News

Technical visit to Chiangmai confirms prospect of excellent Youth World Championships

IWF Competition Director Attila Ádámfi paid a visit to Chiangmai, Thailand, the site of the 1st EGAT Youth World Championships due next month.The inspection and the discussions with the host Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association (TAWA) confirmed that the young weightlifters from all over the world can expect to enjoy both top-level technical organisation (same venue as in 2007 RWWC) and accommodation (Hotel Lotus) of the highest standard in Chiangmai.The 1st Youth World Championships - at the same time the main qualification event for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games - will be held between 19th and 24th May 2009.

IWG / WomenWin Grant Applications First Round closing 30 April 2009

Following the success of the 2008 grants, the IWG and WomenWin are pleased to advise that applications for the funding of sporting projects for the empowerment of women and girls are being accepted for 2009. Applicants will need to read the grant procedures and complete the relevant grant application form available on the IWG website ( http://www.iwg-gti.org/ ). Programme Implementation Grants are now being accepted.  These are grants for supporting programs or pilots that implement sport programmes for girls and women.    Applications for the first round for 2009 close on April 30 2009.  In order to meet the IWG's strategic objective relating to the focus on the Oceania regions, there may be some preference given to projects within this region although this does not exclude applications from other regions including Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and the Carribean.   We regret to advise that applications submitted through this WomenWin and IWG funding initiative will not be available for those organisations based in Europe or North America . A selection of successful funded projects will be showcased at the 2010 World Conference on Women and Sport in Sydney . Further information can be found here.  We look forward to receiving your applications for funding. Sally Ryan Project ManagerInternational Working Group on Women and

Matthias Steiner in a TV advertisement spot

The relationship between German Soccer Leage and German Sport Aid (Deutsche Sporthilfe) culminated in an action when 36 clubs of the league dramatized great media focus on the work of 'Deutsche Sporthilfe' and on more than 50 other branches of sports. On one of the league days in all stadiums athletes representing 'Deutsche Sporthilfe' were entitled to kick off, of course broadcasted all over Germany. Besides this moment all the league teams wore their shirts decorated with the logo of 'Deutsche Sporthilfe'. One of the sponsors of 'Deutsche Sporthilfe' offered 1000 Euros as an extraordinary support after all goals of the day. Finally they added 30000 Euros to the Sports Aid movement. At the same time with this match day a nationwide TV advertising campaign started with famous football stars like Asamoah, Benaglio and coach Felix Magath together with top athletes like Steffi Nerius, Matthias Steiner. They all poularize the activities and aims of 'Deutsche Sporthilfe'. On behalf of all 4000 athletes supported by 'Deutsche Sporthilfe' the Best German Athlete of 2008, Steiner summed up the importance of day. 'Both parties may enjoy all the benefits of this promotion. It is really very adventegous for us to know professional soccer stands up for all the other sports enjoying little media attention and pale limelight. At the same time soccer society gains more social prestige by supporting the idea like this on a noble way.'Further info: www.sporthilfe.de(by Athletik

One Hundred and Ten Countries Have Now Ratified UNESCO Convention

With Malawi having completed its ratification procedure, 110 countries out of the 193 UNESCO Member States have now ratified the International Convention against Doping in Sport, which came into force on February 1, 2007. The UNESCO Convention is the practical instrument by which governments formalize their commitment to the fight against doping. Given that many governments cannot be bound by a non-governmental document such as the World Anti-Doping Code (the document harmonizing anti-doping rules in all sports and countries), the Convention permits governments to align their domestic policies with the Code, thus harmonizing the rules governing anti-doping in sport and public legislation.

PREVIEW Oceania & South Pacific Sr. & Jr. Championships and Arafura Games

The 2009 Oceania and South Pacific Senior & Junior Championships will be held in conjunction with the Arafura Games in the city of Darwin , Australia . The Arafura Games is open to any country in the world and they are held in Darwin every two years. Darwin is situated in the Northern Territory - right up at the very top of Australia. It is the nearest Australian city to Asia . The Oceania Congress will be held on May 12th, whilst the competition dates are the 13th, 14th 15th May. So far 12 countries have entered. They are: Australia , New Zealand , Papua New Guinea , Nauru , Kiribati , Palau , Fiji , Samoa, Niue , Solomon Islands , New Caledonia , Tonga . These countries are also competing in the Arafura Games and OWF expect also to have a few more countries from South East Asia entering in the Arafura Games. (Paul

Lindenwood University has added men’s and women’s Olympic weightlifting to its varsity sports menu.

Lindenwood University has added men's and women's Olympic weightlifting to its varsity sports menu. The new programs represent the 45th and 46th teams at LU - the most of any college in the nation - and will begin operation during the 2009-10 school year. Lindenwood alumnus Derrick Johnson, a weightlifter and coach in the St. Louis area, will coordinate the school's program. With the addition of Olympic weightlifting, Lindenwood now sponsors 30 sports that are represented in the Olympics. Collegiate weightlifting's biggest prize is the National Collegiate Championships each