News

6th IWF Grand Prix – Russian Federation President’s Cup concluded

Kazan again offered superb conditions and warm hospitality for the participants of the first Olympic Qualification Event in 2016. The Event was opened by Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Igor Nagornikh, Deputy Sports Minister of Russia, Alexander Gerasimenko, Vice President and Attila Adamfi, Director General of IWF. On the first competition day in women’s 75 kg a great number of spectators watched the fight between Mariia Petrova (RUS), Junior World and European Champion of 2015 and Johanie Filiatreault (CAN), bronze medalist of the Junior World Championships of 2013. Fililatreault received gold medal, Petrova silver and Jessica Phillips (USA) bronze. The Canadian anthem was followed by the Russian one in men’s 94 kg, as Adam Maligov (RUS) was awarded three gold medals with 375 kg in total. The winner of the Grand Prix last year, Junior European Champion, silver medalist at the 2014 Senior World Championships defeated Viktor Getts (RUS) and Bianco Angelo (USA). In women’s + 75 kg Hripsime Khurshudyan (ARM), bronze medalist of London 2012, several times World and European Champion won. Wesley Kitts (USA) was a surprise in men’s 105 kg, as his name has not been known by the public and received three bronze medals. Jaroslav Samoraj (POL) was the winner in this bodyweight category with a total of 400 kg, adding 15 kg to the total of Gennady Muratov (RUS) silver medalist. An enthusiastic audience cheered the victory of Ruben Aleksanyan (ARM), Junior World Champion, European silver medalist who won the men’s heavyweight category. Peter Nagy (HUN) finished second, Jirzi Orsag (CZE) third. In spite of the expectations Chingiz Mogushov (RUS) could get only the fourth place, but he was the winner having the highest bodyweight (195,80 kg) ever registered at IWF Events. The event concluded with a spectacular gala dinner where the best team – traditionally the Russian one – was awarded. The two-day competition was held in excellent surroundings and the 6th IWF Grand Prix - Russian President’s Cup finished with great success. Kazan proved to be a perfect host again, after organising several international weightlifting events in the past

Kazan is ready to kick off

The IWF Grand Prix - 6th President’s Cup of the Russian Federation will take place in Kazan on 19-20th March, the preparations of the event are coming to an end. At an international press conference held today in Ak Bars Sport Hall Mr Attila Adamfi, IWF Director General greeted the hosts and representatives of the media on behalf of Dr Tamas Ajan, IWF President. He said that he is always pleased to visit the „Sport Capital of Russia” which has hosted several international competitions in different sports. The weightlifters come home to Kazan, as European Championships, Universiade, Junior World Championships have been held here before. He emphasized that it is the first individual Olympic qualification event in 2016, this is why it has great importance. Several participants of the Grand Prix will compete at the Rio Olympic Games, too. Mr Sergey Syrtsov, President of the Russian Weightlifting Federation reminded the audience that after Belgorod, Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Noyabrsk and Grozny the President’s Cup is held for the 6th time. 41 athletes are expected to compete representing 12 countries, including outstanding Russian weightlifters like Mogushkov Chingiz and from Tatarstan Andrey Demanov and Maria Petrova. He highly evaluated the professional level of the organisation. Mr Vladimir Leonov, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport of the Republic of Tatarstan thanked for the possibility of holding this prestigious international event in

IWF Executive Board Meeting in Rio

The IWF Executive Board had its meeting in Rio de Janeiro, BRA – city to host in august the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. After the opening speech of Dr. Tamas Ajan, IWF President, Mr. Carlos Nuzman, President of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee welcomed all members. Accompanied by Mr. Agberto Guimaraes, Sports Director and Mr. Pedro Meloni, Weightlifting Sport Manager, the Members of the Executive Board received detailed information on the latest weightlifting and Games related topics. Major issues discussed during the meeting were related to the Olympic Qualification events, future steps to be made focusing on the IOC Agenda 2020 and good governance. With special focus on the upcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the Executive Board visited the weightlifting venues - including competition and training sites. They felt confident that weightlifting events of the Games will be well organized and very

Long-time Bulgarian weightlifting official Nikola Mollov dies

The Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation  is saddened to inform the weightlifting community about the death of its former General Secretary/Executive Director Nikola Mollov. Mr. Mollov was an active official in both the EWF and the IWF - through 13 years member of the Auditor Committee of the IWF. The IWF offers its condolences to the Mollov

International Federation Women in Leadership Forum celebrates International Women’s Day

