News

The Late Chris Chugg

Dear Friends, It is with great sadness that I inform you of the sudden and untimely passing (January 15th ) of our friend Chris Chugg.   Chris was a champion weightlifter in his younger days and in recent years became one of the leading coaches in Australia, producing top lifters from his home state of Tasmania. He was a Life Member of Weightlifting Tasmania and had served diligently in many roles in the sport in a career extending in excess of 35 years. Chris was a much loved and respected member of the weightlifting fraternity in the Oceania region and he will be greatly missed.  Paul CoffaOWF General Secretary

IWF delegates meet Bulgarian Minister on 2010 JWC

With respect to the reported situation of the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation, which is the appointed host of the 2010 Junior World Championships, Attila Ádámfi, IWF Competition Director and Dr. Mónika Ungár,  IWF Legal Counsel paid a visit to Bulgaria on 11-12 January.The Minister of Physical Education and Sport, Ass. Prof. Svilen Neykov received the delegates of the International Feightlifting Federation in Sofia.Minister Neykov acquainted the guests with the current situation at the meeting and underlined the great importance of weightlifting for Bulgaria."Weightlifting is one of the sports on which we rely very much, said the Minister. - Unfortunately the problems have been piled on with years and it is hard for us now to solve all the troubles in such short term but we do everything possible and according to the Bulgarian legislature to pull this unpleasant situation to a favorable end for everyone. We want to get Bulgarian weightlifting back to the place it belongs."Regarding the Junior World Championships which is scheduled for Sofia from the 11th of June, Attila Adamfi required until the 1st of February an official position if Bulgaria will give guarantees for hosting the event.

Korean Champion Jang Mi-Ran is fine

The Korean Weightlifting Federation confirmed that their Olympic and world champion Jang Mi-Ran was only slightly injured in the car accident reported earlier. She has left and hospitaly and is feeling

Okur must first solve the problems with her club

'The 17 year old young talent tore up the European and World records during the European under 17 Championship in Israel and won three gold medals. She is breaking the juniors' records while she is still competing in the under 17 category. A very bright future is awaiting Okur.The interesting aspect of Saziye Okur's success is that the champion, who has problems with her club, continues her training by herself, without a trainer...At the same weight class as Olympic and World Champion Nurcan Taylan, Okur indicates that Taylan shows her very close interest and that she recieves her training program from her. As a licenced athlete of Goncaspor, Okur is unable to enter Turkish Championships due to the problems she is experiencing with her club. (by Olimpiyat

Change from Bulgarian to Chinese way

According to Olympiat Dünyasi (Olympic World), official publication of the Natioanl Olympic Committee of Turkey (published every three months) there will be radical changes in Turkish weightlifting. 'Our men's team, in which five out of seven athletes entered the World Championships for the first time in the senior category, could not win any medals. Turkey came in 16th among men's teams. Trainer Raif Özel stated that their main objective is 2012 London Olympic Games. Meanwhile, Turkish weightlifting will quit the Bulgarian school it had been applying for the past 20 years and switch to the Chinese school. The weekly training time will be increased from 20 to 30 hours. In addition to the technical movements, power training will also be highlighted. In this framework, a training system based on endurance will be created. Athletes will be placed into camp for 9-10 months annually. No one will be able to say: 'I will work out with my own

IWF Sub-Commissions established to serve the sport

At its last meeting in Seoul, the IWF Executive Board established and appointed various Commissions to attend to specific tasks in the management and development of the sport of weightlifting. Click here for the LIST. The Commissions and appointed officials will serve a more efficient and professional management of the many tasks facing the IWF and will regularly report to the Executive Board and Congress.