News

Loss of a great Friend!

The Russian Olympic Committee regretfully informed us that Mr. Nikolay Parkhomenko (74), President of the Russian Weightlifting Federation after long-lasting illness, passed away today, the 10th July 2009 at 9 a.m. Moscow time. Nikolay, awarded by the International Olympic Committee as well as by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), has worked closely with the IWF for 32 years. During 29 years he was 1st Vice President, Vice President and Executive Board Member working always with his heart and soul for the better of our beloved sport. Words alone cannot express our sympathy on the untimely death of our great friend.

144 Clubs took part in 2009 ZKC International Email Tournament

2009 ZKC Email International Club TournamentNEW RECORD SET: 144 CLUBS TAKING PART FROM THE 5 CONTINENTS Congratulation to the winning teams:MTZ CLUB FROM CUBA AND THE COUGARS CLUB FROM AUSTRALIA The ZKC Email International club tournament which concluded on June the 30th has seen a record number of clubs enter from the five continents. 144 clubs took part with 662 competitors participating. (481 males and 181 females entered the tournament.) See the Results. This tournament is now in its sixth year and is getting more popular every year. To receive results from Africa, Asia, Europe, America and of course Oceania is a huge achievement not only for the tournament but also for the Oceania Weightlifting Federation. The winning club in the male section was the MTZ Club from Cuba, whilst in the female section it was the Cougars Club from Australia. Team Points. Both clubs will each receive one Olympic barbell set from ZKC who is the sponsor of this years tournament. Six years ago, the Email International Club Tournament, was set up by the O.W.F. specifically to give lifters at club level the opportunity to compete against other lifters world wide. These lifters would normally find it difficult to get an opportunity to participate at international level, especially the younger ones. And we are pleased that this tournament gives all clubs world wide, the chance to compete against each other without any cost whatsoever attached. On behalf of the OWF, I would like to thank the General Manager of the ZKC Company, Mr. Zhang Zhiguo, for his support and contribution toward this event and also towards the development of weightlifting at club level worldwide. In addition I would like to thank Dr. Tamas Ajan (President of the IWF) and the IWF office for supporting and promoting this event. The Oceania Weightlifting Federation wishes to thank every club which has taken part in this year's tournament and congratulations to the individual winners and the winning clubs. Thank you again to all clubs. (Source: Paul Coffa, OWF)  

Gulf Countries Confederation Championships: a great success in the Emirates

The 9th Senior and 8th Junior Gulf Countries Confederation (GCC) Weightlifting Championships were successfully held over the weekend in Fujairah, UAE.Six countries (BRN, KSA, KUW, OMA, QAT and UAE) entered 65 weightlifters. The Opening Ceremony was attended by the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Fujairah. The Emirates WF, under the guidance of Sheikh Sultan bin Mejren, AWF President and Member of the IWF Executive Board) carried out the competitions at a high level with the application of the IWF National Competition Management System.IWF Competition Director Attila Ádámfi, IWF Technology Director Róbert Nagy and Technician Csaba Airizer took an active part in the Championships. (Photos are available in the Photo Gallery of the Championships) Results Senior, Junior

2009 Goyang WC, Handbook, Future World Championships Bids treated in IWF’s July Circular

The status of the 2009 Goyang World Championships, the planned French and Spanish editions of the IWF Handbook, future World Championships open for bidding and Technical Officials issues are treated in the IWF's July Circular to National Federations and officials.

Nigeria concentrating on areas of strength

Chief Ekeji's second coming into the National Sports Commission (NSC) of Nigeria where he has now risen to the position of Director-General may be the tonic the country needs to join the league of countries which maximise their potentials to rank high on the medal table. With a new sports minister/Chairman of the NSC, Engineer Sani Ndanusa, a man who has been in sports and knows what it takes to do well in competitions, Chief Ekeji has mapped the road-map for the NSC to follow in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India, the 2011 All Africa Games as well as the 2012 Olympic Games in London.For these Games as well as the World Championships in the various sports, the NSC has picked six sports namely Athletics, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Para-sports (athletics, power-lifting & wheel chair tennis), Boxing and Taekwondo to concentrate on. Towards this end therefore, the NSC has initiated a reward system for athletes, coaches and States Sports Council administrators of these sports. This include payment of several thousands of dollars for gold, silver and bronze as well as the benchmark amount for each of the category.(By Patrick

African Championships in Kampala

Uganda is very proud to be the first African Country to host Africa's Major Events after the change of WFA governance.This time, we are not only hosting Africa for the first time with President Khaled and his new Executive, but are also hosting Africa's 1st Youth Under-17 years old athletes. Combining Youths U-17, Men & Women Juniors and Seniors is what makes it HISTORY!We are accommodating all guests in Imperial Group of Hotels(Salim S. Musoke,