News and Media

News

IWF President’s Press Conference in ChiangMai

The IWF President informed the international media that 3 new member countries had joined the IWF: Liberia, Malawi and Maldives. The membership thus grew to 181 countries.Dr. Aján praised the Thai organisers, under the leadership of Maj.Gen. Intarat Yodbangtoey and Mrs. Boossaba Yodbangtoey as TAWA President, who are tackling with the gigantic and complex job of staging these great Championships with utmost proficiency, warm hospitality and attention to

Royal World Championships kicked off in ChiangMai

HRH The Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Thailand declared the 2007 Royal World Weightlifting Championships open in ChiangMai yesterday. The Opening Ceremony was a spectacular show in true Thai Royal style, worthy of what may become the biggest World Championships in history.According the Start List, even the all-time record attendance of Athens 1999 may be upset here, at least for the women. In altogether 50 (!) groups? competitions during the next 10 days, 245 women competitors are to take part representing a record 58 countries, alongside the field of 388 male athletes from 76 nations. That is just a little under the previous record.Nevertheless, huge fights are expected in all categories with the A finals live on TF both in Thailand and

Paris can organise the 2011 World Championships

The allocation of the 2011 Olympic Qualification World Championships was one of the key items on the agenda of the IWF Executive Board at its ChiangMai meeting today. Two equally strong candidates - Los Angeles, California, USA, and Paris, France - presented brilliant bids rated by IWF President Dr. Aján as being on par with Olympic candidatures.Both the USA and the French Federation's candidatures enjoyed the full support of the respective governments, cities, National Olympic Committees and sports authorities and were submitted to the Board in professional and spectacular presentations. All agreed that it was an extremely difficult decision between two equally determined candidates.Finally, the vote favoured the Paris candidature (10:8). As Jean-Paul Bulgaridhes, President of the French Federation vowed: the French capital would organise "The Championships of the 3rd Millennium" in 2011, also apt to be the dress rehearsal of the 2012 London Olympic