News

Commonwealth Games Federation update

New Vision, New President and the first ever Commonwealth Games on African Soil announced at the 2015 CGF General Assembly Auckland, New Zealand, 2 September 2015 The Commonwealth Sports Movement is assured of a strong and impactful future as key decisions were taken today, 2 September 2015, at the Commonwealth Games Federation’s General Assembly in Auckland, New Zealand. Decisions included the unanimous approval of Transformation 2022, the Commonwealth Games Federation’s ambitious new strategic plan, the election of a new President for 2015- 2019 and the appointment of the South African City of Durban as host of the XXII Commonwealth Games, heralding the first ever international multi-sport Games to take place on African soil. Transformation 2022 is a seven-year strategic plan that aspires to broaden the Federation’s focus from the four-year operational cycle of hosting Commonwealth Games to a more far-reaching role as a global movement – focused on partnerships, engagement and value generation - that unites athletes, citizens and communities. It includes proposals for a new sports programme of compulsory and optional sports, which now sees the number of compulsory sports at a Commonwealth Games increased from 10 to 16 - and the implementation of a sports quota system for 2022. The result of the approved changes to the sports programme creates a Compulsory Sports Programme for the 2022, 2026 and 2030 editions of the Commonwealth Games comprising: Aquatics (Swimming, inc Para Swimming); Athletics (inc Para Athletics); Badminton; Boxing (Men and Women); Cycling (Road); Gymnastics (Artistic); Hockey; Judo; Lawn Bowls (inc Para Lawn Bowls); Netball; Rugby Sevens (Men and Women); Squash, Table Tennis; Triathlon; Wrestling and Weightlifting (inc Para Powerlifting). And the introduction of a pool of Optional Sports/Disciplines comprising: Aquatics (Diving); Archery; Basketball (3x3); Cricket; Cycling (Track, Mountain Bike, Para); Gymnastics (Rhythmic); Shooting (Clay Target, Pistol, Full Bore, Small Bore); Para Table Tennis; Para Triathlon; Wheelchair Basketball (3x3); and Volleyball (Beach). Delegates received a final Candidate City Briefing from Durban, South Africa – including contributions from Alec Moemi, Director General for Sport and Recreation for the South African Government and Durban’s Mayor James Nxumalo - before the Federation’s 71 members voted to unanimously award the hosting rights to the XXII Commonwealth Games. Louise Martin CBE was elected to the post of President, the first female leader of the Commonwealth Games Federation. Elections were overseen by Honorary Legal Advisor Sharad Rao. The location of the Federation’s next gathering was also announced – with the Canadian City of Edmonton selected as host city of the 2016 General Assembly. Joining the newly-elected President will be Vice-Presidents Bruce Robertson (Canada) and Gideon Sam (South Africa) who were re-elected and Kereyn Smith (New Zealand) who joins them for the first time on the Executive Board for the 2015- 2019

Dato Ong Poh Eng elected as VP of Olympic Council of Malaysia

The Malaysian Weightlifting Federation is proud to  announce that its President Dato Ong Poh Eng had been elected as Vice President to the prestigious Olympic Council of Malaysia. IWF Vice President and also President of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation, Dato Ong Poh Eng is one of his country's most active sports executives and has already excelled as host to numerous important international weightlifting events, among them the 2011 IWF Junior World Championships. In 2016, he is again looking forward to welcoming the world's Youth weightlifters to his lovely home island, Penang, and in 2017 the same paradise will serve as the home of the IWF World

Rebekah Tiler named as flag bearer for Team England at Commonwealth Youth Games

Commonwealth Games England has announced that Rebekah Tiler will lead Team England out as the Official Flag Bearer at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa. Rebekah was voted by Team England’s designated sport Team Leaders to carry England’s flag into the Opening Ceremony on 5 September in Samoa’s capital city of Apia. Having competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Rebekah is widely regarded as one of England’s most exciting young talents and is currently the Women’s British record holder for the clean and jerk, having lifted 125kg earlier this month. She narrowly missed out on a medal in Glasgow last year when she finished fourth, but will be able to use her experience to lead Team England’s young athletes in Samoa. Rebekah, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, won silver at the World Youth Championships earlier this year and, more recently, gold in a record breaking performance at this month’s European Youth Championships, having previously won gold in 2013 and silver in 2014. Last year Rebekah also became Britain’s youngest ever winner of the British Senior Championships when she won gold in the 69kg class, lifting a total of 205kg. Source: British Weight

