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Get to know the Tokyo 2020 Mascots

AFTER 2,042 ENTRIES, AND A VOTE INVOLVING PUPILS FROM 16,769 SCHOOLS, THE MASCOTS FOR THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020 HAVE BEEN REVEALED. The winning designs were officially unveiled on 28 February 2018 by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020), after elementary school pupils across Japan and at Japanese schools overseas chose their favourites from a shortlist of three sets of designs. The winning designs came from 43-year-old Ryo Taniguchi, a graphic designer from Fukuoka, in southern Japan. His characters – dark blue for the Olympic Games and cherry blossom pink for the Paralympic Games – strove to combine traditional values with a futuristic looks, encapsulating the “innovation from harmony” concept which is at the heart of the branding vision for Tokyo 2020. “THE CHILDREN SELECTED TWO MASCOTS THAT EMBODY BOTH ANCIENT TRADITION AND NEW INNOVATION.” Ryohei Miyata, CHAIR OF THE MASCOT SELECTION PANEL The Mascot Selection Panel will choose names for the winning mascots in the near future, before they make their official debut in July or August 2018. 205,755 classes at 16,769 schools took part in the vote, with the winning Design Set A receiving 109,041 votes. Design Set B attracted 61,423 votes and Design Set C received 35,291. INNOVATION FROM HARMONY “The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games finally have their mascots,” said Ryohei Miyata, chair of the Mascot Selection Panel. “I cannot wait to see these two characters coming to life in the stadiums, on the streets and on TV. The children selected two mascots that embody both ancient tradition and new innovation. “I believe this is an excellent choice since Tokyo 2020's branding vision is ‘Innovation from harmony’, which implies that innovation will occur when the old and the new of Tokyo and Japan come together.” The results were announced in front of around 600 children at one of the participating schools, Hoyonomori Gakuen School in Tokyo, and was live-streamed to allow children all over the country to share the moment and discover the winner in real time. GET SET FOR THE GAMES The mascot voting process was part of Tokyo 2020’s nationwide educational programme called “Yoi Don!" (“Get Set”), which sets out to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games into schools across Japan and allows students to participate in educational initiatives linked to the Games. By encouraging discussion of the mascots in classes, the voting process helped children learn about the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements. The winning mascots will also feature prominently on a new educational website (https://education.tokyo2020.org/) launched by Tokyo 2020 on 28 February, which is targeted specifically at children, students and teaching staff at schools across Japan. Initially in Japanese only (an English language version is due to be launched in March 2018), the site will feature interactive activities for children, including free online English lessons and news about the Tokyo 2020 Games, as well as Olympic and Paralympic educational materials for teachers. The overall aim will be to get schoolchildren involved with the Games, learning more about the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, and participating more in sport. Source:

Qualification List of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games

Qualification List of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games The Qualification List for weightlifting events of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games is published! Check it out by the following link. With the exception of Home Nation, athletes have qualified by name in accordance with the GC2018 Weightlifting Athlete Allocation System. The entries listed above are accurate as at 28 February 2018, and subject to operation of the Weightlifting Reallocation Policy where required. Details of selection for Home Nation can be found at CGA Australia Weightlifting. Any changes after the sport entries deadline and prior to the Weightlifting Technical Meeting would only be considered under the CGF Late Athlete Replacement

IWF Intercontinental Commission meets in Astana

Hosted by IWF Vice President Zhanat Tussupbekov, the IWF Intercontinental Commission's meeting took place in the country's capital, Astana. The IC is composed of the Presidents and General Secretaries of the Continental Federations and, last but not least, the President and General Secretary of the IWF. The Astana gathering was also attended by the IWF's 1st Vice President and the Director General. All 5 continents were represented - by President , General Secretary or both - in the 2-day IC meeting, the first one held separately, away from the combustion and tension of World Championships. As participants pointed out, the meeting chaired by IWF President Dr. Tamás Aján provided a unique opportunity and was fruitfully used to discuss issues of common interest, get updates from the IWF on items of particular concern to the Continental Federations. Unity, as key to progress and reinforcing the status of weightlifting on a global scale, was emphasized and, in general opinion, clearly manifest at the meeting. Inserted in the schedule, the IC members were honour guests at the Electoral Congress of the Weightlifting Federation of Kazakhstan, at which President Tussupbekov's mandate was reconfirmed for another 4-year term. Participants also paid a visit to the new, elegant and perfectly outfitted office of the IWF General Secretary, Mohammed Jalood and that was where they concluded their working

