News

Gold again for the Steiner weightlifting dynasty

Sydney - A magic moment from the Beijing Games was recreated Thursday at the World Masters Games in Sydney when Friedrich Steiner, father of Olympic weightlifting champion Matthias Steiner, paraded a gold medal won in the men's 70-74 age category. The younger Steiner, a German citizen after falling out with the Austrian weightlifting federation, endeared himself to the world with a magnificent final lift in the Beijing competition. The Austrian-born man-mountain dedicated his gold medal performance to the memory of his wife, Susann, who died in a car accident in 2007. He famously held up a photograph of Susann when he was on the podium. The elder Steiner, still competing for Austria, said his triumph at the seventh World Masters Games was not in the same class as his son's stupendous Beijing effort.

What’s with China’s National Games?

For those of you not familiar, China's National Games is held every four years in the country since 1975, when the Cultural Revolution was coming to an end. This year the 11th National Games will be held in Shandong Province, from October 16th to 28th. Every four years, the best players in national teams go back to their hometowns to win glory for their provincial teams. There are 50 teams participating this time: 4 municipality teams, 22 provincial teams, 5 autonomous region teams and the People's Liberation Army team. The PLA is a big player every time. The Games can usually tell you who will compete in the next Olympics. So if you're thinking about the London 2012, better keep an eye on these new Chinese champions. Up until now, still two days to the Opening Ceremony in Jinan, the capital city of Shandong, there're 24 teams that won 238 gold medals already. Why so many? Partly because if a team member won a gold in the Beijing Games last summer, it counts for two golds for them in the National Game's medal tally. Competition Schedule: Day 1: October 17 Saturday 14:00-16:00 Women's 48kg Group A 19:00-21:00 Women's 53kg Group A Day 2: October 18 Sunday 14:00-16:00 Women's 58kg Group A 19:00-21:00 Women's 63kg Group A Day 3: October 19 Monday 14:00-16:00 Women's 69kg Group A 19:00-21:00 Women's 75kg Group A Day 4: October 20 Tuesday 14:00-16:00 Women's +75 Group A October 21-22    Rest Days Day 5: October 23 Friday 14:00-16:00 Men's 56kg Group A 19:00-21:00 Men's 62kg Group A Day 6: October 24 Saturday 14:00-16:00 Men's 69kg Group A 19:00-21:00 Men's 77kg Group A Day 7: October 25 Sunday 14:00-16:00 Men's 85kg Group A 19:00-21:00 Men's 94kg Group A Day 8: October 26 Monday 14:00-16:00 Men's 105kg Group A 19:00-21:00 Men's +105kg Group A The schedule may subject to be changed after the verification of final entries.      

Alfred Knight Close to be unveiled this weekend

Friends and family of Olympic weightlifter, Alfred Knight, will be attending a special ceremony this Saturday, 17th October, to unveil a brand new street at David Wilson South Midlands' Arena Gate development in Duston, which has been named after the sporting hero. Alfred Knight Close is just one of a number of streets within the Arena Gate development that have been named after well-known local legends. Around 100 guests, including local MP Brian Binley, are expected to attend the official opening of the street which has taken its name from Alfred, who, amongst his many accomplishments, came 4th in the 1948 Olympic Games in London (heavyweight, 117.5 kg snatch, 155 kg clean and jerk, 117,5 kg press, 390 kg total) Barbara Jackson, daughter of Alfred Knight, comments "As a family, we're extremely proud of what our father achieved not just within his chosen sport, but within the local community too, and I think having a street named after him is a fitting tribute to what he accomplished during his lifetime." Jackie Day, Sales Director at David Wilson comments "Alfred Knight is a well -respected and loved sporting hero in Northamptonshire and we are proud to have a street at one of our developments named after

WADA Executive Committee and Board to Meet on December 1-2 in Stockholm to Mark 10th Anniversary

To mark its 10th anniversary, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will hold its annual end-of-the-year Executive Committee and Foundation Board meetings on December 1-2 in Stockholm, Sweden. WADA was founded on November 10, 1999, in Lausanne, Switzerland, following a joint initiative from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and governments of the world. To celebrate a decade of Play True and WADA's relentless commitment to doping-free sport, the Government of Sweden has offered to contribute to host the December meetings on the continent where WADA was founded. On this occasion, a number of Founding Members will be

Dr. Tamás Aján elected Honorary Member of the IOC

Having reached the age of 70 years in 2009, Dr. Tamás Aján's term as Member of the International Olympic Committee will come to an end at the end of this year, in accordance with the IOC Charter. However, at the 121st Session of the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen, in recognition of his invaluable and exceptional services to the Olympic Movement and to the IOC, he was unanimously voted to continue as of 1st January 2010 as Honorary IOC Member . Congratulations to the IWF President!

OWF President HE Marcus Stephen meets US President Obama

HE Marcus Stephen, President of the Republic of Nauru and President of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation addressed the 64th United Nations General Assembly in New York with a very moving speech on the difficulties faced by small island nations as a result of the world economic crisis and global warming. During his visit to the United States he met with President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama. He also attended a meeting between the USA and the Pacific Island Forum members and Marcus spoke on behalf of the Forum members prior to any other participant having the opportunity to speak. (OWF News)