News

Call for Nominations to the IWF Anti-Doping Commission (ADC)

The IWF has recently undertaken a robust process of structural reforms and governance review, with a view of fostering transparency, modernization and accountability on all fronts, while upholding the highest standards of good governance and financial integrity. As part of this process, the IWF Executive Board has formally decided to dismiss Members of IWF’s standing anti-doping commissions, with the aim of marking a new beginning and reinforcing the governance, independence and overall efficiency of the IWF’s anti-doping efforts. The IWF Executive Board has further decided to formally mandate the International Testing Agency (ITA) to conduct an independent review and assessment of all anti-doping Commissions, including revising their governance, mission, composition, terms of reference as well as proposing new – different – Members to be appointed to the Commissions. These bodies will be composed of independent experts in the field of anti-doping and/or sports law and will support ITA and IWF’s work in maintaining clean competitions and a healthy environment for all lifters. These bodies will be composed of independent experts in the field of anti-doping and/or sports law and will support ITA and IWF’s work in maintaining clean competitions and a healthy environment for all lifters. In this context, the IWF and ITA wish to provide all IWF Member Federations with an opportunity to nominate one (1) candidate to the IWF Anti-Doping Commission (ADC). The ADC will have an advisory role in the fight against doping and will support the IWF Executive Board in monitoring the IWF’s duties, while upholding the independence of the IWF Anti-Doping Programme as implemented in full autonomy by the ITA. The ADC will be composed of nine Members as per the following appointment process: five independent members (including one Chairperson) appointed by the IWF Executive Board upon direct proposal of the ITA; four members appointed by the IWF Executive Board upon proposal of the ITA among a pool of candidates nominated by IWF’s Member Federations. To be considered, all nominations must include the following and be forwarded by Friday, 14 August 2020, to the ITA at [email protected] : an updated curriculum vitae, which fully outlines the candidate’s experience and expertise; a cover letter of the candidate indicating why and how he/she would be suitable for the position. The candidates shall not be employed by the Member Federations of the IWF and shall be in a position to sit in the ADC in an independent manner using their skills and expertise in the sport in the best interest of weightlifting as a whole. Each Member of the ADC will have to declare past and current appointments in the sport of Weightlifting. The ITA will review the nominations independently and recommend the most suitable candidates to the IWF Executive Board for formal

Eleiko Email International Lifters Tournament

This past weekend - 24 and 25 July - the Oceania Weightlifting Federation (OWF) organized the Eleiko Email International Lifters Tournament on the original starting date of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Altogether 751 Athletes competed, 393 Male entries and 358 Female entries were received from 63 countries. The OWF provided a great opportunity to all lifters from around the world to help the individual athletes during the challenging time of the COVID-19 virus. "Keep the Dream Alive" the event's slogan was also built on this momentum. The OWF together with Eleiko made sure that the event was open to everyone who does weightlifting. Eleiko, the official partner of the event offered an Eleiko training bar with collars to all category winners. The International Weightlifting Federation congratulate all participant and winners, moreover thanks the OWF for the organization of such event during these difficult times. The official results of the Eleiko Email International Lifters Tournament can be found

The Pan American Weightlifting Federation – Hall of Fame 2020

The Pan American Weightlifting Federation (PAWF) unveiled the 2020 inductees to PAWF Hall of Fame. Drawn from the ranks of athletes, coaches, technical officials, and leaders, the inductees are true luminaries of the sport. The new members were nominated by their national federations, evaluated by the PAWF Hall of Fame Commission, and then presented to the PAWF Executive Board for consideration and approval.  After careful review, the PAWF Executive Board unanimously approved the Commission’s recommendation. These Hall of Fame inductees represent the best of the sport.  They have each in their own way contributed to the growth of weightlifting in the Americas and, through their achievements, transcended the sport itself. PAWF Hall of Fame 2020 - inductees: Leaders: MARCELINO DEL FRADE DIAZ - CUBA ROSALIO ALVARADO - MÉXICO JOSÉ HERRERA - VENEZUELA International Technical Officials: DAVID MONTERO - BRASIL CARLOS CUERVO PÉREZ - CUBA Athletes: HUMBERTO SELVETTI - ARGENTINA CHRISTINE GIRARD - CANADA MABEL MOSQUERA - COLOMBIA JUAN ROMERO - COLOMBIA DIEGO SALAZAR - COLOMBIA SERGIO ALVAREZ BOULET - CUBA PEDRO LUIS RODRIGUEZ DOLLET - CUBA PASTOR RODRIGUEZ LUIS - CUBA MARIO RICARDO VILLALOBO - CUBA JULIO ECHENIQUE GONZÁLEZ - CUBA FERNANDO AUGUSTO BERNA - CUBA SORAYA JIMÉNEZ - MEXICO Coaches: RAMÓN MADRIGAL FALCÓN - CUBA MANUEL SUÁREZ FERNANDEZ - CUBA ROLANDO LEIVA HIDALGO -

