News

IWF opens application procedure for the hiring of a CEO

The IWF is currently in the process of hiring a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for its headquarters in Lausanne (SUI). Please find below the application details: The IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) is the recognised International Sports Federation for the Olympic Sport of Weightlifting. The IWF is responsible for the worldwide governance, development, marketing and administration of the sport of Weightlifting, and support of its 194 member Federations and continental Federations.The IWF headquarters are located in Lausanne (SUI), the Olympic Capital. The IWF is responsible for:- The promotion of the sport internationally;- Managing Weightlifting at the Olympic Games, and other major Games events;- The public image and marketing of the sport of Weightlifting worldwide;- Generating revenue for the support of the sport of Weightlifting;- Management and delivery of international Weightlifting events;- Education and capability expansion of National Federations, Continental Federations, Athletes, Coaches, and stakeholders; - The development of the sport around the world; and- Representing the Weightlifting athletes and stakeholders in all matters concerning the sport. The role of CEOThe role of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is to lead and run the operations of the IWF, advise and support the Governance structure headed by the IWF Executive Board. This role constitutes an opportunity to be a key changemaker in sport. Role PurposeThe CEO will have responsibility for the operational leadership and management of the organisation. The CEO must understand the necessity of clean sport and integrity in all aspects of the Sport. Candidate profile- To be a dynamic and inspirational leader with the ability to engage, advise and collaborate with sport leaders from different backgrounds across the world;- To work collaboratively with elected leadership for the betterment of the sport of Weightlifting and the interests of the IWF;- To work collaboratively with the IWF Executive Board to execute the IWF Strategic Plan;- To work towards a goal of a world-leading reputation in fair play, athlete rights, athlete welfare and clean sport;- To identify and build relationships with key stakeholders of the IWF, including but not limited to the Athletes, Coaches, Member Federations, Continental Federations, IOC, WADA, ITA, Sponsors, media and other organisations;- To oversee and manage the operations of the IWF operational team in all respects;- To identify, propose and lead new revenue streams for the IWF to diversify away from Olympic revenue, particularly in order to ensure the long term financial strength of the organisation;- To identify, propose and lead operational procedures to ensure the strength of the IWF as an entity;- To identify, propose and lead methods of improvement for the IWF across all areas;- To identify, propose and lead methods of providing increased member service within the IWF;- To identify, propose and lead methods of providing increased visibility of the IWF;- To support IWF Members in their initiatives to grow and promote the sport;- To co-operate with and create strong relationships with Member National Authorities;- To lead and define the commercial strategy for IWF, in particular in identifying new opportunities in addition to the core relationship with the IOC;- To improve IWF’s visibility and value in the wider sporting community and to identify and engage with existing and potential partners and sponsors;- To provide leadership to ensure the goals and priorities of IWF are met and reach the agreed key performance indicators, ensuring that an appropriate financial strategy is in place to facilitate this;- To develop an efficient and effective organisation, ensuring resources are deployed appropriately and responsibilities are clearly defined;- To be responsible for carrying out annual performance assessment and career development reviews of the IWF staff;- To be responsible to the Board for the annual budgets and overall robust finances. Candidate requirements- 10+ years of experience in international sport, at an NOC, International Federation, International Sporting Body or other similar body; - Native-level proficiency in English;- Strong and demonstrated ability to raise diverse revenue sources;- Strong and demonstrated relationships with key sport stakeholders, including but not limited to the International Olympic Committee, International Testing Agency and World Anti-Doping Agency;- Strong and demonstrated ability to grow exposure, participation and media coverage in international sport;- Strong and demonstrated ability to manage staff in a positive environment;- Strong and demonstrated track record of ethical leadership, especially in the area of Anti-Doping;- Strong and demonstrated track record of management of financial matters, in the context of international sport;- Strong and demonstrated ability to manage a membership organisation and manage reputation within that membership. Additional desired qualifications:- Fluency in more than one language - French, Spanish, Russian and/or Arabic are specifically desired;- University degree;- Working knowledge of the sport of Weightlifting;- Existing residential location commutable to Lausanne (SUI);- Strong working knowledge of Swiss business practices;- Experience in developing anti-doping and anti-abuse practices;- Experience in working with a diverse group of cultures;- Experience in working with, and reporting to, an elected board of directors;- Experience in developing sport programmes, and sport modernisation. Reporting LinesThe CEO will report to the IWF Executive Board, with direct oversight provided by the President and General Secretary of the IWF. Candidates should send the following documents:- Letter of interest highlighting your motivation for the post and relevant experience- Curriculum vitae- Diplomas and certifications- Details of current remuneration- Names and contact details for three references How to ApplyPlease send the above-mentioned documents by no later than November 15, 2023 to the following e-mail address:

Riyadh, Day 10: Photo Gallery

All photos by Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia [gallery size="large"

Riyadh, Day 10: Shake-up in Paris rankings after world records for China’s Liao and American Reeves

