News

IWF President Dr. Tamas Ajan hosted by new FISU President for dinner

The IWF President Dr. Tamás Aján arrived today in Shenzhen as a FISU Guest of Honour to the 2011 Universiade. His presence underlines the importance the IWF attaches to these Games and to weightlifting at the university level. As a welcome to the IWF President to the Universiade, just elected new President of FISU, Mr. Claude-Louis Gallien hosted Dr. Aján and IWF General Secretary Mr. Ma Wenguang for a gala dinner, on the eve of the Opening

24 sports awaited in Shenzhen with superb, Olympic-style facilities

The 1st Meeting of the Technical Committee (CT) Chairs of the 24 sports on the 2011 Universiade program held today at the FISU headquarters hotel, the Wuzhou Guest House confirmed that  Shenzhen was awaiting the Universiade participants with top-level venues and ultramodern facilities. Universiade delegations from 147 countries are now gradually occupying the Athletes Village: they will be 10,895 in total number of which 7,485 are competitors. 29,000 volunteers - mainly University students - are helping the Organising Committee. Weightlifting was represented at the meeting by CT Chair Anikó Németh-Móra and Technical Delegate Attila Ádámfi. The whole city of Shenzhen is decorated with flowers and banners; 5 new metro lines were opened and countless competition, training and other venues completed for the 2011 Universiade which no doubt enjoys Olympic-level and Olympic-style organisation, infrastructure and hospitality services.  As Ms. Móra expressed at the meeting: weightlifting is grateful to FISU and the 2011 Shenzhen OC for being on the Games program and expects to make a strong impact with a high number of lifters and nations

Anglo-Chinese cooperation in pre-Olympic preparations

Coordinated by the Anglo-Chinese Sports & Cultural Association and the Welsh Assembly Government, the Welsh Weightlifting Federation has welcomed the Chinese National team to Bangor University, where the squad is presenting undertaking in a pre-Olympic Games training camp. Comprising of 43 team members including Beijing 2008 Olympic Champions, Long Qingquan, Lu Yong and Zhang Xiangxiang, the Chinese delegation were formally received to Northern Wales on 05 August 2011 by the Mayor of Bangor, John Montgomery, David Wyn Evans, Head of Wales Pre Games Training and Ray Willams, General Secretary, Welsh Weightlifting Federation. ‘Not only does hosting the world's strongest team provide inspiration to Welsh athletes, their presence alone is also a demonstration to the Weightlifting family that Welsh Weightlifting is able to offer World Class facilities to visiting teams' said Mr. Williams. As part of their programme, the Chinese delegation also received a progress report from Matthew Curtain, London 2012 Weightlifting

FISU General Assembly Elects New President

Today, August 9th, the FISU Member Associations elected a new Executive Committee at the 32nd General Assembly in Shenzhen, China. The board will be chaired by the French Claude-Louis Gallien, former 1st Vice-President of the Federation. The former French University Hammer Throwing Champion won the election against incumbent George Killian (USA) with 76 votes to 67. There were four candidates for the FISU Presidency. Next to Killian and Gallien, Stefan Bergh (SWE) and Risto Nimienen (FIN) had been nominated by their respective National University Sports Federations. However, right before the vote, both federations withdrew their candidates for the presidency to ‘maintain the unity inFISU', as their respective presidents Akseli Hakala (FIN) and Johanna St:Clair Renard (SWE) announced prior to the election. Oleg Matytsin (RUS) was elected as 1st Vice-President. Mr Gallien holds a PhD in Biology and a State Doctorate in Natural Sciences. Shortly after the vote result, Mr. Gallien addressed the General Assembly, thanking them for their vote of confidence. His first speech as the FISU President was followed by a rousing

2011 ZKC E-mail International Club Tournament

NEW RECORD SET IN THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT - 129 CLUBS PARTICIPATED The ZKC Email International Club Tournament concluded on July 24th was an outstanding success. 129 clubs took part in the Tournament with 655 competitors. 405 male and 250 female athletes competed from the 5 continents. This is the highest number of clubs participation in the 8 years history of the tournament. The winning club within Men was the GRA Club from Cuba, whilst within Women was the Haunabada Club from Papua New Guinea. Both clubs will receive one Olympic barbell set from ZKC, the official sponsor of the Tournament. On behalf of the OWF, the General Secretary Mr. Paul Coffa is very thankful to Mr. Zhang Zhiguo, the General Manager of the ZKC Company, for his support if the event and also for his contribution in regard to the development of weightlifting at club level worldwide. To read the latest news on the Oceania Weightlifting Institute click here

Around 12,000 participants from 152 countries expected to the Universiade

University teams all over the world are now getting ready to head to Shenzhen, China, for the 26th Summer Universiade. Athletes from 152 delegations are taking the oath these days at ceremonial Assemblies of their respective FISU member federations.Weightlifters are expected from over 40 countries. (photo) The Hungarian Universiade squad expects a strong