The IOC, the IPC and Airbnb announce summer festival of Olympian & Paralympian Online Experiences

With the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 postponed until 2021, the IOC, the IPC and Airbnb will bring the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics online with a curated programme of activities hosted by athletes for the first time in history. Bookings for the five-day event will open on 22 July, with more than 100 Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences offered by Naomi Osaka, Yusra Mardini, Rui Hachimura, Allyson Felix, Lex Gillette, and others. Fans who book will proudly support their heroes ahead of Tokyo 2020, as proceeds will provide valuable income to athlete hosts, now and beyond the festival, including some who are on the road to their Olympic and Paralympic dreams. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Worldwide Olympic Partner Airbnb are announcing a five-day summer festival featuring more than 100 Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences hosted virtually by some of the world’s best athletes. The festival of Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences will kick off on 24 July, when the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were originally scheduled to begin, and is an opportunity for athletes to generate income while they share their passion for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and their sport with guests. “The Olympic Games bring the whole world together and, whilst we will all have to wait one more year to celebrate in Tokyo, the Olympic flame continues to be the light at the end of the dark tunnel humankind is currently going through,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “It demonstrates that we are stronger together. This festival is a great platform to unite and inspire the world in the spirit of friendship and solidarity this summer. The IOC puts the athletes at the heart of the Olympic Movement and supports them at every stage of their journey. We are delighted to collaborate with Airbnb to provide innovative economic empowerment opportunities for Olympic and Paralympic athletes around the world.” Throughout the five days of programming across multiple time zones, the line-up will showcase a variety of interactive Online Experiences that guests can book on Airbnb from 22 July. Spectators can also watch select Online Experiences live or on replay on the Airbnb Olympic and Paralympic YouTube channels. While many hosts will continue to offer their activities after the event ends, like the art of reinvention with Olympian Simidele Adeagbo (skelton, Nigeria) and positive thinking with Paralympic hero Stephen Miller (athletics, Great Britain), several will be once-in-a-lifetime Online Experiences available exclusively during the festival*, like: 25 July: Build resilience to overcome obstacles with Yusra Mardini (swimming, IOC Refugee Olympic Team Rio 2016); learn about returning to sport after motherhood with Allyson Felix (athletics, USA); and work up a sweat in an inclusive session with Tatyana McFadden (athletics, USA) 26 July: Cook up a storm with legend Colin Jackson (athletics, Great Britain); join a scenic training ride with Jonny Brownlee (triathlon, Great Britain); discover velodrome secrets with Elia Viviani (track cycling, Italy) 27 July: Chat mind, body and spirit with Jackie Joyner-Kersee (athletics, USA); push through boundaries and level up in life with Meb Keflezighi (marathon, USA); get vulnerable to unlock greatness with Kerri Walsh Jennings (beach volleyball, USA); and Zumba beachside in paradise with Tom Hintnaus (athletics, Brazil) 28 July: Get a glimpse into quarantine training with two-time Grand Slam-winning Naomi Osaka (tennis, Japan); run, breathe and connect with sprinter Zhenye Xie (athletics, China); learn a Grand Slam-inspired training regime with Sania Mirza (tennis, India); and master perseverance with Pita Taufatofua (taekwondo and cross-country skiing, Tonga) 29 July: Fall in love with sneaker culture with Rui Hachimura (basketball, Japan); get up close and personal at home with Jordy Smith (surfing, South Africa); see beyond the boundaries of vision with blind champion Lex Gillette (athletics, USA) “At a time when it is difficult for people to gather and celebrate the exceptional performance of athletes, Airbnb is proud to host the summer festival, which is a new way to experience the Olympic and Paralympic spirit online,” said Airbnb Co-Founder Joe Gebbia. “Guests will be able to connect and interact with some of the most elite competitors within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, giving them even more reasons to cheer them on next year.” While the festival will give fans unprecedented global access to connect with athletes from over 20 countries and regions, all from the comfort of their homes, numerous Online Experiences in the line-up will also meaningfully promote: Economic opportunities for athletes: Just as Online Experiences were launched as a way for hosts to earn money during the global pandemic, Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences are a new platform to provide direct earning opportunities for athletes, underlining the efforts of the IOC, the IPC and Airbnb to support athletes, and to put them at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Resilience through adversity: Numerous athlete hosts will inspire perseverance through their Online Experiences, like Yusra Mardini, the Syrian swimmer who became a member of the first ever IOC Refugee Olympic Team in 2016 and whose story became known for saving 20 lives with her sister, including their own lives, during a treacherous journey from Syria to find safety in Europe, who will host a one-off workshop on resilience. Another inspiring option is co-hosted by Tegla Loroupe, Chef de Mission for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, and Rio 2016 Olympian, IOC Refugee Olympic Team hopeful for Tokyo 2020 James Chiengjiek Nyang, as they will welcome guests will transport guests virtually to the Tegla Loroupe Training Centre in Kenya. Tegla has been the guide and mentor to the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. Learn more about the IOC Refugee Olympic Team here. The world-class hospitality of Japan: In addition to the Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences, and as a way to celebrate Tokyo 2020, local hosts in Japan will offer guests a way to travel the country and explore its cultures and traditions from their living rooms. Through support from Shibuya City Tourism Association, local hosts will lead a package of unique online activities like Become a Ramen Expert and A Tour of Historic Shibuya. Other ways to be virtually transported to Japan will include Sake Secrets from Japan's Oldest Brewery and Explore Kyoto Where Unique Old Gods Live. "Paralympians and Para athletes are masters of innovation and finding creative solutions to daily challenges they face,” said IPC President Andrew Parsons. "The summer festival of Olympian and Paralympian Online Experiences celebrates this tenacity and gives Para athletes a platform to share their stories to empower others, while also offering a new earning opportunity especially needed during these difficult times." For more information on the summer festival line-up, visit airbnb.com/festival. If fans miss the chance to participate in the five-day event, many athletes will continue to host their Experiences – both online and in person in countries where it’s safe and permissible to do so – with even more to be added to Airbnb in the coming months and years. Olympic and Paralympic athletes who are interested in sharing their passions with guests to earn supplemental income can learn more and sign up to become a host here Source:

