News

Jean Luc Rougé: Top lifters in focus

One of the most respected French sportsmen Jean-Luc Rougé, judo World Champion (1975). Nowadays he works as General Secretary of International Judo Federation. “There is no sport without weightlifting, he said. I remember very well how many tons I had to snatch during my career as a competitive judoka. I profited a lot gaining more and more muscles. Judo is about power and speed in all movements and weightlifting supported us very much to achieve top qualities.” Q: What kind of impressions did you collect during the world championships in Paris? A: As a fan of this sport I specially admire the atmosphere around strong men and women. I represent another combat sport and I know well strength is not enough. This is the reason why I try to study the psychological aspect of weightlifting. It was interesting to follow top stars’ methods how they built up their performance. All the phases are very interesting one by one. These all makes weightlifting extraordinary attractive. Q: What element did attract you most? A: The champions' human character, their personality, how they try to overcome all difficulties, how they correct their possible mistakes in movements. Top lifters really represent art in sport. Weightlifting was always proud of its classical champions. I wish your sport more and more superstars in the future filled by exceptional talent, capacity and emotions’ he

London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to be opened by The Queen

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has confirmed that Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, will open the Paralympic Games in the Olympic Stadium on 29 August. With the role of The Queen in the Olympic Opening Ceremony on 27 July already established, Her Majesty, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will now open both Games. 'Extraordinary pride' LOCOG Chair Seb Coe said: ‘The Paralympic Games will undoubtedly be a time of extraordinary pride for our nation, and it is fitting that Her Majesty will declare us underway.’ London 2012 will mark the first time The Queen has opened a Paralympic Games. In 1976, The Queen opened the Montreal Olympic Games and in 1956, The Duke of Edinburgh (on behalf of The Queen) opened the Melbourne Olympic Games. The 1984 Paralympic Games were officially opened by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. These Games were held in both Europe and North America, with the Opening Ceremony in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire – the birthplace of the Paralympic Games. International Paralympic Committee President Sir Philip Craven said: ‘I am delighted that Her Majesty The Queen will be opening the Paralympic Games, further underlining the significance and status of these Games not just to the Commonwealth but to the whole

The Turkish Weightlifting Federation successfully started 2012

The first event in 2012 of the Turkish Weightlifting Federation the Youth InterClubs National Championships ended mid-February in the city of Konya, Turkey. 265 male and 80 female weightlifting club lifters joined the competitions held from 16-19 February. Mr Suat Kilic, Minister of Sport as well as the General Director of Sport, the Major of the City and representatives from the municipality attended the competitions and awarded medals and gifts to the winners. The Amateur Sports Clubs Federation of Konya selected the Federation President of the Year and Dr. Hasan Akkus, President of the Turkish Weightlifting Federation as well as Mr. Metin Sahin, President of the Turkish Taekwondo Federation were elected and won the title of President of the Year

My weightlifting family

Moment of the Year by Moira Lassen My most memorable moment of 2011 is not one single moment but rather a memorable reaction to a moment. I had just arrived back home in Ottawa and was recovering from jet lag after twenty-five hours of travel, a two week stint of meetings and acting as President of Jury at the Junior World Championships in Malaysia. I was typing my Jury President's report and the phone rang; it was my Mother to advise me of the devastating news that my Dad had just passed away. I was alone. I didn't understand what she was telling me as my mind still felt like it was at 30,000 feet and what little brain function I did have was focused on weightlifting reports, updates, and committee to-do lists. How could this be, two weeks earlier on the way to the Junior Worlds, I visited my parents in Victoria, BC and everything was fine. The rest of the day is still rather blurry in my memory, although I do know, later that day, after a five hour plane ride I found myself safely in the arms of my family at my parents home; sadly, with the patriarch of the family missing. Very early the next morning, as I sat alone, very sad and very jet lagged, while all others slept, my Blackberry started buzzing. Word was out that I had lost my Dad and I was receiving many heartfelt messages from around the country and all over the world. As I sat alone, that early morning, with tears welling in my eyes, I realized once again, I was safely tucked in the arms of my family; my weightlifting family. My Dad always delighted in the stories my daughter, Jeane and I shared of our weightlifting travels and he and my Mum attended many regional and national competitions including 1999 Pan Am Games and 2003 World Championships. Although, he never participated in the sport, soccer (football) was his game growing up in Scotland; he was a huge supporter of the sport of weightlifting. The sport has lost a very big fan! So my most memorable moment of 2011, although, very sad, felt very comforting with the arms of my weightlifting family around me. Moira

FISU Seminar on World University Championships – Brussels

10-11 February 2012 - Every odd year, in the year of its University World Championships, FISU headquarters organise a practical Seminar for their Technical Committee Chairs in charge of the sports, inviting at the same time the Organising Committees of the 2012 World University Championships. In addition to acquainting the CT Chairs and OCs with the FISU events, structures, World Championships procedures, issues of organisation, protocol, entries, etc. the Seminar offers an excellent networking opportunity for all parties involved. FISU CT Chair for Weightlifting, Mrs. Anikó Németh-Móra and Dr. Shimon Barak, President of the 2012 World University Weightlifting Championships (Eilat, Israel) took part in the Seminar held in Brussels, at the FISU

World Weightlifting’s latest edition is out!

In the 2011/4 edition readers can find a special Report on the ‘London Prepares’ Olympic Test Event as well as an overview of the President’s Cup held in Belgorod, Russia. The magazine features special interviews with Lifters of the Year 2011 and Pyrros Dimas, the “Face” of the IWF Say NO! To Doping” Campaign. You can subscribe to World Weightlifting by contacting the