IOC releases Anti-Doping Rules for Rio de Janeiro 2016

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has released its Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro (Rio). All athletes competing in Rio will be subject to testing as outlined in the Anti-Doping Rules, which have been drafted in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods. The Rules will cover the period from the opening of the Olympic Village on 24 July 2016, until the day of the closing ceremony, 21 August 2016. During this period all athletes will be subject to doping controls initiated by the IOC at any time or place, with no advance notice required to be given. The IOC Anti-Doping Rules for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro can be found on WADA’s website as well as on the IOC website. Source WADA,

Passing away of Mr. Eddie Suarez

The whole IWF Family is deeply saddened to hear the tragical passing away of Mr. Eddie Suarez, General Secretary of the PAWF and member of the Weightlifting Federation of Venezuela. He was a great leader and a great man. His death is a great loss for our Family. We offer our deepest condolences to his Family. May He Rest In

Weightlifting might reverse bone loss in men

Nearly 2 million men in the United States have osteoporosis, a condition that makes bones weak and prone to breakage, and 16 million more have low bone mass. A new study suggests certain weight lifting exercises, like squats and deadlifts, might increase bone mass. “Weight-lifting programs exist to increase muscular strength, but less research has examined what happens to bones during these types of exercises,” says Pam Hinton, associate professor and the director of nutritional sciences graduate studies in the nutrition and exercise physiology department at University of Missouri. “Our study is the first to show that exercise-based interventions work to increase bone density in middle-aged men with low bone mass who are otherwise healthy. These exercises could be prescribed to reverse bone loss associated with aging.” SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT For the new study, published in the journal Bone, researchers looked at 38 physically active, middle-aged men who completed either a weight-lifting program or a jumping program for a year. Both programs required participants to complete 60-120 minutes of targeted exercises each week. The participants took calcium and vitamin D supplements throughout their training programs. Bone mass was measured at the beginning of the study and again at six and 12 months using specialized X-ray scans of the whole body, hip, and lumbar spine. Bone mass of the whole body and lumbar spine significantly increased after six months of completing the weight-lifting or jumping programs, and this increase was maintained at 12 months. Hip-bone density only increased among those who completed the weight-lifting program. SQUATS, DEADLIFTS, AND LUNGES The study results do not indicate that all kinds of weight lifting will help improve bone mass; rather, targeted exercises made the training programs effective.  “Only the bone experiencing the mechanical load is going to get stronger, so we specifically chose exercises that would load the hip and the spine, which is why we had participants do squats, deadlifts, lunges, and the overhead press,” Hinton says.  “Also, the intensity of the loading needs to increase over time to build strength. Both of the training programs gradually increased in intensity, and our participants also had rest weeks. Bones need to rest to continue to maximize the response.” DECLINING PAIN AND FATIGUE Throughout their training programs, participants rated pain and fatigue after completing their exercises. The participants reported minimal pain and fatigue, and these ratings decreased over the year. Individuals who want to use similar training programs to improve bone density should consider their current activity levels and exercise preferences as well as time and equipment constraints. “Individuals don’t typically have to know they have heart disease, high blood pressure, or prediabetes to start exercising—they do it as prevention,” Hinton says. “Similarly, individuals don’t have to know they have osteoporosis to start lifting weights. “The interventions we studied are effective, safe, and take 60-120 minutes per week to complete, which is feasible for most people. Also, the exercises can be done at home and require minimal exercise equipment, which adds to the ease of implementing and continuing these interventions.” The National Institutes of Health and the University of Missouri Research Board funded the work. Source: University of