We are pleased to inform all members that the International Weightlifting Federation has launched its Facebook site!

Feel free to "Like" our Fan Page and to contact us if you have any suggestions, inquiries or questions!

We will share information with every FB user on the latest Competitions, and any other related news about the Weightlifting Sport around the World!

A course for coaches started yesterday, the 29th of August 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa in the framework of the IWF Development Program. The course will last 8 days from the 29th of August until the 5th of September 2010. We expect the course to be a great success and we are proud to support the organizers in their work!

Several topics are about to be discussed relating to Technical Rules, Nutrition and Anti-Doping issues. Weightlifting related lectures will be held by experienced and recognized experts such as Mr. Aveenash Pandoo, the National Coach of SAWF and recently appointed Director of Development of Africa by the WFA.

8 countries are about to attend the IWF Development Program for Coaches: Seychelles, South Africa, Kenya, Cameroon, Mauritius, Swaziland, Uganda and Tanzania.

An established online connection through Skype enabled a video conference between IWF Offices and Cape Town, where the course is currently underway.

Participants were excited and surprised to talk to the President of IWF Dr. Tamás Aján, who personally wanted to greet attendants, members and contributors. Much evolutionary changes have been made, and this course is a major step forward in development of Weightlifting sport in South Africa.  

Dr. Tamás Aján encourages National Federations, and coaches for further progress, and noticed with great contentment the high number of participants.

This first edition of the Youth Olympic Games welcomed a total of 104 participating weightlifters out of 64 countries. IWF takes great pleasure in congratulating Singapore on its accomplishment for providing stupendous atmosphere and conditions for every athlete and official participating in the weightlifting competitions.

The numbers of gold medal winning countries are 8. Lifters from the Asian continent won 5 and lifters from the European continent won 3 gold medals.

There were 20 medal winning nations from 4 continents. Lifters from Asia won 8, from Europe 6, from Pan-America 4 and from Africa 2 medals.

We had the pleasure to be present at the first attempt of the YOG, Lilla BERKI (HUN, Women 48kg, 40kg) and of the last attempt on the YOG, Alireza KAZEMINEJAD (IRI, Men +85kg, 196kg). They both performed a good lift, and we would like to congratulate them on their results.

The youngest athlete was Lomina TIBON (MHL, Women 53kg), born on the 17^th of December 1994 and the so to speak "Oldest" athlete was Tairat BUNSUK (THA, Men 69kg), born on the 11^th of January 1993.

Tian Yuan (CHN, Women 48kg) set two new Youth Women’s World Records in snatch and in total while Deng Wei (CHN, Women 58kg) improved Junior Women’s World Record in total and set Youth Women’s World Record in snatch, clean & jerk and in total.

Jacques Rogge the President of the IOC honored the + 85kg competition by making a longer appearance. Throughout the event several IOC members were present at weightlifting competitions every day. The IOC Member of the USA, Anita De Frantz, was so strongly amazed by the athletes and competition that she wrote a short story about her impressions.

Despite that the weightlifting competition came to an end, the first Youth Olympic Games is still going on until the closing ceremony to be held on the 26^th of August.

In the 2010/2 edition readers can find a full preview of the upcoming main qualification event in Antalya. Moreover, it also includes the summary of the Junior World Championships held in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. You can subscribe to World Weightlifting by contacting IWF.

Singapore - 19 August 2010:

The last two men's categories - 85kg yesterday and +85kg this morning - wound up the 1st Youth Olympic Games in Singapore: for weightlifting an entirely successful debut.

Suspense and drama were both prevalent in the men's 85kg category, when Russian Alexey Kosov, after convincingly in the lead in snatch with 2kg plus bodyweight advantage over Bulgaria's Georgi Shikov finally lost to the latter in an exciting end-game. Shikov put a well-planned and impeccable six-on-six performance on stage, resulting in an Olympic gold medal for Bulgaria. Meanwhile Konstantyn Reva (UKR) did his own best earning the bronze medal.

A very similar situation came about today, in the last competition, which was fought for the Youth Olympic title in the men's +85kg. In the presence of IOC President Dr. Jacques Rogge in the Toa Payoh Sports Hall, two hardly 16-year old giants were battling in a spectacular show. Gor Minasyan of Armenia was ahead of his challenger after the snatch, lifting 5kg more and enjoying (about 30kg bodyweight advantage). Yet, in the final countdown, Iran's Alireza Kazeminejad decided the outcome of the battle as early a in his second attempt at 196kg, making a 351kg total against the Armenian's 350kg finish.

The host Singapore must be congratulated and thanked for putting on these inaugural Games on a much higher than expected level and justifying the IOC's initiative. Both the young participants and the officials engaged in the 1st YOG will always remember the events in Singapore, in August 2010.

