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Uzbekistan opens weightlifting school to mark International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

The National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan marked International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6 with the opening of the Akbar Djuraev Weightlifting School, a state-of-the-art training facility for young weightlifters in Tashkent.  The facility is named in honour of Akbar Djuraev, who made history as Uzbekistan's second Olympic weightlifting champion, securing gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games with an Olympic record total of 430kg. The school will serve as a major hub for future generations, aiming to unite young athletes and further expand weightlifting’s reach in Central Asia.   “We are very proud to mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace with the opening of this state-of-the-art facility,” said Otabek Umarov, First Deputy Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan and Vice-President of the Olympic Council of Asia. “We know very well that sport has the power to drive social change and bring communities together. I would, therefore, like to thank the Ministry of Sport, Trade Union and everyone involved in making this project a reality.”   Mr Otabek Umarov delivering his speech “I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to Uzbekistan on the opening of this fantastic new facility,” said IWF President Mohammed Jalood. “Uzbekistan has become a true powerhouse in our sport and the Akbar Djuraev Weightlifting School – honouring one of the brightest Stars at world and Olympic level – is a testament to their dedication. This school provides a vital opportunity to continue the development of weightlifting not only in Uzbekistan but across all of Central Asia, ensuring a bright future for the next generation of young lifters.” This journey toward excellence was sparked by Ruslan Nurudinov’s historic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which inspired thousands of young lifters and catalysed significant infrastructure development throughout Uzbekistan. This momentum has not only elevated Uzbek lifters, coaches and officials to a world-class level, but has also established the country as an elite destination for major events.   Akbar Djuraev competing at the 2025 IWF Worlds Building on this legacy, Uzbekistan has successfully hosted the 2021 IWF World Championships and Electoral Congress, the 2021 IWF Junior World Championships, the 2013 IWF Youth World Championships and multiple Asian Championships. This proven track record recently led the IWF to award Uzbekistan the prestigious opportunity to host one of the five IWF Qualifiers for the 2028 LA Olympic

One month to go for the IWF Junior Worlds in Ismailia (EGY)

Exactly one month before the start of the IWF World Junior Championships, an IWF delegation concluded today a technical visit to Ismailia (EGY), the host city of the competition, taking place from May 2-8. The group was led by IWF Vice-President Khaled Mehalhel (also President of the Weightlifting Federation of Africa), and included Achilleas Tsogas (IWF CEO), Matyas Lencser (IWF Competition Manager), Timea Horvath (IWF Development and Education Manager), and Zoltan Veres (IWF IT Manager). Mr Manareddin Eshelli, General Secretary of the Weightlifting Federation of Africa was also present in the meetings between the IWF and the Organising Committee. IWF and Egyptian representatives during the meeting in Ismailia While in Ismailia, our International Federation’s representatives could visit the venue of the Championships (including competition, warm-up and training areas), as well as the hotels welcoming the participating teams. Technical aspects related to the organisation of the event were also reviewed, and comprised: anti-doping operations, media and TV production, sports presentation, opening and closing ceremonies, security, accreditation, and local transportation. After the two-day visit to Egypt, and according to the IWF delegation, the level of confidence is “highly positive” and the IWF is “expecting a successful staging of the Championships”. The hosts of the competition, led by the President of the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation, Mr Mohamed Abdelmaksoud (also IWF EB Member), were praised for the work done so far, thus ensuring that participants coming to Ismailia can greatly enjoy the event. The venue of the competition The Final Entries for the 2026 IWF World Junior Championships must be confirmed by the National Member Federations by today (through this link: https://mf.iwf.sport), while the Verification of Final Entries will be done on April 17. After the IWF event, the African Weightlifting Championships will be held in the same venue, from May 10-17. IWF

IWF President has “very fruitful meeting” with IOC President in Lausanne

The IWF President Mohammed Jalood met yesterday in Lausanne (SUI) with the IOC President Kirsty Coventry at the Olympic House, where both dignitaries had the opportunity to discuss topics of mutual interest. Mr Jalood was accompanied by IWF General Secretary José Quiñones and by IWF CEO Achilleas Tsogas. IOC President Kirsty Coventry and IWF President Mohammed Jalood The IWF delegation started by expressing our International Federation’s deepest gratitude and appreciation for the inclusion of two additional bodyweight categories in the 2028 Olympic Games Los Angeles programme, thus decisively contributing to a safer and fairer competitive environment for the athletes. The upcoming Olympic rendezvous will comprise six categories for both men and women. Comparing with the Paris 2024 programme (5+5), there will be now a reduction in the gap between the categories, a request specifically addressed by the IWF Athletes Commission. The IWF representatives also reaffirmed their complete support to Ms Coventry’s efforts to dissociate Sports from any political interferences, so that athletes and their performances can remain at the core of the Olympic Movement.   From left to right: Achilleas Tsogas (IWF CEO), José Quiñones (IWF General Secretary), Kirsty Coventry (IOC President), and Mohammed Jalood (IWF President) Finally, the IWF President underlined the robust restructuring that our International Federation undertook in recent years, and the efforts for the sport of Weightlifting to remain an added-value and respected partner within the Olympic Movement. On the occasion of this meeting, coinciding with the presence of Greek legend Pyrros Dimas signing the Olympian’s Wall, the IWF representatives offered Ms Coventry a small trophy representing our Sport, and the commemorative book celebrating IWF’s 120th anniversary in 2025. “It was a very fruitful and productive meeting. We had an open discussion on the topics involving Weightlifting and the Olympic Movement. We stressed out our firm commitment in driving our beloved Sport in the right direction and we expressed our deepest gratitude and appreciation to the IOC for the constant support and decisive collaboration,” stated the IWF President at the end of the encounter. IWF

