News

Olympic Champion Dobrev to miss Beijing Games

Bulgarian  Milen Dobrev will be unable to defend his title at Beijing Olympics after failing to recover from a waist injury, the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation said on Wednesday.The 27-year-old Dobrev won gold four years ago in the 94-kg category at the Athens Games."He's still suffering from the injury and it will prevent him from achieving his full potential in Beijing," Federation General Secretary Tenyo Tenev told reporters. "That's why we decided that it'll be better not to force him," he said. "He will resume his preparations for next year's European and world championship after recovering from the

Small Nations Tournament celebrates 30th edition

For the sixth time in its history the Small Nations Tournament took place in Luxembourg in the city of Hamm. Eleven teams with  forty-three athletes contested for the victory. The Tournament celebrated its 30th edition. This time, Cyprus won rather easily in front of Luxembourg and Monaco; Iceland and San Marino finished in the 4th and 5th positions. In the traditionnal Open Tournament of Clubs, Besancon of France won ahead of Cyprus and Sarre.In the individual ranking Dimitris MINASIDIS finished in the first rank, at the second position we find Kingue MATAM Bernadin from Besancon and the Cypriot Alexandris AMANATIDES was placed third. During the opening ceremony of this Jubilee, thirtieth edition, Jean Paul BULGARIDHES, IWF Executive Board Member, representing the IWF President Dr. Tamás AJÁN, presented commemorative plaques to Mr. Rene DEVILLE, Secretary of this tournament for twenty-four years and another one to Mr. Wolfgang PETER, Honorary Vice President of the IWF.Congratulations on the wonderful teamwork of this tournament, especially Mr. Gaston PARAGE, General Secretary of the Luxembourg Federation and "Father of the Small Nations Tournament", Mr. René DEVILLE.See you in Malta in 2009!Mr. Jean-Paul BULGARIDHES, IWF Executive Board Member conveyed the IWF's appreciation to Mr. René DEVILLE and Mr. Wolfgang

A note from the IWF concerning Olympic Qualification

Although the Qualification Events to the 2008 Beijing Games have already finished, there are still several anti-doping test results missing, because the laboratories are overloaded. Before all control analysis results and procedures are complete, the Olympic Qualification cannot be complete and final.Therefore, the IWF is now informing its members that the communication to the NOCs and National Federations of the quota obtained, as well as the individual qualification, will follow only after the conclusion of the anti-doping issues and subject to co-ordination with the International Olympic

2008 UESAKA E-mail Tournament – another great success

Paul Coffa reports from Oceania: "The 2008 edition of the UESAKA E-mail International Club Tournament was another great event with 772 competitors from a record entry of 139 clubs from the five continents. Apologies for not entering a further 200 competitors from 17 other clubs from Asia and Europe but unfortunately their results came in too late to be included.Congratulations to the two winning clubs: Kandy YMCA from Sri Lanka and Hunuabada Club from Papua New Guinea. And to all the 139 clubs taking part: thank you for your efforts."You may download from here:The Tournament ResultsThe Club ParticipationThe SummaryThe Team

Continental Qualification just complete with Africa

The 2008 African Championships, held as the Continental Qualification event in Strand, South Africa, finished with the overwhelming success of Nigeria - both among the men and the women. In addition to Nigeria, another four nations were able to qualify lifters to the Beijing 2008 Games: Libya, Cameroon, Tunisia and Egypt.To access the Olympic Qualification team ranking: MEN and

The last Continental Olympic Qualification kicked off in Africa

The last one in the line of the Continental Olympic Qualification events, the African Championships have started in Strand, South Africa with the participation of 140 competitors from 15 countries.RESULTS are published day by