Liao Guifang bettered her own world record by 5kg to build a big lead at the top of the women’s 71kg rankings for Paris 2024, winning China’s fifth title at the IWF World Championships here. Liao, who set the total record at 268kg in her previous appearance at the Asian Championships in May, bettered it with her second clean and jerk. She then went up again to 153kg to improve her total once more and claim the clean and jerk record set by her team-mate Zhang Wangli five years ago. The 21-year-old finished on 120-153-273 despite failing with her first snatch, and is 12kg clear in the rankings from Angie Palacios from Ecuador, whose 117-138-255 was 6kg below her best effort in qualifying. Liao Guifang (CHN) Olivia Reeves from the United States also made a big move by claiming two junior world records with a superb six-from-six performance that earned her third place on total. “I didn’t have the best preparation for these Championships and never felt, ‘This is going to be it.’ “But it was. You’ve got to make the first to get the second, make the second to get the third… and I just kept making them. It was my first six-for-six in a year and a half.” Reeves, 20, made 111-142-253 to move 5kg ahead of team-mate Kate Vibert into fourth place in the Paris rankings behind Liao, Palacios and Loredana Toma from Romania, who weighed in here without lifting. The Americans, like the Chinese, have team-mates going head-to-head at the top end of the women’s Olympic categories.   Olivia Reeves (USA) “We’re cursed and we’re blessed,” said the US director of coaching Mike Gattone. “We have two in each category fighting it out and you can see what it does. In Cuba (at the last qualifier) Kate did better and Olivia was crying, and this time it’s the other way around. They’re pushing the heck out of each other.” “There’s no animosity, though, said Reeves, whose world records were in clean and jerk and total. “Kate and I are friends and we get along, so does the whole team.” The biggest improver on past performance was Neama Said from Egypt, who was fourth on total on 246kg, ahead of Vibert by 2kg. That was 17kg up on her previous ranking total and moves her nine places from 14th to fifth. Angie Palacios (ECU) Amanda Schott from Brazil was clearly pleased with her 238kg that put her in the top 10, and another who had a good night was the Colombian Miyareth Mendoza. She did not have a total before today, and is now within 7kg of sixth-placed team-mate Mari Sanchez in the long list on 237kg. None of the 11 B Group athletes could catch the best C Group performer Chen Wen-huei from Chinese Taipei, who is ranked 11th for Paris after today’s sessions. For one B Group athlete, however, there was reason to celebrate. While two lifters left the platform in tears after missing all three clean and jerks, Eyglo Sturlodottir made all six attempts in posting the best numbers by an Icelandic woman in any weight category. Sturlodottir, who combines weightlifting with studying to be a doctor, was sick after arriving and felt unwell hours before lifting. “At weigh-in I thought ‘I’m in trouble here’, and I was so nervous I couldn’t eat anything at all. It was the worst I’ve ever been,” she said. “But when I was warming up I started to feel better and that was the best snatch, best clean and jerk and best total in history for Iceland. It was 5kg up on my best total. Eyglo Sturlodottir (ISL) with the President of the Icelandic Federation Helga Hakonardottir and coaches (Photo by Brian Oliver) “I’m going to Wagamama (the Japanese restaurant chain) in the mall now because we don’t have one in Iceland. Noodle soup, chicken – it’s going to be good.” Sturlodottir, who made 102-123-225, is performing so well that she may have to extend her studies beyond the standard six years so she can train more. By Brian Oliver, Inside the Games Photos by Giorgio

Riyadh, Day 10: Qasim wins Iraq’s first World Championships gold medal in any sport

