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Youth Olympic Games

It’s time for Africa – see you in Senegal at the YOG 2022

The fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games 2022 (YOG) will be held in Dakar, Senegal. The decision was unanimously taken by a show of hands from the full International Olympic Committee (IOC) membership during the IOC Session in Buenos Aires. This is the first time the Youth Olympic Games will be organised in Africa. Four African countries* were in the running and, after thorough analysis, the Evaluation Commission and the Executive Board determined that Dakar, Senegal, presented the best value proposition and the greatest opportunities at this moment in time. Dakar 2022 presented a visionary, ambitious and technically sound YOG project that addresses the long-term aims of the country. Senegal has a large youth population and views the YOG as a catalyst for engaging young people and developing the country’s sport and youth policy. Significant investments are already being made toward youth and sport as part of the country’s overarching framework “Plan Sénégal émergent”, which sets out the President’s vision to 2035. IOC President Thomas Bach said: “Africa is united behind Senegal to host the Youth Olympic Games 2022. With a young population and a passion for sport, it is time for Africa, it is time for Senegal.” The competitions and activities will be held across three cities, showing the many facets of Senegal: the historic capital of Dakar; the new city of Diamniadio; and the natural beauty of Saly on the coast. The President of Senegal, Macky Sall, who made the journey to Buenos Aires for the historic IOC decision said: “Senegal and its young people are proud of the honour you have bestowed upon us, in entrusting the organisation of the Youth Olympic Games 2022 to our country. “In fact, it is the whole of Africa, the birthplace of humankind through its history and the youngest continent through its demographics, which will welcome the young athletes of the world in 2022.” Considering the unifying power of the Games, the IOC is pleased to count on the four parties, who have all endorsed the decision of the IOC and pledged full support to the selected host. The decision took place during the 3rd edition of the Youth Olympic Games, currently taking place in Buenos Aires from 6 to 18 October. Source: IOC — Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

Decisive Snatch

Two athletes stood out in the Men’s 77kg bodyweight category. The 2018 European Youth Champion MARGARYAN Karen (ARM) and the 2018 Asian Youth Champion TOSHTEMIROV Mukhammadkodir (UZB). The two secured considerable advantage in the Snatch. The Armenian lifter ended with 141kg while the Uzbek registered 140kg. Third place MOSTAFA Abdalla Galal Mohamed (EGY) came in with 125kg. The Clean and Jerk competition was way more balanced however it was impossible for anyone competing to challenge the two leading youth athletes. MOSTAFA Abdalla Galal Mohamed (EGY) lifted the most with 170kg, but his Total of 295kg kept him third. With only good lifts, both MARGARYAN and TOSHTEMIROV made it to 168kg. It was the 1kg advantage from the Snatch that led the Armenian lifter to the Gold leaving TOSHTEMIROV with the

Athlete Role Model: Morghan King

By Kevin Farley For the first time since her debut at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016, Morghan King (USA) returned to South America. This time not as an athlete to compete, but to serve the sport as an Athlete Role Model at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The last time Morghan was in South America, she faced the biggest competition of her life. This time, however, she is feeling more relaxed, without an Olympic competition hanging over her head. “It is great to be in Argentina and our wonderful hosts in Buenos Aires,” King said. “I am happy to be here without the pressure of an Olympic competition. I am enjoying spending time with the athletes and children of Buenos Aires.” The IWF and International Olympic Committee selected Morghan to support, advise and inspire the youth athletes taking part in these Youth Olympic Games. She is also serving as an ambassador to the sport, leading demonstrations of Olympic Weightlifting for local children. “Getting to show this wonderful sport, and getting people involved in a sport for everyone is a major reason why I came to Buenos Aires,” King said. At each one of her daily sessions, more than 50 children learn the fundamentals of Olympic Weightlifting, from how to hold the bar, to how to snatch and clean & jerk. Participants also learn how Olympic Weightlifting can help them lead stronger, healthier lives. “Getting the opportunity to working with children and show them that weightlifting is not only a competitive sport, but it can benefit you in many ways, including your mental health is an honor,” King said. “For me, weightlifting is all about body awareness and body positivity, and it is important for me to show the children that this sport can help them in all aspects of their lives.” For the first time in Olympic history, these Youth Olympic Games have achieved gender equality—equal number of male and female participants. For Morghan’s athlete demonstrations, this equality has been evident, with roughly half the participants being young girls. “It’s exciting for me to know that I have a reach and that I am able to inspire young girls,” King said. “A lot of the time we tend to put women in feminine sports, I think with weightlifting, we’re starting to get a lot of women that’s awesome for me to be involved in.” Inspiring athletes of today and tomorrow is central to the mission of the Athlete Role Model program. For Morghan, this means demonstrating Olympic weightlifting and furthering women’s role in the sport. “They saw that even a small woman can lift big weights, not just big girls or men,” King said. “It was great to show them that this sport welcomes all people of any shapes or

First African medals – Gold for BELKHIR and Silver for SAID

African Youth and Junior Champion BELKHIR Ghofrane (TUN) also ranking third at the IWF Junior World Championships put on a show at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Her main rival in the Women’s 58kg was SAID Neama Said Fahmi (EGY), first at the African Youth Games. It is the first time the two competed against each other and the result was a competition full of enjoyment and friendly challenge. BELKHIR lifted 1kg more than SAID in the Snatch – 88kg for the first and 87kg for the second. Same happened in the Snatch where the Tunisian lifter made it to 108kg and the Egyptian to 107kg. BELKHIR Ghofrane (TUN) won the Gold Medal and SAID Neama Said Fahmi (EGY) won the Silver Medal. With a Total of 186kg, BROWN Peyton (USA) made it third with a 13kg advantage over fourth

