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30 Years of Women’s Weightlifting

1983-2013 This Year Women’s Weightlifting marks its 30 years Anniversary. Considered as a big novelty at that time, Women showed great determination to participate in this sport, traditionally considered as masculine. Women wanted to compete and most of all they wanted equality. In 1983, the IWF Executive Board unanimously accepted to control Women’s Weightlifting and opened the way for female athletes in this sport. The first International Women’s Tournament was held in Budapest, Hungary on 23 March 1986. This was followed by World and Continental Championships of all age groups and finally in 2000 the big dream came true: Women’s Weightlifting was included in the Olympic program and made its debut in Sydney. Celebrating 30 Years of history eight ladies who have played an outstanding role in the making of Women’s Weightlifting received special award at a Ceremony held in Wroclaw. Judy Glenney (USA) – Started the Women’s Weightlifting movement Liu Chunhong (CHN) and Chen Yanqing (CHN) – The sports only 2 times Olympic Champions Celsa Alvarez (ESP) – First Women Technical Official Moira Lassen (CAN) – First Women elected to the IWF Executive Board Boossaba Yodbangtoey (THA) – IOC Women and Sport Award winner in 2013 Reiko Chinen (JPN) – Pioneer Female Technical Official Yang Su-Kuan (TPE) – Participant of the 1st Women’s World Championships in 1987 Irena Szewinska, IOC Member for Poland received a Certificate of Appreciation for having contributed to the IOC decision to accept Women Weightlifting for the Olympic Games. With the special recognition the IWF celebrates those incredible Women who contributed in Women’s Weightlifting’s

Olympic Medallists on stage

Women’s 53kg The 20 year old LI Yayun (CHN) Snatched 105kg at the Chinese National competition that finished just one month ago. She tried to break the Junior and Senior World Record in the Snatch here with 104kg, but couldn’t succeed. IOVU Cristina (AZE) wanted to challenge LI, and followed her closely. They lifted exactly the same weight in the Snatch: 100kg, in the Clean & Jerk: 121 and had the same Total: 221kg. Bronze Medallist at the London 2012 Olympic Games (a medal she won for Moldova), IOVU ended with 3 Silver while the Chinese LI Yayun grabbed the victory and the 3 Gold due to lighter bodyweight. With a Total of 203kg, which is 18kg less than the leaders, TANASAN Sopita (THA) was awarded the Bronze. Men’s 56kg - Battle of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Champions Less confident in the Snatch, London 2012 Olympic Champion OM Yun Chol (PRK) ended second with 3kg less than LONG Qingquan (CHN) Beijing 2008 Olympic Champion. After a first successful Clean & Jerk World, OM tried to break his own World Record of 169 kg – the only World Record within Men in 2013 – set in Pyongyang. He didn’t succeeded, however 162 was enough to win the Gold. With a Gold in the Snatch, and 2 Silver in the Clean & Jerk and Total, LONG said at the press conference: “The Chinese National Games ended only 1 month ago – with this result OM Yun Chol would rank 6th.” The Vietnamese Youth Olympic Champion from 2010 THACH Kim Tuan won 3 Bronze

First Education Seminar in Wroclaw

The IWF held an Education Seminar today at the Orbis Hotel. More than 60 participants from approximately 25 countries attended the high level Seminar with the professional lecturers. Dr. Michael Irani, IWF MC Chairman and Executive Board Member, Mr. Kyle Pierce, CRC Member and University professor, Mr. Attila Adamfi, IWF Competition Director, Dr. Monika Ungar, IWF Legal Counsel and Dr. Magdolna Trombitas, Junior Legal Counsel gave presentations at the Seminar. The main topics were related to Anti-Doping, Qualification for Rio 2016, nutritional supplements, ethical issues. The seminar was a great success, and the IWF will organize a second one on 23 October 2013 at the Orbis Hotel at 10:00. Come and join

One Snatch was enough

First competition day at the 2013 IWF World Championships in Wroclaw started with the crowning of TAN Yayun (CHN) in the Women’s 48kg bodyweight category. After 2 missed attempts on 84kg in the Snatch, the Chinese lifter finally managed to control the barbell at the third. Very confident, with her first attempt in the Clean & Jerk on 106kg, TAN secured her leading position. She came out for two other Clean & Jerk attempts, competing against herself and ended the competition with a Total of 199kg - 3 Gold Medals. London 2012 Olympic Bronze Medallist RYANG Chun Hwa (PRK) ended on the second place of the podium while 2009 and 2010 Pan American Champion VALENCIA HERNANDEZ CAROLINA (MEX) finished third. Medals were presented by Irena Szewinska IOC Member, Andrzej Krasnicki, Polish National Olympic Committee President and Joanna Mucha, Minister of

Executive Board meeting and decisions

To comply with the IWF Constitution, the Member Federations which govern sports other than weightlifting – powerlifting, bodybuilding or any other – shall separate their entities and form Member Federations exclusively governing the Olympic sport of weightlifting. The EB approved the Qualification System for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games based on the IOC principles and requirements and on the system successfully applied for previous Games. Mr. Sam Coffa, Chairman of the Technical Committee and Mr. Attila Ádámfi, Competition Director were appointed as Technical Delegates for the Rio 2016 OG. The Executive Board approved the members to the various IWF Commissions so that they can start their operation immediately. The Guidelines for the IWF Development Program were approved and the Board decided that the fund allocation for 2013 can be extended into 2014. A feedback and reporting system was confirmed and a database shall be established for further assistance and reference for Member, Regional and Continental Federations. The Members shall also receive help to resourcing other forms of support, i.e. Olympic Solidarity funds. The importance of the IWF Education Seminars was emphasized and Member Federations and delegations were called to make the participation compulsory for their athletes, coaches and team officials. The IWF Executive Board decided to further strenghen the sanction on Member Federations with three or more positive cases within a calendar year. It was decided that the financial sanction, imposed according to Articel 12.3 of the IWF ADP, shall be paid within 6 month from the decision of the EB. During which period the Member Federation is suspended from all weightlifting activities . In case the sanctioned federation is not able or not willing top pay the fine, the federation will be suspended from all weightlifting activities for the period determined under 12.31 A) to G) accordingly. Further team officials involved with the athletes and with the anti-doping rule violations as above, will be banned for up to two years in conjunction with the sanction imposed on the federation. The IWF is bringing weightlifting to a new level not only as a core Olympic sport but also as a clean sport around the world. We want to be proud of our lifters and follow the new slogan of our Anti-Doping Commission, Chaired by Dr. Patrick Schamasch, Do it Well and Let it Know!   The EB received and update on the IWF’s financial situation and the progress of the 2013 Budget and the Budget for 2014 was