News

Anglo-Chinese cooperation in pre-Olympic preparations

Coordinated by the Anglo-Chinese Sports & Cultural Association and the Welsh Assembly Government, the Welsh Weightlifting Federation has welcomed the Chinese National team to Bangor University, where the squad is presenting undertaking in a pre-Olympic Games training camp. Comprising of 43 team members including Beijing 2008 Olympic Champions, Long Qingquan, Lu Yong and Zhang Xiangxiang, the Chinese delegation were formally received to Northern Wales on 05 August 2011 by the Mayor of Bangor, John Montgomery, David Wyn Evans, Head of Wales Pre Games Training and Ray Willams, General Secretary, Welsh Weightlifting Federation. ‘Not only does hosting the world's strongest team provide inspiration to Welsh athletes, their presence alone is also a demonstration to the Weightlifting family that Welsh Weightlifting is able to offer World Class facilities to visiting teams' said Mr. Williams. As part of their programme, the Chinese delegation also received a progress report from Matthew Curtain, London 2012 Weightlifting

FISU General Assembly Elects New President

Today, August 9th, the FISU Member Associations elected a new Executive Committee at the 32nd General Assembly in Shenzhen, China. The board will be chaired by the French Claude-Louis Gallien, former 1st Vice-President of the Federation. The former French University Hammer Throwing Champion won the election against incumbent George Killian (USA) with 76 votes to 67. There were four candidates for the FISU Presidency. Next to Killian and Gallien, Stefan Bergh (SWE) and Risto Nimienen (FIN) had been nominated by their respective National University Sports Federations. However, right before the vote, both federations withdrew their candidates for the presidency to ‘maintain the unity inFISU', as their respective presidents Akseli Hakala (FIN) and Johanna St:Clair Renard (SWE) announced prior to the election. Oleg Matytsin (RUS) was elected as 1st Vice-President. Mr Gallien holds a PhD in Biology and a State Doctorate in Natural Sciences. Shortly after the vote result, Mr. Gallien addressed the General Assembly, thanking them for their vote of confidence. His first speech as the FISU President was followed by a rousing

2011 ZKC E-mail International Club Tournament

NEW RECORD SET IN THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT - 129 CLUBS PARTICIPATED The ZKC Email International Club Tournament concluded on July 24th was an outstanding success. 129 clubs took part in the Tournament with 655 competitors. 405 male and 250 female athletes competed from the 5 continents. This is the highest number of clubs participation in the 8 years history of the tournament. The winning club within Men was the GRA Club from Cuba, whilst within Women was the Haunabada Club from Papua New Guinea. Both clubs will receive one Olympic barbell set from ZKC, the official sponsor of the Tournament. On behalf of the OWF, the General Secretary Mr. Paul Coffa is very thankful to Mr. Zhang Zhiguo, the General Manager of the ZKC Company, for his support if the event and also for his contribution in regard to the development of weightlifting at club level worldwide. To read the latest news on the Oceania Weightlifting Institute click here

Around 12,000 participants from 152 countries expected to the Universiade

University teams all over the world are now getting ready to head to Shenzhen, China, for the 26th Summer Universiade. Athletes from 152 delegations are taking the oath these days at ceremonial Assemblies of their respective FISU member federations.Weightlifters are expected from over 40 countries. (photo) The Hungarian Universiade squad expects a strong

‘London Prepares’ Weightlifting International Invitational

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) invites the Expressions of Interest of National Federations with regard to participation at the ‘London Prepares' International Weightlifting Invitational to be held at the ExCeL arena from 07 - 11 December 2011. As the Test Event in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games, the ‘LondonPrepares' Weightlifting International Invitational is an important and significant competition on the IWF calendar. All documents (Invitation, Regulation, Expression of Interest) are published on the IWF Website under London 2012 Olympic Games - Test Event. Please note, that the Expressions of Interest must be received by the LOCOG and the IWF no later than 26 Aug 2011 See you in

China ready to host a ‘Green’ Universiade

The Organizers of the 26th Universiade said that the event will lack fireworks and other grand displays traditionally associated with major sporting events, as they are aiming to make it a "green" event. "Various measures have been taken during the preparation of the Universiade to ensure that the Games, which will be held in south China's city of Shenzhen starting from August 12, will be environment friendly", Xu Qin, vice president and secretary-general of the event's organizing committee, said at a press conference. Xu, who is also the mayor of Shenzhen, said the event's opening ceremony will emphasize the theme of "the return of sports." "No fireworks displays will be staged, and no stars or celebrities will appear at the opening ceremony," Xu said at the press conference. Xu said that the stage used during the opening ceremony is made of recycled plastic bottles. He also noted that 65 percent of the event's venues have been remodeled or based on existing facilities in order to save costs and reduce the event's environmental impact. "The newly built UniversiadeVillage and Universiade Centerwill feature new energy-saving technologies and materials", Xu added. This environmentally friendly approach will be utilized not only within the Universiade, but also in the city of Shenzhen itself. Xu said the municipal government will put 2,011 alternative-energy vehicles on the city's streets during the 12-day event. The municipal government has also opened five new subway lines in order to lower carbon emissions. "The city has planted over 1.28 million trees since winning the rights to host the event in 2007", Xu