning course. More than 200, 13-17 year old athletes are expected to compete from nearly 50 countries from all 5 Continents – forming the core of weightlifting’s next generation. “Education is a vital component of our anti-doping work at the IWF. We understand that for it to be most effective, we should start early in the development of young weightlifters,” said IWF President Tamas Ajan. “The iLiftCLEAN programme is one that we have developed with many knowledgeable partners, including USADA and WADA, and one that we are applying universally to make sure that the culture change we have already brought about in weightlifting is permanent and universal.” For the completion of the iLiftCLEAN E-learning programme 80% or higher need to be completed in the final 3- minute test for athletes All participating athletes may complete the test before or during the championships. Online course materials include three videos about whereabouts obligations of the athlete, the Doping Control process and the rules related to Therapeutic Use Exemptions for medicines. Already available in English, Spanish, Russian and Arabic. As a long term goal the IWF aims to include further language options at the E-learning platform. For this reason the Japanese language version of the material has now also been rolled out, with a view to ensuring host country weightlifters are well informed ahead of Tokyo 2020. Furthermore IWF is working closely with the Japan Anti-Doping Agency on the IWF’s anti-doping education materials as JADA is considered as potential NADO partner because of the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games. Further iLiftCLEAN activities at the Youth World Championships will follow, building on those already welcomed at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games. These are set to include anti-doping seminars and an outreach booth where the young athletes, their support personnel and parents will all have the chance to win prizes by testing their knowledge in a playful way with an anti-doping quiz available in 14 languages “The field for the Youth World Championships includes six athletes with podium placings from the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games and we expect to see many of the young athletes in Las Vegas go on to long and successful careers at the top of our sport,” continued Ajan. “It is our sincere hope that with a position among the best-educated athletes in the world when it comes to anti-doping, they will go on to share their knowledge with their peers and in turn influence the generations to follow.” “To be effective in promoting clean sport, the global anti-doping model needs effective education to help ensure that athletes make informed choices at every step of their career,” commented IWF Director General Attila Adamfi. “From learning about checking supplements and medications to how to provide whereabouts information, clean athletes can easily and conveniently make learning a priority within their training thanks to programmes like iLiftCLEAN.” The IWF Youth World Championships in Las Vegas will run 8-15 March. Follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter

IWF World Cup concluded in Fuzhou

The IWF World Cup in Fuzhou, CHN has successfully concluded in Fujian Province, China. The city returned to the circulation of international weightlifting after the IWF Grand Prix in 2015. The 2019 IWF World Cup turned out just as magnificent as the Grand Prix four years ago. The Organizing Committee, under the professional leadership of Mr. Zhou Jinqiang, Chinese Weightlifting Association President, did an outstanding job, worthy of the high standard of weightlifters competing. Being a Silver event, an important milestone in the Olympic Qualification for 2020 Tokyo, participants arrived the World Cup from 16 countries of 3 continents to compete for serious money prices. Mr. Zhou confirmed they have the intention to organize a second IWF World Cup still in 2019. The event was held in a modern, impressive sports center. The Fujian Training Center, which opened four years ago thanks to the efforts of former national team head coach Chen Wenbin, with more than 50 training stations, residential blocks for a large team of coaches and athletes from Fujian province, offices and other sport facilities, provided excellent opportunities for the weightlifters. Chinese weightlifters collected 31 gold medals breaking 15 World Records (Junior and Senior), taking the lead on the Medals table. Deng Wei lived up to her fame as one of the world’s best - and most popular - weightlifters with three world records in only four lifts as she won the women’s 64 kilograms. Deng, a local hero broke her own World Records in the Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total. As a surprise, the women's super-heavyweight world champion Tatiana Kashirina suffered her first defeat since 2012 and finished third behind two Chinese lifters, the World Championships runner-up Meng Suping and the outstanding teenager Li Wemwen, who was making her first international appearance. You can read all the results here! Source: Brian Oliver, Inside the Games Photo credit: xinhuanet.com Follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter

2019 IWF Youth World Championships Entry List and Preview

The IWF Youth World Championships is organized for the 8th time this year, from 8th to 15th of March in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The 13-17-year-olds had their first World Championships in 2009, and it is organized year by year ever since, except for the Youth Olympic Games years. Since the last Youth Worlds in 2017, many of the young athletes grew into the Junior age group, therefore we expect to see many new Youth World Champions in Vegas. The Entry List lines up more than 200 participants from nearly 50 countries, including 6 athletes who stood on the podium at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. Even an Olympic Champion will compete for the World Champion title in Las Vegas: FAYZULLAEVA Kumushkhon. The 2002 born Uzbek won Gold in the 63kg bodyweight category in Buenos Aires. As of the young women, Turkish NARIN Dilara in +63kg and Egyptian SAID Neama Said Fahmi in 58kg bodyweight category represents the YOG silver medallists. 3 YOG Bronze Medallists are also heading to Las Vegas: 48kg category CAMBEI Mihaela-Valentina (ROU) and 44kg category KARASAKAL Nida (TUR) in women, also Bronze medallist in men’s 85kg ALOTHMAN Ali Yousef (KSA). In the history of Youth World Championships, lifters competed in 7-7 bodyweight categories up until 2016, 8-8 categories from 2017, and this time in Las Vegas, for the first time ever in 10-10 categories. While at the Youth Olympic Games athletes only get medals for their Total results, in Youth World Championships they are also rewarded for their Snatch and Clean and Jerk results. You can read the full ENTRY LIST here!  All Athletes participating in the 2019 IWF Youth Championships will need to have successfully completed the iLiftCLEAN E-learning Course before or during the Event. On this e-learning platform, athletes can watch 3 videos about Whereabouts obligation of the Athlete, Doping Control Process and Rules of Therapeutic Use Exemption. To successfully complete the iLiftCLEAN course,  athletes need to take the final test at the end of the course and obtain a final score of at least 80%. The course is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Arabic language. It will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Certificates will be valid for one year after the day of completion. There also will be Anti-Doping Education Seminars and an Anti-Doping iLiftCLEAN Booth at the Event where Athletes, their support personnel and parents will be invited to take on an Anti-Doping Quiz and will have a chance to win prizes.   The seminars will take place on the following days: 9th March 2019 Dr. Kyle Pierce, CRC member - Nutrition/Olympism Dr. Lilla Sagi, Legal Counsel, Reka Foldesi, Anti-Doping Coordinator – Useful Anti-Doping Information for Athletes 12th March 2019 Tammy Hanson, USADA - Anti-Doping, Whereabouts Kevin Farley, Kelsey Kennedy, USAWL - Social Media in Weightlifting   Follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter