News

Nomination of Technical Officials for Cali 2008

In accordance with the IWF's Letter, National Federations can now propose Technical Officials - using the TO Nomination Form - for the 2008 Junior World Championships in Cali, Colombia. Nominate only International Category 1 Referees and/or Doctors. Deadline: 1 April 2008 - to be sent to [email protected] or by fax to +361 2690208/+361

Continental Qualification series kick-off

The Pan-American Championships, at the same time a qualifier for the Beijing Olympic Games 2008, were organised in Callao (Lima), Peru, with a record number of 18 countries participating, including several countries (CAN, COL, CUB, MEX, USA, VEN) which had already qualified at the two Qualification World Championships in 2006 and 2007. In a close fight for the Olympic slots, the following teams succeeded to win tickets to the Beijing Olympic Games:Women: DOM, ECU, PUR, CHI - each with one athleteMen: USA, CAN with two athletes, BRA, ECU, ARG with one athlete, each.Visit the Championships website for more information and the IWF website

Free of charge visa for all participants of the 2008 JWWC

We are pleased to inform you that the Organizing Committe of the 2008 JWWC Cali, Colombia is offering the visa free of charge for all the participants of the event.Download the list of countries that require visa to ColombiaDownload the list of diplomatic representations of ColombiaIn case you intend to participate, please notify the Organizing Committee ([email protected]) and send the following information to the Colombian Consulate closest to your place of residence: - list of members of the delagation (name, position - athlete, coach, etc.- , date of birth, passport number, date of expiration of passport - minimum 6 months validity required - arrival and departure dates to and from Colombia - a letter from your National Federation describing the purpose of the travel, sources for payment for the cost of the stay- scanned passports of all members of the delegationFor more information and Program of the 2008 JWWC, go to: 2008 JWWC -

Olympic Weightlifting Results and Information Services approved

After the successful Test Event in January, the Homologation Test (full scale test) of Olympic Results and Information Services (ORIS) was carried out last week in Beijing.Mr. Róbert Nagy, Technology Director and Mr. Attila Ádámfi, Technical Delegate tested the application on behalf of the IWF according to the ORIS and IWF requirements and as previously expected, the system (same as for Athens 2004) was homologated with only small issues to be improved.The majority of Homologation Tests in other sports have also been completed, only a few more left to be finished before end of April.Róbert Nagy, Nicolas Hurel (ORIS Manager) and Attila Ádámfi in front of the famous "Water Cube" in

World Weightlifting’s new issue is published

The World Weightlifting 2007/4 magazine introduces the best lifters of 2007: Jang Mi-Ran (KOR) and Andrei Rybakou (BLR). This issue focuses on Halil Mutlu targeting to be the first four times Olympic gold medal winner of our sport. You can read an interesting story on Marcus Stephen who represented Nauru as a lifter before and now became the President of his country. The 2007 World Ranking Lists are also contained in this edition - for the 27th time. With a focus on the Beijing 2008 Games, a reporrt is published on the "Good Luck Beijing Test Event". On the poster: Zhang Guozheng (CHN).Click for more information on the WWM 2007/4

China’s medal expectations at the Beijing Olympics

China doesn't expect to win the largest number of gold medals at the Beijing Olympics this summer, a senior sports official said here on Wednesday.In several ways, China lags countries such as the United States and Russia, said Cui Dalin, deputy director of the State General Administration of Sport."It's the responsibility of Chinese athletes and coaches to strive for medals at the Games. But we had never thought of winning the most gold medals," he said.Cui, who is also a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the top political advisory body.The United States won 103 medals at the Athens Games in 2004 and Russia won 92, well above China's 63, Cui said.Expectations for Team China to topple the sports superpower of the United States this summer have been running high among Chinese, as the Olympics is to be held for the first time on their home soil.Chinese athletes are hopeful of winning medals in diving, table tennis, shooting, women's taekwondo and w e i g h t l i f t i n g. They have also made breakthroughs in some sports such as boxing, rowing, sailing, fencing, men's wrestling, pentathlon and trampoline, officials have said.The Beijing Games demonstrates the support of the international community for China's opening up and reform policy and its economic and social development, according to Cui."Carrying out the Olympic spirit in the world's most populous country is a significant thing. We aim to promote friendship with people from other countries and improve the development of sports in China," he said.(Source: