News

China and Vietnam celebrate Champions on Day 1 at YOG Weightlifting

Singapore - 15 August 2010:With the Women's 48kg competition the weightlifting events of the 1st Youth Olympic Games were kicked off in Singapore. Chinese Tian Yuan won the Youth Olympic Champion title with an overwhelming 190kg total over Thailand's Pramonghol (163kg) and bronze medallist Rodriguez Genesis from Venezuela (154kg). Tian Yuan set two new Youth world records on the way: 85kg in snatch and 190kg in total. In the men's opening competition for the 56kg, Vietnam's Thach Kim Tuan managed to overcome his Chinese rival Xie Jiawu by a 2kg difference (256kg against 254kg) in a breathtaking duel. More excitement was being catered for by Armenian Margaryan's solo at the end of the competition who, trying to change his bronze for gold, left two attempts at 149kg for the finish - eventually failing at this heroic effort. (Photos and reports from A.

The First Youth Olympic Games are underway in Singapore!

  The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games officially got under way on 14 August with an Opening Ceremony at the Marina Bay Floating Stadium in downtown Singapore. With the city skyline providing an impressive backdrop, some 3,600 athletes aged 14 to 18 marched in the Parade of Nations, which was followed by speeches from International Olympic Committee President (IOC) Jacques Rogge and Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee Chairman (SYOGOC) Ser Miang Ng. "Tonight we open a new chapter in the history of the Olympic Movement," said President Rogge. "From this moment on, young people around the world have a chance to participate in a global event that combines sport, education and culture." The spectacular Opening Ceremony included a specifically weightlifting-related feature: one of the Olympic Flag's bearers was Howe Liang Tan, Singapore's first Olympic medallist (1960 Rome, lightweight, silver medal). The weightlifting competitions start today with the Women's 48kg at 14:30h local time, to be followed by the Men's 56kg at 18:00h. Follow the Results here.

Weightlifting Athlete Role Model Pawina Thongsuk impressed by YOG venue

Singapore - 14 August 2010: Thailand's Olympic Champion Pawina Thongsuk visited the YOG Weightlifting venue, the Toa Payoh Sports Hall today. Acting as weightlifting's 'Athlete Role Model' at these Games, Pawina said she was very impressed by the beautiful design and high-standard setup of the weightlifting venue. Indeed, the stage and the Field of Play look beautiful and the technical staff and all facilities are ready for the start of the Games. Find out more about Weightlifting at the YOG also here:

Teams ready, officials ready: Weightlifting at YOG can kick off tomorrow

Singapore - On 13 August 2010, Olympic Team Managers verified their Final Entries at the meeting held in the YOG Competition Venue: the Toa Payoh Sports Hall. The Start List published today, 14 August 2010 includes a total of 108 young athletes, aged 16 and 17 years, representing 65 nations from the five continents. For all of them it will be the first chance to lift on an Olympic stage. Both athletes and officals are looking forward to the kick-off of the 1st Youth Olympic Games with great excitement. After today's Technical Officials' meeting, conducted by Sam Coffa, Event Delegate and TC Chairman, in the presence of Dr. Tamás Aján, IWF President and Ma Wenguang, IWF General Secretary, the officials inspected the venue and "cleared it" for the Games to begin tomorrow. The weightlifting competitions will last through five days, 15-19 August. The Singapore Organising Committee, in particular the Weightlifting Competition manager Tom Liaw have been doing an outstanding job providing excellent and spectacular facilities that match the standard of any high-class event, including the Olympic Games.

Singapore 2010 is about to begin

World of Weightlifting is looking forward to the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games hosted by Singapore held between the 14th until the 26th of August. The Games will attract about 3600 young athletes between 14 and 18 years of age from 205 National Olympic Committees.     The first edition of the YOG will welcome 60 male and 50 female athletes out of the 110 participating weightlifters under the Qualification Guidelines of the IOC and the IWF. The Toa Payoh Sports Hall will host the Weightlifting competition.     The Youth Olympic Games are not only a high level sports event, but it also has a pronounced cultural and educational feature with its 26 sports and culture & education programs in order to educate and entertain the athletes about the Olympic values.     We would like to draw your attention to the “YOG-DNA” which is to be used by young people as a stamp of approval for anything that has the “Spirit of the Youth Olympic Games”. Join the fun and find more information at the following address www.olympic.org/yog    

Outstanding success of sport in Hungary

Dr. Pál Schmitt, former Olympic Champion in fencing, Member of the IOC and President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee since 1989 was elected President of the Republic of Hungary. He took office on Friday, the 6th of August at a ceremony attended by 200 guests at the Presidential Palace in Budapest's Castle District.   During the inaugural speech, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasized the fact that having a former Olympic Champion as President was a real honor and success for sports, and he would support a motion to include sports education in the Text of Hungary's Constitution.    At the ceremony, Dr. Tamás Aján expressed his congratulations to Dr. Pál Schmitt in the name of the IWF and the Hungarian Olympic Academy.