News

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

IWF Medical Committee Meeting in Lausanne

The IWF Medical Committee held its extraordinary meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on 27 March 2014. Besides 9 members, Chairman Dr. Michael Irani Anti-Doping Commission Chairman Dr. Patrick Schamasch and IWF President Dr. Tamas Ajan being present, the IOC Medical Director Dr. Richard Budgett also participated in the meeting. Major topics discussed: The IWF Medical Committee set its 3 years working plan including the elaboration of a Medical Manual. Event organizers guidelines will also include a comprehensive Anti-Doping section with well-defined requirements to be provided at IWF events. The IWF Medical Kit to be used on major events such as World Championships was introduced in order to assure a proper and professional medical treatment for athletes on competition sites. Sports specific characteristics were established to differentiate weightlifting from other sports from the medical and analytical point of view. The meeting marked the first step of a tighter cooperation between the IOC Medical and Scientific Department, the IWF Medical Committee and the IWF Anti-Doping Commission in order to further harmonize the work in this

IWF President visits the Olympic Capital

On the occasion of his visit to the Olympic Capital the city of Lausanne, Dr. Tamas Ajan, IWF President together with Attila Adamfi, IWF Director General hold several meetings with international sports organizations. They met with Kit McConnell, newly appointed IOC Sports Director. During the meeting the IWF gave information regarding the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, focusing on the actual qualification status in weightlifting. With the Rio 2016 Olympic Games getting closer, the IOC provided crucial details related to the organization and weightlifting venue construction. At its meeting with Tim Goethals, ASOIF Project Manager, the IWF President received information about the latest steps made in the development of the International Sport Information System (ISIS) Project. SportAccord Director General, Vlad Marinescu gave information on the upcoming SportAccord Convention to be held in Belek, Turkey and the parties coordinated the possibilities of a closer cooperation for the future. Matthew Curtain, Sports Director of the Commonwealth Games Federation informed the IWF about the upcoming Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Also the introduction of an athlete quota system / qualification standard for future Games and a Memorandum Of Understanding between the CGF and IWF has been

South American Games Santiago 2014

The 10th South American Games Santiago 2014 was held in Santiago of Chile from 5-18 March gathering near 4000 athletes from 42 disciplines. Weightlifting competitions were held in the “Cúpula del Parque O’Higgins” between 13 and 16 of March with the participation of 97 lifters (51 men and 46 women) coming from 12 countries (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Panamá, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Aruba), becoming one of the disciplines that managed to overcome the threshold imposed by ODESUR of 5 countries for the realization of each category. Weightlifters showed outstanding performances, strength and talent during the 4 days event setting 2 New South American Games Records, in a spectacular venue and a joyful atmosphere heated by a generous public, great part of it watching weightlifting for the first time. Just as Brazil was the leader of the overall medal table, Colombia with 10 gold medals was the winner of weightlifting competitions, followed by Venezuela and Ecuador. Chile said present with the silver medal of the 56 Kg category. Special mention deserves the visit of the Mayor of Santiago Mrs Carolina Tohá, who shows very enthusiastic with the competition. It was also the opportunity for the Chilean Weightlifting Authorities to talk about development of sport and future projects, such as the possibility of a world championship in Chile. Source: Federación Chilena de Levantamiento de Pesas