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Iran weightlifters aid earthquake victims

Weightlifters all around the world participated in days of celebrations returning to their home countries after the London 2012 Olympic Games with their Olympic Medals. The story was different for the Iranian weightlifters, who displayed solidarity and fair play to help the victims of twin earthquakes that jolted the country’s northwestern in the East Azerbaijan Province. On August 11, only three days after the weightlifting competitions ended in London, two strong earthquakes of 6.4 and 6.3 magnitudes rocked the area, killing 306 people and injuring thousands of others. Right after the tremor, the Iranian Superheavy-weight category’s silver medallist, Sajjad Anoushiravani, went to the quake-stricken area and joined the rescue teams in the region to help with the dispatching of emergency supplies. Saeed Mohammadpour, who came in fifth in the 94kg category, also accompanied Anoushiravani in a visit to quake-hit villages. They were the first weightlifters to arrive in the area, as they are living in the neighboring province of Ardabil. Anoushiravani dedicated his Silver Medal to the victims of the earthquake and offered necessary supplies and some amount of money. London 2012 Olympics’ strongest man was in the capital city of Tehran at the moment, but his heart was apparently beating for his fellow countrymen in East Azerbaijan province. Behdad Salimi went to a blood transfusion center after the health officials asked people to donate blood to help the victims of the earthquakes. The Gold Medallist in the +105kg bodyweight category gave 4 units of blood. Salimi then went to the quake-hit regions days later to visit the area and brought smiles to the faces of people, who could remember his great performance at Olympics despite their pain. While visiting the area in Iran's Red Cross uniform, Salimi told the reporters: "It is my duty to come here and help my people. I only hope can get back to their normal life soon." Navab Nasir Shalal, 105kg Silver Medallist, also expressed his condolences to the people in East Azerbaijan, saying he would soon travel to the region to help soothing people's pain. Report sent by Sarah

Olympic Press Clippings

Check out some of the Press articles published in the international media with special regards to Weightlifting at the Olympic Games: Reuters: Weightlifting http://www.reuters.com/london-olympics-2012/sport/weightlifting BBC: Weightlifting http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/sports/weightlifting NBC Olympics: Weightlifting http://www.nbcolympics.com/weightlifting/index.html   Weightlifting sees records tumble - London 2012 - Weightlifting http://www.olympic.org/news/round-up-weightlifting-sees-records-tumble-london-2012/172709 North Korea’s Om Yun Chol attributes Olympic weightlifting success to ‘Great Leader’ http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/07/29/north-koreas-om-yun-chol-attributes-olympic-weightlifting-success-to-great-leader/ Olympic weightlifting is a triumph of grunts, wails and jerks http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/london-2012-olympics-blog/2012/jul/30/olympic-weightlifting-london-2012 Olympics 2012: weightlifting http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/olympics-2012-weightlifting Wang wins Olympic weightlifting gold for China http://sports.yahoo.com/news/wang-mingjuan-wins-olympic-weightlifting-171213861--oly.html Weightlifting: Lin brightens China mood with gold http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/31/us-oly-weig-wlm69k-day-idUSBRE86U1OE20120731 Weightlifter Girard wins Canada's 3rd bronze of day http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/weightlifting/story/2012/07/31/sp-olympics-weightlifting-christine-girard.html North Korea Wins Its Second Weightlifting Gold http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444405804577560851056187054.html An Olympic Weightlifter on Football, Breaking Windows and the Perfect Lift http://www.wired.com/playbook/2012/08/qa-holley-mangold/ Olympic Weightlifting Record: Om Yun Chol Of North Korea Lifts 3 Times Body Weight http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/29/olympics-record-om-yun-chol-north-korea_n_1715640.html Horse meat secret to Kazakh champion's success http://sports.yahoo.com/news/horse-meat-secret-kazakh-champions-success-215430297--oly.html Official Olympic Channel by the IOC

Weightlifting surpassed all expectations in London

In weightlifting 84 NOCs were represented with 252 athletes. (Women: 57 NOCs, 103 athletes, Men: 70 NOCs 149 athletes) 19 countries won medals (!) 6 countries won gold medals 33 Olympic Records, 11 World Records and 1 Junior World Record were broken 41% of the weightlifting competitors were female (women took part e.g. from TUN, UAE, NCA, CHI) The IWF is extremely satisfied and happy about the organisation of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Professionalism, outstanding facilities, problem-free management coupled with a love and understanding for sport characterised the Organising Committee. We can only thank and congratulate LOCOG on the big success of the Games. At the weightlifting venue in ExCeL everything was managed at a very high standard: training, competition, auxiliary facilities, Olympic Family, media, etc. The Team under the capable conduct of Matthew Curtain, Weightlifting Manager did a fantastic job. The volunteers were not only enthusiastic but also competent, polite and friendly. The Sports Presentation was excellent and the crowd surpassed all expectations. We are proud to have capacity audiences every day and in almost every session. The symptom of the “empty seats” was not prevalent in weightlifting. The loud cheering, the atmosphere was great and very supportive for the lifters. We believe that weightlifting has “reconquered” Britain and was a definite highlight of London

TAWA and USBT unite in bidding for 2014 FISU World Championships

At a meeting held at Thailand's Office of Higher Education, TAWA and Thai University sports officials agreed to submit a united bid to FISU to host the World University Weightlifting Championships in 2014. The host University would be the North Chiang Mai University. The IWF will eagerly support the bid to be decided by the FISU Executive Committee. Source: TAWA & Anikó Németh-Móra, FISU Chair

The Flagbearers for the London 2012 Closing Ceremony

Out of the 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the Independent Olympic Athletes participating in the XXX Games of the Olympiad, the following weightlifters were Flagbearers at the Closing Ceremony: Albania Romela BEGAJ Cook Islands Luisa PETERS Kiribati David KATOATAU Kyrgyzstan Bekzat OSMONALIEV Nauru Itte DETENAMO Papua New Guinea Steven KARI Ukraine Oleksiy TOROKHTIY Source:

Thank you London, see you in Rio

After 16 days of outstanding sporting competitions in the Olympic venues of London 2012, as well as two memorable ceremonies, the curtain has now fallen on the Games of the XXX Olympiad – London 2012. Described by IOC President Jacques Rogge, as “happy and glorious Games”, they will undoubtedly leave long-lasting and happy memories to the people of London, Great Britain, and for those who watched from around the world. The eyes of the sporting world were set firmly on Brazil when the handover of the Olympic flag took place during the London 2012 Closing Ceremony, highlighting Rio de Janeiro as the next host city. Audiences around the world were then treated to an eight minute Brazilian spectacle during Rio 2016’s portion of the show, the brainchild of creative directors Cao Hamburger and Daniela Thomas. The segment saw the Olympic Stadium transformed into a sea of green and yellow in honour of the Brazilian flag, creating a carnival atmosphere that celebrated the country’s mix of culture, music and dance, and included samba dancing from Renato Sorriso, popular Brazilian singer Marisa Monte, model Alessandra Ambrósio and an unexpected appearance from footballer Pelé. The Rio de Janeiro Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (Rio 2016) has released further details of what to expect from the Games in 2016. One of the themes for the 2016 Games is “A city leaps forward”, reflected by the organising committee’s decision to have Brazilian children present the video outlining the city's plans to build venues and infrastructure a few weeks ago at the IOC Session. Rio 2016 said in a recent statement that construction is running on time and that they are “delivering on our promises” to transform the city and its transportation network. So with London now over, the people of Brazil are looking forward to seeing you in Rio in four years time! Source: