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25th Anniversary Celebration of the Los Angeles Olympic Games

25 Years Ago Los Angeles Made Olympic History...You are invited to a gala dinner and programcelebrating the 25th anniversary of the1984 Olympic Games.This special event will be held on the floor ofthe famed Los Angeles Memorial Coliseumand also will serve as a reunionfor LAOOC employees and volunteers.Sponsored by:The Southern California Committee for the Olympic GamesandThe Los Angeles Sports CouncilPlease save the date!SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2009For information and tickets, please call (213) 482-6352 or update your contact information or to register your friends so that everyone can be included! Among the many innovations and memorable features of the 1984 Olympic Games were: In competition, 6,829 athletes from 140 countries took part in the Games. For the first time, volunteers comprised a significant portion of the Games workforce. Approximately 30,000 volunteers were part of the staffing plan. The dates for the Games (July 28 - August 12) were virtually identical to those for the first Los Angeles Olympic Games of 1932 (July 30 - August 14). In both cases, the Opening Ceremony was held on a Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. For the first time since the Los Angeles Olympic Games of 1932, the Games finished in the black financially. The Organizing Committee realized a surplus of $235 million. The Organizing Committee received no revenues from taxes. The primary revenue sources were television rights sales, ticket sales and sponsorships. A record 5.7 million tickets were sold, or 83% of capacity. Los Angeles was permitted to add two "demonstration sports" to the program and selected baseball and tennis, both of which subsequently were added to the Games as medal sports. The first-ever Olympic women's marathon was held. A 10-week Olympic Arts Festival preceded the Games and celebrated the cultural richness of Los Angeles and The United States through well-attended programs in dance, music, theater and visual arts. The 1984 Games were the first to use colorful themed graphics to surround the field of play at each venue. The term "look of the Games" came into common usage as a result of Los Angeles' innovative design program. (http://www.the84games.com)

Pan American Championships: WATCH VIDEOS

You can follow the competititons of Pan American Championship on

Mediterranean Confederation elects New Executive and accepts Fair Play Charter

On 28th June, in Pescara, Italy, in connection with the Mediterranean Games, the Mediterranean Weightlifting Confederation held its Congress. In the presence of Dr. Tamás Aján, IWF President and Dr. Antonio Urso, EWF President, as well as 14 member countries, a new Executive Board was elected to the Confederation. MWC Executive Board President: Maurizio Lo Buono (ITA)General Secretary: Damianos Hadjidamianou (CYP) The Congress also approved a Fair Play Charter.

Finnish Weightlifting Federation 75 year gala.

75 years of Finnish WeightliftingOn a beautiful summer day on June 28, 2009 in Pori, Finland, the 'Who's Who' of Finnish weightlifting gathered together to celebrate 75 years of Finnish Weightlifting. The first weightlifting competition had been held over a hundred years ago back in November of 1892, but on November 25, 1934, the Federation began its existence. Mr. Bruno Nyberg, the Father of Finnish Weightlifting, read out loud the historic words of birth.75 years later President Esa Lomma spoke in honor of all successful Finnish lifters such as European, World and Olympic Champion Mr. Kaarlo Kangasniemi, European and World Champions Mr. Kauko Kangasniemi and Mrs. Karoliina Lundahl as well as the first ever Finnish European Champion Mr. Eino Mäkinen, still young as ever at 84. Together with other medalists and record breakers toasting the vibrant federation was a room full of weightlifting enthusiasts, government officials and the Finnish Olympic Committee. Many were recognized of their relentless work to our beloved sport: internationally the IWF Golden Medal was given out to Mr. Matti Everi and IWF Silver Medals went to Mr. Ahti Hämäläinen and Mr. Matti Kitunen.Finnish weightlifting has had many glorious performances. After an afternoon of basking in the sun of the glory days it is time to return to work to build a modern training system within the country. Already in place are the Olympic Training Center in Vierumäki just outside Lahti, home of 1998 World Championships, a modern coaching development center, and athletes who yearn to learn more about weightlifting from the heroes of the past. Finns have always been known to step up to the challenge: the next task is making unknown names the heroes of the

Weightlifting, athletics top fitness test

WEIGHTLIFTING and athletics topped the fitness test in their preparation for the Pacific Mini Games in Cook Islands. According to assessors' finding released by the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) and the National Selection and Justification Committee (NSJC), both sports were rated 95 per cent competitive and 100 per cent fit. From general observation, athletics was described as an improved and highly competitive lot, whilst weightlifting was the most competitive lot. For weightlifting, 11 males and nine females are confirmed to be on training in the building next to the Multipurpose Hall. Overall, the players in each of the selected sport federations still have another qualifying stage before certified to travel. The players will have to prove their best records to convince the selection and justification committee to be included in the Team Solomon. They have until 21 July when individual performances will be judged.

Mediterranean Games 5th Day: Gold medals for Greece and Syria

Men's 94 kg had a Greek hero as Kourtidis Nikolaos was so strong to break three Mediterranean Games records. In snatch he had 175 and later 177 kg. In clean and jerk he lifted 215 kg to win his second gold with a new regional record. In men's 105 kg category the competition was open between Ahed Youghil (SYR) and Sudas Bunyamin (TUR). Both of them had three succesful snatch attempts. Finally the Syrian had 1 kg more (171 kg). In clean and jerk Ahed Joughil was better again and won his second gold by lifting 215