(Report and photos by Aniko Nemeth-Mora, IWF/World Weightlifting) 

Last evening I attended the weightlifting event.  It was the 85kg weight class for young men.  There was a bit of a drama at the beginning because the athlete from Pakistan, Irfan BUTT was not yet properly entered.  There had been some difficulty in finding his coach. As it turned out, the young man did not have a coach with him, or anyone to assist him at the event.

Finally, his passport arrived at the venue with one minute to spare so he could be confirmed eligible for competition at the event.

As they were waiting for the passport, the International Weightlifting Federation saw that he needed to have a coach with him so that he would be properly managed and led through the competition. Eventually, Thailand offered their Olympic gold medalist to coach him. Miss Pawina Thongsuk, at the same time Athlete Role Model for weightlifting, was happy to undertake the task.

Butt finished in the last, 9th place, however, he successfully performed each and every one of his six attempts in competition.  Only a few of the spectators at the venue learned of this remarkable story. I feel both elated and fortunate to have been one of the few who knew what had happened as the tournament began. 

It was a beautiful moment to experience as a woman from Thailand, herself an Olympic Champion, was introduced to a young athlete who then coached him through his successful competition.  She was able to keep him calm and focused on his performance at this high pressured event.   

Singapore - 18 August 2010:

In the men's 77kg Russian Artem Okulov even had bad luck as the clock ran down for his second clean and jerk attempt, yet his overall performance displayed explosive power and he won with a very convincing 327kg over silver medallist Chatuphum Chinnawong of Thailand (311kg). Rustem Sybay (KAZ) easily managed to keep his bronze medal winning position against Papua New Guinea's (!) emerging lifter Steven Kari. Another medal contender, Ossama Khattab befell the same fate as his fellow-Egyptian before: he missed 132kg three times in the snatch and could not score in the Games.

The women's +63kg category lined up 13 young ladies with bodyweights ranging from 69.21kg to 119.89kg. After the snatch, Thailand's Chitchanok Pulsabsakul was in the lead with her 115kg against Olga Zubova (RUS) whose best snatch was 112kg. In the second act, several lifters took attempts aiming at the lead, however, when Zubova opened with a very easy 135kg, such hopes seemed to fade away, except for PRK lifter Kim Kuk Hyang, who started highest, at 138kg. The tactical game heated up towards the end and when Zubova finished with 251kg, ahead of Pulsabsakul only on bodyweight, emerging Kim saved two attempts to lift 146kg and thus take the Olympic Champion title. Alas, she failed in her dramatic effort and so the Russians could rejoice over victory in the last women's category of the YOG.

Singapore - 17 August 2010:

Should world records be officially announced at the Youth Olympic Games, on Day 3 of the YOG, Deng Wei (CHN) would have to be publicly credited 6 Youth World Records and even 1 Junior World Record to, and Zulfiya Chinshanlo (KAZ) one new Youth World Record in the women's 58kg. In a competition that was adequately of top class, these young ladies brought excellent performances on the stage of the Toa Payoh Sports Hall in Singapore and rewrote the list of Youth World records. The total Youth World Record now equals Deng Wei's winning result of 242kg. Finishing in third place was Racheal Ekoshoria of Nigeria.

The next competition of the day, in the men's 69kg, culminated in a very close finish between Azerbaijan's Nijat Rahimov (who eventually became the winner with 295kg), silver medallist Gong Xingbin (CHN) anc Cuban Ediel Marquez.

The women's 63kg wound up the busy day in Singapore. At the end of the snatch, Kazakhstan's Zhazira Zhapparkul stood with 4 kilos to her disadvantage behind Russian Diana Akhmetova. However, Akhmetova missing 114kg two times, with her second clean and jerk at 115kg Zhapparkul was already the Youth Olympic Champion of the category, boasting a total of 205kg. Mexico celebrated Aremi Fuentes proudly, as their Olympic bronze-medal winner.

The YOG launched a photo contest on it’s Youth Olympic Games fan page on Facebook! More details at

Singapore - 16 August 2010:

Both the girls in the 53kg category and the boys in 62kg excelled on the beautifully set stage of the Toa Payoh Spots Hall in Singapore, on the second day of the weightlifting competitions.
2009 Youth World Championship gold medallist Boyanka Kostova (BUL) scored an overwhelming victory with 192kg in total. At two attempts to go before the end of the clean and jerk she was already the winner, yet she made an effort to wind up her excellent performance with 107kg.
Chinese Taipei Kuo Hsing-Chun came in second and Indonesian Safitri Dewi received the bronze medal.

In the Men's 62kg Kim Song Chol of PRK won confidently with 257kg overall. In a highly exciting finish, Colombian Jose Mena, jerking a heroic 140kg, pushed Turkey's Emre Buyukunlu off the silver-medallist position the latter had been holding since the start of the competition.

You can watch live broadcast of the Youth Olympic Games from the 14th until the 26th of August on the following partner platform www.youtholympicgames.org. This also has schedule and results.

