News

IWF President meeting Tunisian Sport leaders

The African Junior and Youth (YOG Qualification) Championships are about to kick off in Tunis, Tunisia. Prior to the competition, Mr. Mohamed Nadir Feki, President of the Tunisian Weightlifting Federation organized a meeting between Dr. Tamas Ajan, IWF President; Mr. Khaled Mhalhel, President of the Weightlifting Federation of Africa; Mr. Saber Bouatay, Tunisian Sports Minister and Mr. Mehrez Boussayene, President of the Tunisian Olympic

IWF at SportAccord

Owned by SportAccord, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Association of Winter Olympic International Federations (AIOWF), SportAccord Convention brings together representatives from more than 100 International Sports Federations and organisations affiliated with SportAccord, ASOIF, AIOWF, Association of Recognised IOC Sports Federations (ARISF) and Alliance of Independent Members of SportAccord (AIMS). This year’s SportAccord was held in Belek, Turkey gathering over 1500 leading representatives from international sport. Dr. Tamas Ajan, IWF President, Ma Wenguang, IWF General Secretary and Attila Adamfi, IWF Director General participated in the 5 days convention. Besides being present at the ASOIF General Assembly, SportAccord General Assembly, Masters Games General Assembly and IOC Executive Board Meeting, they also held meetings with Nanjing 2014, Commonwealth Games Federation, Rio 2016 and several upcoming

Members of the Malta Weightlifting Association finished Weightlifting coaching courses

Nine men and two women members of the Malta Weightlifting Association finished successfully a Weightlifting coaching courses organised by the Malta Olympic Committee Coaching Academy with the help of the Olympic Solidarity in collaboration with the Semmelweis University of Hungary. Five of the students successfully obtained the Instructor Level 1 together with other six members that continued their studies successfully for Coaching Level 2. The ceremony for the presentation of the Certificates was held at the Chamber of Commerce in Valletta on Sunday 6th April. Certificates were presented by the Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education of the Semmelweis University Dr. Radak Zsolt. It is also planned that the weightlifting Pro License Level 3 Course will be conducted by the end of this

IWF President visiting the European events in Israel

On the eve of the 2014 European Weightlifting Championships now being contested in Tel Aviv, Israel, the IWF President took part in the meeting of the Executive Board and the Congress of the European Weightlifting Federation. Among other important items on the Agenda, the major mission of the Executive meeting and the Congress was to approve the new, updated EWF Constitution. The document, which was elaborated painstakingly with the counsel of the IWF is now in compliance with the IWF Constitution, By-Laws, TCRR and Anti-Doping Policy, and its unanimous approval was labelled by the EWF President Dr. Antonio Urso as a "historical step". The beginning of the European Congress was dedicated to the dear memory of the late Dr. Shimon Barak, former President of the Israeli Weightlifting Federation and IWF Officer in many different capacities, in the presence of his wife Yochi Barak. IWF Executive Board Member Ms Moira Lassen was attending the EWF events - this time also representing the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow. Dr. Tamás Aján was further accompanied by Attila Ádámfi, IWF Director General, Anikó Németh-Móra, Director in charge of the European relations and Dr. Magdolna Trombitás, Legal Counsel.

Jose Quinones member of the IOC Sport for All Commission

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach announced the composition of the IOC commissions for 2014. Congratulations to Jose Quinones, IWF Vice President, President of the Peruvian Weightlifting Federation and President of the Peruvian Olympic Committee now member of the IOC Sport for All Commission. Check out the full list of the

Trinidad and Tobago mourns death of nation’s first Olympic medallist Wilkes

Rodney Wilkes, the weightlifter who won Trinidad and Tobago's first ever Olympic medal, has died at the age of 89 after battling against prostate cancer. The featherweight athlete first made his mark on the international scene when he won gold at the 1946 Central American and Caribbean Games. He then secured his first Olympic medal - and indeed the nation's - when he claimed the silver at the London 1948 Games, before winning gold at the 1951 Pan American Games and bronze at the Helsinki 1952 Olympics. The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games saw him claim the featherweight title, and he went on to claim bronze at the 1958 edition in the Welsh city of Cardiff. An injury meant Wilkes was unable to defend his Pan American title in 1955 and he just missed the podium, placing fourth, at his third and final Olympics in Melbourne in 1956. He continued competing through to 1960 before retiring that year. Wilkes was inducted into the National Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and was also awarded the Hummingbird Medal. Despite his sporting feats, Wilkes lived a life of poverty. Trinidad and Tobago Minister of Sport Anil Roberts said he was "saddened" by the passing of such an iconic sports figure and pledged funding to help pay for his funeral. "Wilkes' historic feats at the Olympic Games as well as his other achievements at international level, are not forgotten by those of us in the sport industry who believe that his efforts are an inspiration to those who dreamed of success in their chosen sport," he added. "We are extremely grateful for the time he spent with us and wish to honour his life in a suitable manner. "The Ministry stands ready to offer whatever support is required for his final farewell." Brian Lewis, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC), also paid tribute to the athlete. "Mr Wilkes' achievements are etched in Trinidad and Tobago's sporting history," he told insidethegames. "He is an acclaimed, authentic hero and sport great. "His Olympic medals, his Commonwealth, Pan Am and CAC gold medals. "His courage and determination to battle against the odds defined his years in the competitive arena of weightlifting. "There are important lessons the TTOC must learn from the life and times of our country's historic Olympic medallist. "As we bid a final farewell to the man who laid down the foundation and was a driving force for all of Trinidad and Tobago's Olympians and Olympic medallists, there can be no greater tribute to Mr Rodney Wilkes than the sustainable revival of the sport of Olympic weightlifting in Trinidad and Tobago." Source: insidethegames The International Weightlifting Federation wishes to express its deepest condolences to the Trinidad and Tobago Weightlifting Federation and community as well as to Mr. Wilkes’s