IWF Athletes’ Commission Nomination Process

IWF is opening up the nomination process for its Athletes' Commission. In order to fulfill the IWF Constitution and By-laws, the IWF has the responsibility to give athletes a voice in its governance and decision making process, as athletes are the building blocks of the sport itself. The Athletes’ Commission will provide the voice and view of the athlete to each of the current standing committees and commissions. Additionally, they will be solicited for agreement by a majority on all reform and governance documents, and qualification documents created between now and the subsequent election. Term of the position: From 1st September 2020 until after the scheduled dates of the Tokyo 2020 (1) Olympic Games. Nomination process: Athletes have the possibility to nominate themselves, can be nominated by a fellow Athlete or by their National Federation; Athlete candidates must be in good standing relationships with their member federation and receive their federation’s endorsement. Eligibility criteria: Athlete must be at least 18 years of age at time of application; Clean Anti-Doping record/No ongoing Result Management case against the Athlete; Athlete must have represented their member federation in ONE of the following: 2012 and / or 2016 Olympic Games, 2014 and / or 2018 Youth Olympic Games 2016 to 2019 Youth, Junior, or Senior World Championships 2016 to 2018 Continental Championships or Games The working language of the IWF is English and the candidates must have a minimum of a conversational capability Please send the nomination forms and letter of interest to [email protected] latest by 12 August 2020. Further information on the nomination process and the form itself can be found

IWF Events Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic – IWF Competition Calendar 2020 Update

After the cancellation and postponement of many IWF events in the first part of the year, sadly it has been announced by the corresponding Organizing Committees that more IWF Events shall be cancelled or postponed due to the virus. Please find the list of IWF Events affected by the virus: September African Junior and Youth Championships – POSTPONED New date: 05-11 December 2020 October South American, Ibero-American & OPEN Senior Championships – POSTPONED New date: 12-19 December 2020 FISU World University Championships – CANCELLED Pan-American Junior Championships – POSTPONED New date: 21-29 November 2020 In case there are further changes in the calendar, the IWF Member Federations will be notified