Tulio Hernán Martínez Leal passed away

We are very sad to announce that the former President of the Colombian Weightlifting Federation Mr.Tulio Hernán Martínez Leal died today after battling disease for a long time. Under his presidency, the Colombian Federation made huge progress, producing many medals at high level international competitions (including Olympic Games and World Championships) and Colombia organized the Junior World Championships in Cali, in 2008. He was a great leader who treated his athletes and his colleagues as part of his family. May he rest in

Oceania Stars to Battle for Glory at Australian Open

Weightlifters from eight countries across the Oceania region will gather in Brisbane this weekend for the 2018 Australian Open at the Sleeman Sports Complex – and the competition is set to be more ferocious than ever. With last year’s event having served as a qualifier for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which will take place in nearby Gold Coast in April, this year’s Australian Open will feature a series of competitors who have lofty ambitions, as well as many who have already established outstanding reputations on the international stage. Amongst the athletes coming from all corners of the host country, Cameroon-born Francois Etoundi, who has been selected to represent Australia at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, will compete in the men’s 77kg category. No fewer than 20 of the competitors will be teenagers, providing an exciting glimpse of the future, including Tasmanian Stephanie Pickrell, who will compete in the women’s 48kg division and has been tipped as an up-and-coming star after a series of impressive performances last year. However, the Australian athletes will need all the support they can get from the home fans, with several weightlifters with Olympic Games experience ready to challenge for places on the podium. Among them will be Jenly Wini, who was the flagbearer for her native Solomon Islands at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics and also competed at the Rio 2016 Games. She will be hoping for a repeat of her gold medal in the 58kg division at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby. Sisters Thelma and Dika Toua from Papua New Guinea will also present significant challenges to the home favourites in the women’s 48kg and 53kg categories, respectively. Thelma Toua won three gold medals at the 2015 Pacific Games, while Dika Toua picked up gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a record total lift for the event of 193kg. [caption id="attachment_21371" align="aligncenter" width="541"] Weightlifting sisters Thelma and Dika Toua. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Vinnie Wylie[/caption] In the men’s competition, it is also worth watching out for the 105kg division, which will feature two gold medal-winners from the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Dancing legend David Katoatau will be targeting further glory after winning Kiribati’s first ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 105kg division four years ago, while Steven Kari of Papua New Guinea has moved up from the 95kg category. Morea Baru will also harbour ambitions of bringing a medal home to Papua New Guinea in the men’s 62kg division, having finished sixth in his category at the Rio Olympics two years ago. However, Baru will be up against a number of tough rivals in a competitive division, including Fijian pair Poama Qaqa and Manueli Tulo. [caption id="attachment_21374" align="aligncenter" width="539"] Always putting on a show: Kiribati's David Katoatau[/caption] Qaqa won a gold medal in the Oceania Junior Championships and a bronze in the Oceania Senior Championships in Gold Coast back in September, while Tulo, a former Fiji Sportsman of the Year, claimed gold at the 2016 Australian Open before edging out Elson Brechtefeld and Australian Lynton Hargrave for top spot at the Oceania Championships last year. Hargrave and Brechtefeld are back again for this year’s Australian Open, with a mouth-watering competition in prospect. Remarkably, Brechtefeld will be one of five athletes representing the remote Republic of Nauru, the smallest state in the South Pacific and home to only 11,000 inhabitants, demonstrating the reach of a truly global sport. Keep up-to-date with the Australian Open via the Australian Weightlifting Federation's channels. Follow them on Facebook to learn more. -- Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING’s latest issue is out!

No.143 of WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING special issue on the 2017 IWF World Championships Anaheim, USA is out. Check it out the best moments and