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PASO President Vázquez Raña congratulates Peru on early preparations for Lima 2019

Mario Vázquez Raña, President of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), has congratulated Peru on its "excellent work" so far as it prepares to host the 2019 Pan and Parapan American Games in the capital Lima. The Mexican's comments came after a meeting with Peruvian Olympic Committee (POC) and Lima 2019 officials, where he was presented with a report that outlined the progress already achieved since the city was awarded the Games at the PASO General Assembly in Toronto last October. José Quiñones, President of the POC, also discussed the development of the master plan for Lima 2019, the forming of the Organising Committee, construction work, the sports programme and the establishment of an anti-doping laboratory. "We have committed to the Pan American Sports Organization to complete all major works before 2016, even when there are 65 months left for the start of the Games in Peru; however, the athletes' village is not included to be finished within this period," Quiñones added. Vázquez Raña reiterated the full support of the Americas Olympic Movement and said it has confidence in Peru to deliver a great event. The 2019 Pan American Games are expected to attract more than 6,000 top athletes from 41 countries across the continent. Source:

Technical Officials’ nomination deadline expires TODAY

The deadline for the Technical Officials’ nomination to the 2014 IWF events expires today. You are kindly reminded to send the Nomination Form to the

Colombian Weightlifting Federation Elections

The Colombian Weightlifting Federation held elections in February 2014. The new leadership of the Federation is as follows President: Ana Edurne Camacho Corredor General Secretary: Luís Fernando Martínez Arce Vice-President: Daniel Andrés García Arizabaleta Treasurer: William De Jesús Restrepo Cifuentes Member: Jesús Yused Bonilla

Technical visit for 2015Toronto PanAm Games

The 1st technical visit for 2015Toronto PanAm Games was successfully concluded 515 days before the Opening Ceremony. Following the decision of PASO in 2009, Toronto made significant efforts to prepare an athlete centered Games, to be held between 10 – 26 July 2015. More than 8.500 athletes and Team Officials from 41 NOCs are expected to participate in 28 Olympic and 8 non-Olympic sports. Weightlifting competitions will be organized in the Oshawa Sports Center, in the suburbs of Toronto (sharing the venue with Boxing) accommodating 2.250 spectators. The total quota of weightlifting athletes is 125 and the Qualification System for the Games has been approved by PASO and communicated to the NOCs. Attila Adamfi, IWF Director General was satisfied with the preparations having discussions with Bob O’Doherty, Senior Vice President, Sport & Venues, Justan Steele, Sport Manager, Don McNeill, Sport Organizing Committee Chair and the leaders of different Functional

Weightlifting dominating the Mauritian Sporting Arena

Weightlifters’ Miss Shalinee Valaydon (26 years old) and Mr. Yvan Pierrot (17 years old) were awarded the Sportswoman of the Year and Junior Sportsman of the Year respectively during a grandiose ceremony held last week at the Intercontinental Hotel, Balaclava in Mauritius. It’s the first time in the history of our sport a weightlifter won the senior award in Mauritius. The last time a weightlifter was honored with a national sports award was in 2002 whereby Mr. Hansley Gaya won the Junior Sportsman category. Miss Shalinee Valaydon’s 1 gold medal and 2 silver medals won at the 2013 African Weightlifting Championships in Morocco already placed her as top favorite for the title. Her season was also highlighted by the France National Championship’s gold medal she won in March 2013, and various good performances including National Records she improved at local events she participated. Yvan Pierrot who had rather a complicated season due to a Motorcycle accident, he encountered in August 2013, had almost compromised his participation at the Commonwealth Championships in Penang – Malaysia. However, he resumed training by mid September and with the guidance and training program set by his coaches and his determination and devotion in training he was able to produce an outstanding performance at the Commonwealth Championships. He won the gold medal in Youth and bronze medal in Junior. He even equaled the snatch Commonwealth Championships Youth Record. Apart from the 2 awards won by Weightlifters’, Mauritius former National Coach Mr. Gino Souprayen was nominated for the Coach of the Year Award. This award was however, quite reasonably won by the Kick Boxing Coach whose athletes won gold at the World Championships. The Mauritius Amateur Weightlifters’ and Powerlifters’ Association (MAWPLA) is extremely glad and honored by these achievements. Source:

Rio 2016 Qualification System approved

The IOC approved the Qualification System for Weightlifting for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad. During its meeting held on Sunday 2 February in Sochi, Russia, following an excellent collaboration with the IWF in the elaboration of the System, the IOC Executive Board approved the final version. The principles are the same as for the London 2012 Olympic Games - a combination of Team and Individual Qualification. You can find the document on the page we created specially for the Rio 2016 Olympic