IWF Executive Board member Moira Lassen and IWF Women's Commission member Karoliina Lundahl attended a forum about women's role in leadership positions in sports. The forum was held in Lausanne, Switzerland, around the International Women's Day and arranged by International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF). Guest speakers from summer Olympic sports such as wrestling, rugby, triathlon and weightlifting presented case studies in how the role of women in sports has changed in the past decades. Some decades ago the discussion lied in increasing women's participation in sports. This goal has been achieved as many international federations can show gender equality in athlete participation numbers. However, today's discussion lies within the need to bring women into leadership positions as women's participation numbers are very low in leadership positions as well as working on the field as coaches and referees. Wrestling presented their case with the crude reminder of happenings of 2013 as the sport lost its Olympic status. The sport had to reinvent itself and it looked for resources within the sport. They focused on bringing in more girls and women into the sport by launching Sport Mobility promotions such as #SUPER8 and #EACHONEBRINGONE. Within the Super 8  promotion they focused on introducing eight different women champions to the world in order to gain awareness about the sport amidst girls; the Each One Bring One promotion focused on that each athlete should bring another athlete to the sport. Another important focus was to include women in the Olympic Solidarity coaching program and because of this there are now 15.5% women on the field as coaches. With great input from women champions of the sport, wrestling regained its spot as an Olympic Sport and has created a new international federation called United World Wrestling. The successful Social Mobility program in wrestling is based on four basic pillars which can be implemented in other sports. The first pillar is to examine best practices and borrow what's already out there. The second pillar is that one backs up the message with facts and research. The third pillar cries out for turning policies into concrete action. And the last pillar calls for continuous action: KEEP GOING! IWF Executive Board members Moira Lassen and José Quiñones were guest speakers in the forum. Lassen gave a personal presentation about her life from coming into the sport as a young mother of a weightlifter into the first female board member in our sport. She shared her pathway which at times was troubled as she learned good sports government by putting in numerous voluntary hours into the sport. In the upcoming year Lassen as the Chair of the Women's Commission will present the Executive Board with three important initiatives in order to achieve IOC's Agenda 2020 recommendations: Implementation of a new female weight category from seven to eight in order to promote gender equality; implementation of a mandatory female Vice President position within the constitutional electoral process; and engage the Executive Board to register in the United Nations #HEFORSHE campaign. Quiñones spoke as the President of Peruvian Olympic Committee about the cultural barriers that women face in everyday life and what the Peruvian Olympic Committee has done to raise the participation numbers of women in sports. He called for cooperation across the playing field - in both women and men leaders - to increase the numbers of women in leadership roles. This IOC Forum was chosen to be held on the International Women's Day (IWD) March 8. The theme for the IWD 2016 is #PledgeForParity where everyone can pledge to take a concrete step to help achieve gender equality more quickly. As the IWD official website states: "[It can be]... to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, call for gender-balanced leadership, respect and value difference, develop more inclusive and flexible cultures or root out workplace bias. Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity." (From Karoliina Lundahl/Moira

Pan American Federation Electoral Congress

The Pan American Weightlifting Federation (PAWF) held its Electoral Congress successfully in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on 26 February 2016. Besides the delegates from 22 Pan American member federations, the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee Secretary General Antonio Acosta, the IWF President Dr. Tamás Aján, the General Secretary Wenguang Ma, the Vice President Sam Coffa as well as 5 Executive Board Members and several international guests also participated in the Congress. The Congress was named “Congreso Eleccionario Santo Domingo 2016 in Memoriam Eddie Suarez” – Eddie Suarez Rojas, the son of the previous PAWF General Secretary Eddie Suarez who was tragically died last year also attended and made an emotional speech while receiving the PWF recognition on behalf of his late father. Following the various reports of PAWF, the election concluded with success. Willian Ozuna was the sole candidate for the PAWF President position. He was unanimously reelected and showed a strong leadership for the PAWF’s tight unity. Rafael Pacho (CUB) was elected as General Secretary among 3 candidates running for the position. Ana Camacho (COL) set a historical milestone as she is the first ever female on the PAWF Board – she was elected as a Vice President. The new PAWF Executive Board Members are: Willian OZUNA (DOM) – President Rafael PACHO (CUB) – General Secretary Ana CAMACHO (COL) – Vice President Kyle PIERCE (USA) – Vice President Andres VARGAS (PUR) – Vice President Fernando ESQUIVEL (CRC) – Member Miguel NINO (NCA) – Member Luis ZAMBRANO (ECU) – Member HARTHEY Cristian (CHI) – Treasurer Elected Committee members are: Gustavo MALGOR (ARG) – Technical Committee Maritza ORTIZ (DOM) – Technical Committee Hugo THEMEN (ARU) – Technical Committee Carlos CUERVO (CUB) – Coaching and Research Committee David MONTERO (BRA) – Coaching and Research Committee Dr. Rafael ROMERO (ESA) – Medical Committee Dr. Roxanna VARGAS (DOM) – Medical Committee Dr. Mark LAVALLEE (USA) – Medical Committee Congratulations to all the elected officials! (by Reiko