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U17 Pan-American Championships Cancun, Mexico

The 9th U17 Pan-American Championships held in Cancun, Mexico from 3-9 September 2013 ended with the participation of 14 countries from North, Central and South America and The Caribbean. It is important to mention that this event gave great opportunity for weightlifting promotion and development to countries such as Guyana, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. The competition marked the first competition after the YOG Qualification Event in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for the U17 athletes trying to qualify at the 2nd YOG in Nanjing. The following Pan-American countries are already qualified: Women: MEX (2), COL (1), ECU (1), VEN (1). Men: MEX (2), COL (1), VEN (1). The host city Cancun and the Mexican Weightlifting Federation gave very good hospitality for the participating teams and organized a successful tournament. The city is the most important tourist destination with beautiful beaches and white sand in The Caribbean Sea. The weightlifting events of the Pan-American Championships were held at the Kuxil Baxal Complex. At the opening Ceremony of the Championships Dr. Rosalio Alvarado, President of the Mexican Weightlifting Federation, thanked all participants for having contributed in the success of these U17 Pan-American Championships in Cancun, Mexico. Mr. David Montero (BRA) IWF Executive Board Member, Mr. Diego German Martinez (COL), IWF Technical Committee Member and Mr. Eddie Suarez (VEZ) General Secretary of the Pan-American Weightlifting Federation also participated in the event. The Trophy of Best Female athlete of the competition went to CANTU Jennifer (MEX), silver and bronze medallist in the YWWC in Uzbekistan while the Best Male athlete of the competition was CAICEDO Andres (COL). In the Women’s categories, 1st place was awarded to Mexico, 2nd place went to Colombia while 3rd place to Ecuador. Brazil and Guatemala followed. In the Men’s categories, 1st place was awarded to Ecuador, 2nd place went to Mexico while 3rd place to Colombia. Guatemala, Brazil and Costa Rica followed. Click here for more

International Council for Coaching Excellence Conference

The International Council for Coaching Excellence organized the 9th Global Conference in Durban, South Africa. Every two years the ICCE Global Coach Conference brings together coaches, coach educators, researchers, sport scientists, technical directors and sport administrators to address issues in coaching, coach education, high performance coaching and coaches representation; and to share experiences with the best coaching experts in the world. The 9th ICCE Global Coach Conference 2013 was jointly organized by SASCOC and the

Deadline Reminder – 2013 IWF World Championships Wroclaw

The deadline for the Final Entry Forms for the 2013 IWF World Championships Wroclaw expires on 4 October. We invite all National Federations to send their Final Entry Forms promptly to the Polish Weightlifting Federation ([email protected]) and to the IWF

Successful competition concluded in Pyongyang, PRK

Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea hosted the Asian Junior and Senior Cup & Interclub Weightlifting Championships. This major Event organized under the supervision of the IWF and AWF welcome a South Korean delegation which included 22 athletes as well as coaches and Weightlifting Federation Officials. Seoul says it’s the first time its athletes have attended an international sports event in DPR Korea. This important diplomatic move shows the unifying power of sports and the role of Weightlifting in opening borders, easing tensions, bringing together nations and athletes despite political differences. The Organazing Committee displayed high level organization and nearly five thousand spectators attended the competitions every day. In the 56 kg bodyweight category, OM Yun Chol (PRK) Gold Medallist at the London 2012 Olympic Games set a World Record in the Clean and Jerk lifting 169 kg. A milestone was reached as a South Korean weightlifter has heard his national anthem played after winning gold in North Korea for the first time in the history of the two countries. The supreme leader Kim Jong Un watched the Women’s 63 kg and 69 kg competitions and saw the DPR Korean and South Korean flags rise together at the Victory Ceremony. He was very pleased to see weightlifters from different countries competing in Pyongyang with sports enthusiasm sweeping across the DPR Korea and public interest in sports steadily increasing in the country. Also at the Asian Junior and Senior Cup & Interclub Weightlifting Championships, IWF experts conducted an Anti-Doping and Event Management Seminar for 90 people representing the DPR Korea Sports Community. Congratulations the Organizing Committee and the city of Pyongyang for the organization of this successful event! Junior Results Asian Interclub Junior Results Asian Cup Senior Results Asian Interclub Senior Results Asian Cup

South Korean Weightlifters arrive in North Korea

South Korean weightlifters set foot on North Korean soil for the first time in five years on Tuesday to participate in the Asian Cup Weightlifting Championships in Pyongyang that start Thursday. The delegation consists of 22 athletes and 19 coaches and other staff, who arrived in the North Korean capital via Beijing. The last time South Korean athletes went to North Korea was in October 2008 to participate in soccer friendly. North Korea, whose weightlifting team won three gold medals at the London Summer Olympics in 2012, in April last year won the nod to host the international match this year. Some 200 athletes from 15 Asian countries are competing. In March, North Korea invited South Korea to take part. South Korea's weightlifting federation asked North Korea if the South Korean flag could be flown and national anthem played. Kim Yong-cheol at the South Korean Weightlifting Federation said North Korea "did not object" and guaranteed the safety of the South Korean athletes. In 2008, a regional qualifier for the 2010 World Cup between two Koreas had to be moved from Pyongyang to Shanghai because the North refused to allow the South Korean flag and national anthem. Jeon Chang-bum, who heads the South Korean team, said the championships will open the gates for increased inter-Korean sports exchanges. Source: The

Tickets presale for the 2013 IWF World Championships Wroclaw, POL

Tickets are available on internet at www.kupbilet.pl and at the points of sale, for example Empik stores. During the competition, there will be also an opportunity to buy single and reduced tickets in box offices in the Centennial Hall. Whole money from the ticket sales will be donated for rehabilitation of Julia Bonk – young daughter of Bartłomiej Bonk, polish leading weightlifter, Bronze Medallist in the Men's 105kg bodyweight category at the London 2012 Olympic Games. „When Szymon Kołecki, President of the Polish Weightlifting Federation, told me about this initiative, I was really surprised. I did not know what to say. For me and for my family it is a very touching idea. I would like to thank for it dearly in behalf of Julia, our beloved daughter. I am really touched. I want to thank Mr. Mariusz Jędra, Vice-President of the PWF, originator of this initiative and everyone, who supported it”, said Bartłomiej Bonk. „Everyone in our weightlifters’ circle sympathises with Bartłomiej Bonk, so the decision to donate the money from ticket sales for his family was obvious for us. I heartily invite everyone for the Championships”, said President Szymon Kołecki. Source: Marek Kaczmarczyk Press Officer