Qasim Hasan enjoyed every moment when he won Iraq’s first World Championships gold medal in any sport. It happened when Qasim made his third straight good lift in the men’s 96kg, claiming snatch gold on 175kg and edging Karim Abokahla from Egypt into second place. Qasim bowed, prayed, kissed the barbell and sat on the discs to savour his achievement. It was Iraq’s best weightlifting result since the 1960 Olympic Games, where Abdul-Wahid Aziz won a lightweight bronze medal to add to his 1959 World Championships bronze. Qasim Hasan (IRQ) It was also his country’s first time on top of the podium in any Olympic sport at a World Championships – in only Qasim's second competition. “I was so, so happy,” said Qasim, 23. “The best result in the history of Iraq weightlifting - it makes me so proud.” It was also a proud moment for the IWF President Mohammed Jalood, who is from Iraq, when presented the medals. Abokahla pulled clear of Qasim in the clean and jerk to win on total. The effort of making his final lift left Abokahla flat on his back in the warm-up room for a few minutes but it earned him victory on 174-213-387 and gave Africa its first winner at these Championships. Karim Abokahla (EGY) Won Jongbeom from Korea was second on 172-212-384 and Qasim third on 175-204-279. To complete a good session for Egypt, Mahmoud Hosny successfully made a jump of 8kg with his final attempt to win clean and jerk bronze. Abokahla, 26, won African titles in his past two outings, posting totals of 340kg at 96kg last October and 375kg at 89kg in Tunis in May. Here he improved again to post the best total of his career in only his second competition at this weight. Won Jongbeom (KOR) Two men who finished fourth in the Olympic Games lifted in the B Group. Sarat Sumpradit, fourth at Rio 2016 in the old 94kg category, made his first snatch at 170kg then declined his remaining lifts because he is focusing on the Asian Games in China, where he will compete in the first week of October. It was a different story for Boady Santavy from Canada, who left the platform shouting, “Come on! Boady’s back!” Santavy, 1kg behind the bronze medallist in Tokyo at this weight, had not lifted in international competition since December 2021 because of a serious elbow injury that required “having my UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) completely reattached”. He had been talking himself up on social media and was challenged to live up to the talk by Pyrros Dimas, with whom he is friendly. “Where’s Pyrros?” Santavy wanted to know after his five-from-six 166-196-362. The triple Olympic champion, who is the performance director for the United States, appeared in the warm-up room to congratulate Santavy. “It was pretty depressing being away so long, but I’ve trained really well since the doctor cleared me around March,” said Santavy. “There are some big numbers coming in Qatar.” The men's 96kg podium That will be in December at the IWF Grand Prix II, the next Olympic qualifier. Santavy, who weighed in below 93kg, will lift at 89kg there. Yeison Lopez Lopez from Colombia was lightest of the 12 in the B Group at 90.62kg but made the best total by 9kg, posting 171-200-371. He will also go down to 89kg, starting at the Pan American Games in October. By Brian Oliver, Inside the Games Photos by Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia

Riyadh, Day 9: Photo Gallery

All photos by Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia [gallery size="large"

Riyadh, Day 9: It’s a happy birthday double for Osei at IWF Congress and on the platform

It was a 34th birthday to remember for Forrester Osei today, if not in the “party-time” way. This afternoon Osei wore a suit to deliver a report on the IWF Athlete Commission’s progress over the past year, and its hopes for the future. His audience at the five-star Intercontinental Hotel in Riyadh was more than 100 delegates at the IWF Congress, where putting athletes at the heart of reform policies was one of the main themes of the day. Forrester Osei between Alex Padure (ROU, left) and Florian Sperl (GER) - Photo by Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia A few hours later he was in his Ghana uniform on the platform at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex, trying to make this year’s IWF World Championships more of a success than last year’s. He did it in style with a career-best total. Osei, who was born in London, brought up in Ghana for 10 years, and now works as a strength and conditioning coach in Qatar, ended up in a Bogotá hospital when he injured his elbow in the 96kg C Group last December and had not competed since then. Photo by Brian Oliver The Athletes Commission chair was in the C Group again here, where he made 151-186-337 with five straight good lifts before failing with the last one. “It was an emotional journey from last year to here, not being able to train for such a long time and undergoing surgery to reconstruct my elbow in February,” he said. “I hadn’t attempted any of these numbers before coming out here so today has been exciting and fun.” A key point of Osei’s address at Congress concerned the Commission’s hope that the IWF and sponsors will support athletes during and after their career. A Transition Programme to help lifters stay in the sport as coaches or technical officials after they retire is part of the IWF’s long-term Strategic Plan that was approved unanimously. “It was great for us to gain seats for athletes to have a say on all the IWF commissions, and we really like the Transition Programme that will give athletes potentially life-changing skills. That’s exciting. “When I came here today I wanted to use the energy I got from that to show that as well as representing the athletes in front of the executive board and the Congress, I can also play the game when I’m feeling positive and healthy. “It’s a positive vibe to show the athletes that in your life you can do much more, whatever the national federation leaders might tell some of them. “We all have something to offer but we just need those doors to be open. I’m proud of what I did today. Anybody who watched me can see that I can be a motivator." Photo by Brian Oliver It was a night of disappointment for the first Israelis ever to compete in an Olympic sport in Saudi Arabia, as both failed to make any gains on their best totals in qualifying. In the women’s 71kg C group, Nikol Rubanovich made only two good lifts in her 95-115-210 while Celia Gold left the platform fearing she had badly damaged her elbow in missing her final attempt. It turned out not to be serious and Gold, who made three good lifts for 97-122-219, said, “It didn’t go to plan after a month of training in Israel, but at least I’m OK.” Gold and Rubanovich had both made entry totals of 230kg. They are joined by two men, Artur Mugurdumov and David Litvinov, and two coaches in being the first team from Israel in any Olympic sport to compete in Saudi Arabia. “Everybody has been very welcoming,” Gold said. The biggest name in the C Group was the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Chen Wen-huei from Chinese Taipei, who was in a position to move up plenty of places in the Paris rankings when she had a 235kg total with two lifts to come. Chen missed both, though, and moved up one place to ninth on 104-131-235. By Brian Oliver, Inside the