IWF Electoral Congress
On 4th March 2005 in Istanbul, the delegates from 5 continents representing 112 countries settled down to the important business of the quadrennial Congress of the IWF. After the reports of the IWF President, General Secretary and Committee Chairmen, two new members were affiliated to the Federation: Scotland and Oman. With them, the IWF’s membership rose to 173 members. In the process of the approval of the modified Constitution, By-Laws and Technical Rules of the Federation, valid for the next four years, the most significant decision was the change of the traditional 2.5-kg progression of the weight of the barbell to a universally applied progression by 1-kg increments. Thus avoiding the controversy in the classification of athletes arising from the different calculation of records, the actually achieved results and the official total results, the Federation made a revolutionary step towards a clearer, closer and even more exciting competition. The new 1-kilo rule will enter into force on 1st May 2005. Later on the day, elections took place into all the leading administrative bodies of the IWF for the term 2005-2008. Dr. Tamás Aján of Hungary, was confirmed in the President’s position for a further term by acclamation and the standing ovation of all delegates. Similarly, Mr. Yannis Sgouros from Greece was re-elected as General Secretary by