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INTRODUCTION OF ESTHER OLUWATOYIN ALUKO Ph.D – SECRETARY GENERAL NWF

INTRODUCING THE NEW SECRETARY GENERAL, NIGERIA WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION - ESTHER OLUWATOYIN ALUKO Ph.DDr (Mrs) Esther Aluko was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria on November 28, 1961. She grew up in a Police Barracks where she learnt various sports such as netball, table tennis, cycling, sprints among others.While in Secondary School, she concentrated on netball and sprints where she bagged an award as the "Queen of the Track" in 1976.The game of handball was introduced to her school when she was in her final year in College and she had the priviledge of learning the game that brought her into limelight. In 1977, she left Secondary School and got an employment with the Oyo State Sports Council as a performing athlete. She represented her state in so some sporting events such as shot put, javelin, discuss and handball.In 1977, she got her first invitation to national camp to play handball for Nigeria. She played handball for Nigeria up till 1985 before she took coaching as a profession. She was a national coach from 1985 - 1999 before leaving the coaching job for sports administration.She became a sport adminstrator in 1999 and has since served as Secretary General of Nigeria Rowing Federation, Nigeria Yatching Federation, Nigeria Hockey Federation, Nigeria Shooting Sport Federation, Nigeria Judo Federation, Liaison Officer, National Sports Commission, Lagos Office and presently, Secretary General, Nigeria Weightlifting Federation.Weightlifting Background- I started lifting weight right from my playing days for conditioning training after which I now lift weight for fitness training. I took interest in Weightlifting sport because of the contact I had earlier with weight training. I love weightlifting sport and I am an ardent supporter of the sport anywhere I have the opportunity to watch the sport. I was at the Beijing Olympics and I watched with keen interest most of the weightlifting events especially where Nigeria athletes featured.ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS.I have the following qualifications:Dip. in Physical & Health Education, University of IbadanB.Sc in Physical Education, University of LagosM.Ed in Sports Administration, University of IbadanPost Graduate Dip. in Olympic Studies, International Olympic Academy (IOA) GreecePh.D in Sports Administration, University of IbadanAs a career Civil Servant, before you become the Director of Sports, you must have knowledge of organisation of many sports and that explains the reason why sports secretaries are moved round Federations. As Director of Sports, Director General or Minister of Sports, you direct the affairs of all the sports Federations not just one sport.Dr (Mrs) Esther Oluwatoyin Aluko is happily married with children.I therefore solicit the cooperation of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to take Nigeria Weightlifting to a greater height.Thank you.ESTHER OLUWATOYIN ALUKO Ph.DSECRETARY GENERALNIGERIA WEIGHTLIFTING

Sydney 2009 World Masters Games Schedule

Schedule for the 2009 World Masters Games 2009 International Weightlifting Federation Masters World Championship Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, Australia - 10th - 17th October, 2009 Sydney WMG Weightlifting

Mr. Ma Wenguang re-elected the President of Chinese Weightlifting Association

On August 11th, 2009, the Chinese Weightlifting Association held its Electoral Congress in Longyan city, Fujian Province. The Congress was attended by around 280 congress delegates and guests from all over China. Mr. Cui Dalin, Vice President of the Chinese Olympic Committee attended the Congress. From the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Champions to 2008 Beijing Olympic Champions, altogether 18 Chinese weightlifting Olympic Champions also came and joined the Congress. At the Electoral Congress, Mr. Ma Wenguang was re-elected the President of the Chinese Weightlifting Association. The Congress also elected 19 Vice presidents of the Chinese Weightlifting Association.After the Congress, the Chinese Weightlifting Association organized an Awarding and Celebration Ceremony, attended by Mr. Liu Peng, the President of the Chinese Olympic Committee and Mr. Cui

Olympic champs to volunteer in Chinese fitness program

After winning 51 gold medals to help China top the gold tally in the Beijing Olympic Games, Chinese Olympic champions showed their concern over the country's mass sports by committing themselves to volunteering in the national fitness program. Eighteen former or reigning Olympic gold owners from the Chinese national weightlifting teams announced their plan, four days after the country's first National Fitness Day (Aug.8). They called on all Chinese Olympic champs to spend at least seven days every year on voluntary social service, and guide communities to take physical exercises more frequently and scientifically. A national fitness plan, which urges professional gym instructors to go into communities for volunteer work, was launched on Saturday in Beijing. Fourteen Olympic champions attending the ceremony signed their names to show their commitment, pledging to do whatever they can to help the mass in their daily health-improving exercises. The Olympic champs' dedication to serve in the national fitness program was praised by Liu Peng, head of the Chinese sport governing body. Liu, director of the Chinese General Administration of Sports and president of the Chinese Olympic Committee(COC), said: "The weightlifting team's proposal was laudable. The COC encourage all Chinese Olympic champions to spend seven days per year in serving the society. They can work as grassroots coaches in schools, or go to gyms and community body-building sites to serve as instructors. There are lots of means for them to combine their expertise in the volunteer work, and the options are open." The year after the Beijing Games witnessed China's shift from Olympic medals sports to mass sports. And the country began to pay more and more attention to national fitness. The establishment of Aug. 8 as the National Fitness Day reflects the government's concern over the life and fortune of the people, and it can also been seen as the best marking of the most eye-catching Olympic Games in Beijing. "The launch of the National Fitness Day is also a vivid reflection of the legacy that the Beijing Olympics has left for the people and the society," added Liu. "It is an important step to further improve people's health and a great power to enhance the Chinese sports." (China

Tommy Kono to host Clinic in Colorado Springs

Two-time Olympic Champion Tommy Kono will conduct a weightlifting clinic in Colorado Springs,September 26-27. Kono focuses on the basics of weightlifting, including strategy, technique, training and a positive attitude. USOC OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING SEMINAR 2009BACK TO BASICS FOR CHAMPIONSHIP LIFTINGDAY 19:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Champs or Chumps9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Basic Requirements10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Lifting Fundamentals11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Break for Lunch2:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. Lifting Technique3:15 p.m. to 4:15 a.m. Training Plan4:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Training ProgrammingDAY 29:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Lifting Technique Review9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Practical Application of Lifting Technique 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Lifting Analysis - DVD from Nationals11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Break for Lunch2:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. Competition Preparation3:15 p.m. to 4:15 a.m. Competition Strategy4:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Questions &

Yourik Sarkisian’s birthday

Today is Yourik Sarkisian’s birthday (14 August 1961). Yourik is a big personality in our sport, having been inducted into the IWF Hall of Fame in