Greek legend Pyrros Dimas signs the Olympian’s Wall in Lausanne

Pyrros Dimas is the most Olympic medalled lifter in the history of the IWF and also the most successful Greek athlete in the Games history (all sports included). Today, he received a special tribute at the Olympic House in Lausanne (SUI), where he had the honour to sign the Olympian’s Wall. In a ceremony attended by IOC President Kirsty Coventry and the IWF President Mohammed Jalood, the immense champion could not hide his emotion and happiness for this recognition. The IWF General Secretary José Quiñones and the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic in Switzerland, Ms Ekaterini Simopoulou were also among the guests at the IOC Headquarters. From left to right: José Quiñones (IWF General Secretary), HE Ekaterini Simopoulou (Greek Ambassador in Switzerland), Pyrros Dimas, Kirsty Coventry (IOC President), Mohammed Jalood (IWF President), Nicolas Dimas, and Achilleas Tsogas (IWF CEO) With three gold medals – 1992, 1996, and 2000 -, and a bronze lining at home, at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Dimas is a reference in the Sport and a Hellenic inspirational hero. His third place in the Greek capital was perhaps the most inspirational moment of his rich career, with the local fans applauding him for long minutes, during the medal ceremony. After that, he announced his retirement. Pyrros Dimas with IOC President Kirsty Coventry “It has definitively been a great trajectory, full of beautiful and rewarding memories. I was very privileged to live such moments and to succeed at this level. Weightlifting has been an essential part of my life, and even today I get emotional when receiving these tributes. I would like to thank the IOC and its President Kirsty Coventry for this initiative. I also express my gratitude to the IWF for accompanying me during my entire career!” considered the Hellenic ace. Also member of the IWF Executive Board and leading our International Federation’s Innovation Committee, Dimas believes he can still bring many positive outcomes to the Sport. “I am now on the ‘other side’, and I feel I can bring my experience and expertise to the benefit of our athletes, and events. Weightlifting undertook a lot of changes in recent years, and we are now a valuable and respected partner within the Olympic Movement. We need to continue the good work, and I am proud to be part of this team!” also stated Dimas. At the IOC Headquarters, next to Pierre de Coubertin's statue   Born in 1971 in Himara (Albania), to ethnic Greek parents, he soon demonstrates a great ability for the sport and moves in the beginning of the 1990s to Athens. At his first Olympic participation – Barcelona 1992 – Dimas gets the gold in the 82.5kg, with a total of 167.5-202.5-370. After this success, he is received like a hero at the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens (the one hosting the 1896 first Olympics of the modern era), but the world (and Greece) had only witnessed the start of a legendary journey that would include two more gold (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) and one bronze medal (Athens 2004). Signing the Olympian's Wall With personal bests of 180.5kg in Snatch, 215kg in C&J, and 392.5kg in Total, Dimas was also world champion on three occasions (1993, 1995, and 1998). In 2009, he was inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame and between 2012 and 2015, he was a member of the Hellenic Parliament. On the ceremony at the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne, Dimas was happy to add his name to a Wall of many legends in Sport. “What a nice feeling to share this space with so many other champions and Olympians! Each one of them is an example of determination, passion and devotion to his/her respective sport. It was also my case and I am very honoured to have my name in this so prestigious Wall,” concluded the Greek legend, who had a special witness at the ceremony in Lausanne: his 16-year-old son Nicolas. Pyrros Dimas in his glory days While in Lausanne, the champion also had the opportunity to visit the Olympic Museum, where he was invited to sign the Golden Book of the institution. Congratulations Pyrros Dimas! IWF

Great attendance at the IWF/ITA Clean Sport Education webinar for Coaches

A total of 362 participants attended the successful IWF/ITA Clean Sport Education webinar for Coaches, held last Thursday, March 19. From the IWF side, President Mohammed Jalood and General Secretary José Quiñones had the occasion of welcoming the attendees, while Colin Buckley, IWF International Coach Licence manager, was also present to specifically address the importance of this initiative for the weightlifting coaches. Besides the significant level of attendance, the feedback received from the participants was also very positive: at the post-webinar survey, a rate of 9.2/10 was achieved. The three main groups attending the webinar included 241 coaches, 63 athletes, and 31 administrators. By nationality, the most represented country was Türkiye, with 46 participants. The topics discussed comprised items such as the anti-doping roles and responsibilities, Member Federation’s categorisation, Therapeutic Use Exemptions, Testing process, or the Reporting procedure, This webinar is part of the global IWF/ITA Clean Sport Education programme, which includes also the organisation of in-person seminars at our main yearly events. IWF

LA28 IWF Qualifiers: Tender for Sale of Media and TV Rights is open

Following a first tender on TV Production, the IWF is launching today a second tender related to the organisation of IWF Qualifiers for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 – this time concerning the Sale of Media and Television Rights from those competitions. According to the procedure described in the Qualification System for LA28, five specific Qualifiers will take place between December 2026 and January 2028. The calendar of those events is as follows: 1st IWF Qualifier – [Doha, Qatar, December 2026] 2nd IWF Qualifier – [Tashkent, Uzbekistan, March 2027] 3rd IWF Qualifier – [Lima, Peru, June 2027] 4th IWF Qualifier – [Caracas, Venezuela, November 2027] 5th IWF Qualifier – [Chiang Rai, Thailand, January 2028] As a ‘package’ of five high-level competitions, the IWF is looking for the ideal partner to promote them worldwide, and to guarantee the maximum exposure of the IWF Qualifiers on the route to the Olympic Games in 2028. Proposals related to this tender must be received by the IWF until Monday, April 13, 2026. The IWF Tender related to the Sale of Media and TV Rights for the LA28 IWF Qualifiers can be found