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Last IWF Technical Visit coincides with Day 1 operations in ExCel by LOCOG

From 18th to 20th June, Attila Adamfi, Technical Delegate and Aniko Nemeth-Mora, IWF Director paid the last in the line of Technical Visits to London. During their meetings all departments and groups of the Games Organising Committee gave updates and preparations for welcoming Weightlifting in London were fine-tuned. The visit to ExCel, the Olympic venue of weightlifting took place on the first day when LOCOG took ownership of the building. Construction of the competition and training venues and other functional areas had already commenced and are now in full progress. LOCOG Weightlifting and Paralympic Manager Matthew Curtain and his Team are doing their best and awaiting the Weightlifting Family to the 2012 Games in

UAE to send woman weightlifter to London

Weightlifter Khadija Mohammad on Thursday became only the second woman to be chosen for the United Arab Emirates Olympic team. The athlete, who will compete in the 75kg category in London, was named after the country's women's weightlifters secured one place at the London Games by finishing fifth in the Asian Championships in South Korea last month. "We are proud to belong to this historic moment when we see one of our women athletes qualify to an Olympic Games," Mohammad Al Kamali, General Secretary of the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC), told UAE newspaper Gulf News. The only other woman to compete for the UAE since it began participating in the Olympics in 1984 was Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Beijing four years ago. The daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister and Vice-President of the UAE, she took part in the women's under-67 kg taekwondo. Only Brunei, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have yet to have female athletes participate in an Olympic Games, although Brunei and Qatar are expected to send women to take part in London. Six London-bound athletes across four sports were named in a ceremony at Dubai Aquarium on Thursday. They will form part of an expected contingent of 32 from seven sports, the country's largest-ever representation at an Olympic Games, a UAE NOC press release said. Three of the athletes named were from the sport of shooting with two, Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum and Sheikh Juma Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, from Dubai's ruling family, together with Dhaher Al Eryani. Sheikh Saeed will compete in the skeet, Sheikh Juma in the double trap and Al Eryani in the trap. Shooting is the only event the UAE has won an Olympic medal in, with another member of Dubai's ruling family, Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohammad bin Hasher Al Maktoum, claiming gold in the double trap in Athens in 2004. Also named on Thursday were swimmer Mubarak Salem Al Besher and Humaid Al Derei from judo, selected after the UAE received wildcard invitations to take part. The sports still to name their athletes from the UAE are sailing, athletics and men's football. The soccer squad, which will make up the majority of the UAE contingent, won a place at the Olympics for the first time and will face hosts Great Britain, Senegal and Uruguay. The Games officially open on July 27 and run until August 12, although the football tournament begins on July 25. Source:

New sponsorship deal signed by the IWF and Zhen-Ao Group China

The International Weightlifting Federation and Zhen-Ao Group China signed a Sponsorship Agreement yesterday in Budapest, Hungary. Among the 106 International Sports Organizations, weightlifting, strongly anchored in the Olympic Movement, displays a strong and reliable value for new partners. Zhen-Ao, a fast growing company in the health industry developing nucleic acid products, natural medicines with contemporary biological technology made a great success in China. Today, they have their presence secured in more than 20 countries worldwide. Negotiations between the two organizations started 1 year ago in Penang, Malaysia on the occasion of the 2011 IWF Junior World Championships, where the idea of cooperation emerged. Yesterday, a significant milestone was reached. The company established in 1996, has more than 60 products and started a strong strategic collaboration with the Chinese Olympic Committee in 2001. Zhen-Ao was the official health supplement supplier of the Chinese Olympic Team in preparation for the Beijing Olympic Games, and continues in this function for London 2012. Aware of the potential dangers engendered by nutritional supplements, upon request of the IWF, Zhen-Ao products have passed the relevant tests at the Center of Preventive Doping Research of the German Sport University Cologne. The contract was ratified by Mrs. Pan Xiao-Fei, Group President, Zhen-Ao China and Dr. Tamás Aján, IWF President. Mr. Guan Qing-Lei, Marketing President, Zhen-Ao China, Mr. Chun Fatt-Teck, Regional President, Zhen-Ao Malaysia, Mr. C.K. Tan, Chief Strategy Officer, Zhen-Ao Malaysia, Mr. Dato Ong Poh Eng, IWF Executive Board Member and other dignitaries were present during the official ceremony. Dr. Tamás Aján, IWF President said “Both Zhen-Ao and we are confident that our 2-years contract can be extended further subject to mutual satisfaction, professionalism and a well-functioning

IOC takes decisive action on ticketing allegations

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has moved quickly to deal with allegations that some National Olympic Committees (NOC) and Authorised Ticket Resellers (ATR) have broken rules relating to the sale of Olympic tickets. After claims that several NOCs and ATRs were reportedly willing to break the rules by offering to buy or sell tickets outside their territory, sell tickets at inflated prices, or sell tickets to unauthorized resellers, the IOC has ordered an immediate inquiry and referred the allegations to its independent Ethics Commission. On being informed of the allegations, the IOC immediately convened an extraordinary meeting of its Executive Board and determined a number of actions - the convening of the Ethics Commission and asking for any evidence of wrongdoing to be provided to the Commission without delay. The IOC takes these allegations very seriously and has immediately taken the first steps to investigate. Should any irregularities be proven, the organisation will deal with those involved in an appropriate manner. The NOCs are autonomous organisations, but if any of the cases are confirmed the IOC will not hesitate to impose the strongest sanctions. The IOC has also determined that it will take on board any recommendations coming out of the inquiry to improve the way that tickets are allocated and sold internationally in the

Five Weightlifters Selected to Team GB

With just 46 days to go until the start of the London 2012 Olympics, the British Olympic Association (BOA) has announced yesterday five weightlifters as officially selected to compete for Team GB at the Games. The five selected athletes – three men and two women – represent the largest contingent of weightlifters Team GB has taken to an Olympics Games since Barcelona 1996, when there were six British weightlifters. All five athletes will be competing at their first Olympic Games in London and will be aiming to produce their personal best during the competition which takes place at the ExCeL Arena in London Docklands from 28th July to 7th August. The weightlifters selected to Team GB today are: •Gareth Evans •Peter Kirkbride •Jack Oliver •Natasha Perdue •Zoe Smith Click here to read

The last Continental Olympic Qualification Event ended

The Oceania Championships – Continental Olympic Qualification Event & Commonwealth Championships in Apia, Samoa welcome the best Oceania athletes who done their utmost to grab a chance enable their country to participate in the London 2012 Olympic Games. 38 Women from 10 countries and 69 Men from 18 counties performed at their best to earn Olympic quotas. Within Women, the following countries obtained 1 Olympic Quota: SAM, PNG, FIJ, AUS. Within Men, the following countries obtained 1 Olympic Quota: AUS, KIR, FIJ, NZL, PNG. The successful weightlifting competition was the last event closing the festive period that celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Samoa’s Independence. Check out the Results of the Oceania Championships and the Result Book. As the last Olympic Qualification Event ended, you can consult the latest ranking for London 2012. The Results of the African, European and Asian Events are final; therefore the Qualification Summary was updated