News

TO nomination deadline for London 2012 drawing near

National Federations are reminded that the deadline for the nomination of Technical Officials for the 2012 London Olympic Games will expire on 31 July 2011. Nominations to be sent by the TO Nomination Form to the IWF Secretariat.

Guatemala is getting prepared for the 2012 JWC

General Sergio Camargo Guatemalan Olympic Committee President, Mr. Antonio Coro Guatemalan Weightlifting Federation President accompanied by his wife Mrs. Coro Member of the Parliament, Ms. Melanie Calderon Guatemalan Olympic Committee Head of International Relations and Mr. Julio Rivas Guatemalan Weightlifting Federation Executive Director made on official visit to the IWF headquarters in Budapest. The delegation had major discussions with Dr. Tamás Aján IWF President in regard to the 2012 Junior World Championships which is also a Pan-American Olympic Qualification Event to be held in Guatemala. The Organizing Committee will give a detailed presentation in Paris during the 2011 World Championships. The competition will be held in Antigua Guatemala in April 2012; city designated a UNESCO World Heritage

Glasgow 2014 captures ‘defining moment’ in pictogram designs

Pictograms launched as city celebrates Three Years to Go One of the most eagerly anticipated design elements of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the pictograms, are launched today. Visitors from across the globe will be guided round Glasgow by a series of revolutionary designs when the Commonwealth Games come to the city in 2014. The 17 participating sports will be represented by their unique „defining moment‟ in the iconic images whose primary purpose is to celebrate sport and aid wayfinding to members of the public, athletes and officials. The icons will be prominent on venues, signage, scoreboards and literature during Games-time, but will also feature prominently in marketing and merchandising efforts in the build-up to the Games. The pictograms will also be available to view online at the official Glasgow 2014 website from Friday 22

Azerbaijani President received President of the IWF

Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan received Dr. Tamás Aján, President of the International Weightlifting Federation. IWF President praised conditions created for development of weightlifting in Azerbaijan. He congratulated the Head of State on the successes of Azerbaijani athletes in the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. The Head of State underlined that sports are rapidly developing in the country. He described successes of Azerbaijani athletes in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games as a result of the state-level support to sports in the country. President Ilham Aliyev noted there is good potential for development of weightlifting in the country. Dr. Tamás Aján and the Head of State agreed about a fruitful cooperation in order to support and develop weightlifting in a larger

IOC Solidarity Q&A: Alexandra Escobar

Weightlifter Alexandra Escobar from Ecuador is hoping her Olympic Solidarity scholarship will help her earn a place on the podium at next year's Games How are your preparations progressing as you look to qualify for the London Games? I'm training very hard in Esmeraldas, my home city, where the government has given me the facilities I need to step up my preparation. I'm in good shape and I'm ready for all the upcoming competitions. I'm looking forward to them and can't wait for the moment when I can get out there and compete. What competitions are you due to take part in prior to London? The most important events are the Pan American Games in Mexico and the World Championships, both of which are qualifiers for the Olympic Games, so I have to work hard to try to improve and ensure I perform to the best of my abilities at these events. How does your Olympic Solidarity scholarship help you? It's a great help. The scholarship enables me to train without having to worry, and allows me to buy what I need for each competition. Thanks to Olympic Solidarity, I'm able to train in my home city so I'm close to my daughter and my husband, which gives me peace of mind and enables me to train in the best possible way. This allows me to devote all my energy to my sport and my attempts to qualify for the Games in London next year. Do you have any Olympic heroes? Halil Mutlu, the Turkish weightlifter who won three consecutive Olympic gold medals, would be my Olympic hero. I've always admired him - he was my inspiration. He's so small but he has a big heart and so much courage and strength. Do you know London? I have not been to London but I will get to know it. That is another incentive for me to qualify for the Games and I'm sure London is expecting me! How did you become a weightlifter? It was my sister who first got me into weightlifting; she competed for a local sports club and I instantly fell in love with the sport. What is your goal at the Games in London? What I really want is to step up onto the podium and hear my country's national anthem. I've won medals at all the other major competitions - the South American, Bolivian and Pan American Games, and the World Championships. The only thing I don't have is the Olympic medal, which is why I'm going to give it everything I have to win one in London. Discover the latest edition of the Olympic

The best Junior World Championships ever in Penang

The 2011 Junior Weightlifting Championships held in Penang, Malaysia welcomed 272 participating lifters. The athletes rewarded the outstanding organization with outstanding performances during the long stretch of 8 days competition. At the Closing Ceremony Lydia Ong Kok Fooi, Penang's Minister of Youth and Sport emphasized the beneficial experience of this international competition that fostered friendship and brotherhood among athletes and officials. Dato' Ong Poh Eng, IWF Executive Board Member and Chairman of the Organizing Committee underlined peace and friendship among participating countries and said that - "No record is unbreakable. I hope everyone will continue to excel by outdoing the others with the prevailing true friendship transcending borders in a true spirit of fellowship upheld by the International Weightlifting Federation" The ELEIKO-IWF Press Commission's Trophy of "Best Lifter" for Men went to ROSTAMI Kianoush (IRI) who won a Silver Medal in the Snatch and 2 Gold Medals for the Clean & Jerk and the Total in the 85kg bodyweight category. The "Best Women" Trophy was awarded to DENG Wei (CHN) who set a new Junior World Record with a Total of 243kg and stood on the top of the podium to take over 3 Gold Medals in the 58kg bodyweight category. The 15 year old Kazakh lifter NOGAY Nadezhda set a new Youth World Record in the Snatch with 122kg. New Youth World Records among Men were set by THACH KIM Tuan (VIE) in the Clean & Jerk with 153kg and in the Total with 273kg. According to the Team classification, the first 3 best performing Men and Women Team stood on stage during the Closing Ceremony to receive a special award. Within the 152 participating Men lifters out of 47 countries, the Iranian Team finished as first. The ranking follows as China and Russia. Among the 120 participating Women out of 32 countries: Thailand, Russia and China got awarded within Team classification. The previous participation record of 104 women athlete in 1998 Sofia, Bulgaria was broken here with 120 women weightlifters participating. It is important to note, that the IWF Technical Committee made a historical decision in Penang, Malaysia regarding the weightlifting clothing. For more details please check the RESULT BOOK Under the leadership of Chairmen Dato' Ong Poh Eng and Competition Director Paul Coffa, the 2011 Junior World Championships have been of the highest standard. The 5 star accommodation, the food, the transport, the training and the competition facilities have all been carefully prepared in order to give the athletes the best possible opportunity to perform at their best. The warm hospitality of Malaysian people was appreciated by all participants and guests. "Dato' Ong Poh Eng, with his clear and honest approach; his waste experience and his organizational skills is a most reliable pillar and a great asset to World and to Asian Weightlifting. Penang being the main center for weightlifting proved several times its capabilities to deliver a prestigious event and I am happy to state that the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation and the Organizing Committee excelled once again and delivered the best Junior World Championships ever" said Dr. Tamás