Weightlifting Family: Olympism in Action

By Kevin Farley Pyrros Dimas always draws a crowd. For the three-time Olympic Champion, walking through a weightlifting venue is like attending a family reunion. “Weightlifting is like my family,” Dimas said. “No matter where in the world I go, I have family with me.” Representing Greece in four Olympic Games, Dimas says the ideals of Olympism and unity through sport runs through his veins. “I feel a great responsibility to keep the Olympic Spirit alive,” Dimas said. That is why there was no question when he was asked to help an athlete from Uganda at the Youth Olympic Games. Just 16 years old, Hamdan Lutaaya Sserwanga arrived in Buenos Aires with his national delegation, but his coach was back home in Uganda. IWF International Technical Official, Janet Musoke Namwanga asked Dimas to step in and help her fellow Ugandan. “Of course, I said ‘yes,’” Dimas said. “It is my role as an ambassador to this sport to help all athletes. Many people put me up on a pedestal, but it is important to show that I am an athlete too, and I want to use my experience to help anyone who needs it.” It is not every day that a three-time Olympic champion, and, arguably, one of the most famous men in weightlifting asks to be your coach at the biggest competition of our life, but for Hamdan, that happened just two days before he was to compete. “He was very excited,” Dimas said. “I was excited that he was excited. I like to see athletes succeed in weightlifting, and to be part of that journey is very important to me.” Dimas, along with his older brother and Greek national coach, Odisseas, worked with Hamdan in the days leading up to his competition. “We did a little technique work, but he was very strong and ready to compete,” Dimas said. “He is a warrior.” After two days of training, the time to compete had arrived. During Monday’s 62kg session, Hamdan went a perfect six-for-six setting new personal bests in the Snatch, Clean & Jerk and Total. It was not only a celebration for Hamdan, but for the sport of Weightlifting and the wider Olympic Movement. Founded on the values of peace, education and understanding, Olympism’s goal is to show that the world can unite through sport. What happened on that Youth Olympic platform Monday night was nothing short of Olympism in action. The foundation of the Olympic spirit was put into action and translated into real difference for an athlete. “In sport, you can see unity in people, no matter where they come from,” Dimas said. “I am honoured that our Weightlifting family holds these ideals so dearly.” — Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

Mexican lifter worth her weight in gold

Four years ago Yesica Hernandez Vieyra had never heard of weightlifting. On Monday she proved her precocious talent by taking the 48kg title at the Youth Olympic Games. [caption id="attachment_24401" align="aligncenter" width="578"] Yesica Yadira Hernandez Vieyra MEX lifts for the Gold Medal in the Weightlifting Womens 48kg Category at the Europa Pavilion, Youth Olympic Park. The Youth Olympic Games, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday 8th October 2018. Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand for OIS/IOC. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOC[/caption] BUENOS AIRES - Mexican lifter Yesica Hernandez Vieyra showed off her talent after only four years of weightlifting by coming from behind to win gold in the women’s 48kg at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games. “Four years ago I didn’t even know the sport,” 16-year-old Hernandez Vieyra said. “A friend of mine asked me to try it. My coach told me that I have talent in weightlifting and he believed one day I could participate in the Olympic Games. “My dream was to fight for the gold. I kept training really hard. I didn't go out with my friends so frequently and made sure that I was focused on my training. Now all the effort, the training, I think are worthwhile.” The Mexican paid tribute to her mother for her unconditional support. “My mother also didn’t know the sport when I first practised weightlifting, but she just stood by my side the whole time,” she said. “I really learned a lot from weightlifting. It has played a part in my growth. I like the feeling of lifting barbells and training with my teammates.” Colombia's Yineth Santoya Ortiz made a strong start at the Europa Pavilion in the Youth Olympic Park, lifting 76kg in the snatch, 2kg more than the Mexican. But Hernandez Vieyra then lifted 11kg more than her rival in the clean & jerk, to register 171kg overall. “In the snatch, I didn't really concentrate. In the clean & jerk, I kept focused and believed I could come back to win the gold,” Hernandez Vieyra said. Santoya Ortiz was third in the clean & jerk with 86kg and in the end had to settle for silver with 162kg overall. Mihaela Cambei (ROU) took bronze with 158kg. [caption id="attachment_24402" align="aligncenter" width="568"] Lalrinnunga Jeremy IND roars in delight after taking the Gold Medal with a successful lift of 150kg during the Weightlifting Mens 62kg Group A competition in the Europa Pavilion, Youth Olympic Park during The Youth Olympic Games, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday 8th October 2018. Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand for OIS/IOC. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOC[/caption] Lalrinnunga Jeremy (IND), the Commonwealth youth and junior champion in 2017, battled Turkey’s Caner Toptas lift for lift in the men’s 62kg, as they turned the competition of 14 lifters into a two-horse race in the snatch. Only 2kg separated the pair going into the clean & jerk, but the Indian lifter proved too strong, securing gold with 150kg in the clean & jerk for a total of 274kg. “I felt sad after the snatch, but my coach motivated me to fight for good lifts in the clean & jerk. That’s why I (rediscovered) my good form,” said Jeremy, who turns 16 this month. With 122kg in the snatch and 141kg in the clean and jerk, Toptas took silver, while Estiven Villar Manjarres (COL) won bronze. Source: www.buenosaires2018.com — Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter