World Weightlifting’s Online Voting begins for Best Lifters of 2008
The IWF's official magazine "World Weightlifting" has launched its voting for the Best Lifters of 2008. For the first time, you can vote online using the link: Best Lifter Voting
Ex-Weightlifter – now Nauru’s and OWF President H.E. Marcus Stephen addressing the U.N.
His Excellency, Marcus Stephen, former World Championship silver medallist, President of the Republic of Nauru, OWF President and IWF Executive Board Member recently addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations on issues of environmental
IOC EB approves sports competitions programme and qualification systems for the1st Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2010
The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the sports competitions programme for the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held in Singapore in 2010, as well as the qualification system for each event. Some 3,594 athletes will compete in Singapore in 26 sports comprising 201 events. The number of sports in the programme is identical to the London 2012 programme. Each event has its own age group competing, either 15-16 (27 events), 16-17 (111 events) or 17-18 (63 events).The events differ significantly in order to match the age groups and interests of the young athletes. Basketball will for example be played according to the FIBA 33 formula, with teams of three playing against each other on one half-court. The most important particularity of the YOG is however the numerous mixed–gender or National Olympic Committees (NOCs) – team events in archery, athletics (medley relay), cycling (combined BMX-mountain bike-road event), equestrian, fencing, judo, modern pentathlon (relay), swimming (relay), table tennis, tennis and triathlon (relay). The participation of all 205 NOCs is the key factor in ensuring the universality of the YOG. In each individual sport, a specific number of places for NOCs (referred to as “Universality Places”) will be reserved to ensure that at least four athletes per NOC have the possibility to participate in the YOG. The qualification system for each sport and discipline, which was prepared in close collaboration with each International Federation (IF), strives to guarantee participation of the best athletes in their age category and to respect the principle of universality by allowing NOCs to benefit from the “Universality Places”.For all disciplines, competitions such as Junior or Youth World Championships, Continental Championships or official junior ranking lists will allow athletes to attempt to qualify for the YOG.In addition, and irrespective of the number of athletes qualified, an NOC delegation may include no more than 70 athletes in individual sports.Besides the sports competitions programme, the YOG will feature an extensive Cultural and Educational Programme (CEP), which aims to introduce, in a fun and festive spirit, the young athletes to Olympism and the Olympic values, and to raise awareness on important issues such as the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, the fight against doping and their role as sports ambassadors in their communities. As a result of close collaboration between the IOC and the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC), an innovative and attractive CEP has been developed, with SYOGOC looking to finalise it shortly and start implementation at the beginning of next year.The Executive Board was also updated by IOC Coordination Commission Chairman Sergey Bubka on the general progress of preparations by SYOGOC for the YOG, which are on time and moving ahead steadily.
IWF President receives Paul Coffa, Commonwealth and Oceania General Secretary
Dr. Tamás Aján, IWF President met Mr. Paul Coffa, General Secretary of the Oceania and Commonwealth Weightlifting Federations at his office in Budapest.In recent weeks the President welcomed several visitors at the IWF headquarters: among them Maj.Gen. Intarat Yodbangtoey and Mr. Dragomir Cioroslan, IWF Vice Presidents; Sheikh Sultan Bin Mejren, Asian Weightlifting Federation President and IWF Executive Board Member; Mr. Gamil Hanna, IWF Executive Board Member and Dr. Edmon Takla, WFA General Secretary; Mr. Khaled Mehalhal, Libyan Wl. Federation President; Mr. Lennart Blomberg, CEO, Mr. Johan Erling, Senior Advisor and Mr. Andrén Andreas, Export Sales Manager of ELEIKO.
High-class lifting and impressive turnouts at the World University Championships
A very high standard of weightlifting performance throughout all categories and impressive turnouts characterized the 1st World University Championships held in Komotini, Greece, 25-28 November 2008. Exceeding all previous figures in the IWF University World Cups, at this first official FISU-controlled World Championships 56 female students participated from 23 countries, whereas 103 men took part representing 29 nations.The competitions were held with a strong professional-technical involvement of the Greek Weightlifting Federation and the IWF at the Dimokritos University of Thrace. Both FISU Executive Board members and IWF delegates present were deeply impressed and happy about the success of the inaugural Championships, which celebrated medal-winners in addition to the leading nations China, Chinese Taipei, Poland or Thailand, from countries like Serbia, USA, Japan, Israel, Azerbaijan, Moldova, USA, Greece, Canada or Hungary.
Bidders still welcome to host 2010 World University Championships
Satisfied with the great success of the 1st FISU World University Weightlifting Championships just running in Greece, the International University Sport Federation (FISU) wishes to allocate the 2nd edition to be held in 2010. Prospective organisers, i.e. National University Sports Federations affiliated to FISU may send their application to the FISU headquarters: [email protected]