A video on demand service is also provided for the curious ones and a new YouTube Hub is available for the Games by the following link: www.youtube.com/olympicsingapore2010

We would also like to share with you short clips of the amazing opening ceremony http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/video/video.php?v=462151871468&ref=mf

Enjoy the games!

Singapore - 15 August 2010:
With the Women's 48kg competition the weightlifting events of the 1st Youth Olympic Games were kicked off in Singapore. Chinese Tian Yuan won the Youth Olympic Champion title with an overwhelming 190kg total over Thailand's Pramonghol (163kg) and bronze medallist Rodriguez Genesis from Venezuela (154kg). Tian Yuan set two new Youth world records on the way: 85kg in snatch and 190kg in total.

In the men's opening competition for the 56kg, Vietnam's Thach Kim Tuan managed to overcome his Chinese rival Xie Jiawu by a 2kg difference (256kg against 254kg) in a breathtaking duel. More excitement was being catered for by Armenian Margaryan's solo at the end of the competition who, trying to change his bronze for gold, left two attempts at 149kg for the finish - eventually failing at this heroic effort.

(Photos and reports from A. Nemeth-Mora)

The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games officially got under way on 14 August with an Opening Ceremony at the Marina Bay Floating Stadium in downtown Singapore.

With the city skyline providing an impressive backdrop, some 3,600 athletes aged 14 to 18 marched in the Parade of Nations, which was followed by speeches from International Olympic Committee President (IOC) Jacques Rogge and Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee Chairman (SYOGOC) Ser Miang Ng.

"Tonight we open a new chapter in the history of the Olympic Movement," said President Rogge. "From this moment on, young people around the world have a chance to participate in a global event that combines sport, education and culture."

The spectacular Opening Ceremony included a specifically weightlifting-related feature: one of the Olympic Flag's bearers was Howe Liang Tan, Singapore's first Olympic medallist (1960 Rome, lightweight, silver medal).

The weightlifting competitions start today with the Women's 48kg at 14:30h local time, to be followed by the Men's 56kg at 18:00h.

Follow the Results here.

Singapore - 14 August 2010: Thailand's Olympic Champion Pawina Thongsuk visited the YOG Weightlifting venue, the Toa Payoh Sports Hall today. Acting as weightlifting's 'Athlete Role Model' at these Games, Pawina said she was very impressed by the beautiful design and high-standard setup of the weightlifting venue. Indeed, the stage and the Field of Play look beautiful and the technical staff and all facilities are ready for the start of the Games.

Find out more about Weightlifting at the YOG also here: WEIGHTLIFTING

Singapore - On 13 August 2010, Olympic Team Managers verified their Final Entries at the meeting held in the YOG Competition Venue: the Toa Payoh Sports Hall. The Start List published today, 14 August 2010 includes a total of 108 young athletes, aged 16 and 17 years, representing 65 nations from the five continents. For all of them it will be the first chance to lift on an Olympic stage.

Both athletes and officals are looking forward to the kick-off of the 1st Youth Olympic Games with great excitement. After today's Technical Officials' meeting, conducted by Sam Coffa, Event Delegate and TC Chairman, in the presence of Dr. Tamás Aján, IWF President and Ma Wenguang, IWF General Secretary, the officials inspected the venue and "cleared it" for the Games to begin tomorrow. The weightlifting competitions will last through five days, 15-19 August.

The Singapore Organising Committee, in particular the Weightlifting Competition manager Tom Liaw have been doing an outstanding job providing excellent and spectacular facilities that match the standard of any high-class event, including the Olympic Games.

World of Weightlifting is looking forward to the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games hosted by Singapore held between the 14th until the 26th of August. The Games will attract about 3600 young athletes between 14 and 18 years of age from 205 National Olympic Committees.

The first edition of the YOG will welcome 60 male and 50 female athletes out of the 110 participating weightlifters under the Qualification Guidelines of the IOC and the IWF.

The Toa Payoh Sports Hall will host the Weightlifting competition.

The Youth Olympic Games are not only a high level sports event, but it also has a pronounced cultural and educational feature with its 26 sports and culture & education programs in order to educate and entertain the athletes about the Olympic values.

We would like to draw your attention to the “YOG-DNA” which is to be used by young people as a stamp of approval for anything that has the “Spirit of the Youth Olympic Games”.

Join the fun and find more information at the following address www.olympic.org/yog

Dr. Pál Schmitt, former Olympic Champion in fencing, Member of the IOC and President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee since 1989 was elected President of the Republic of Hungary. He took office on Friday, the 6th of August at a ceremony attended by 200 guests at the Presidential Palace in Budapest's Castle District.

During the inaugural speech, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasized the fact that having a former Olympic Champion as President was a real honor and success for sports, and he would support a motion to include sports education in the Text of Hungary's Constitution. 

At the ceremony, Dr. Tamás Aján expressed his congratulations to Dr. Pál Schmitt in the name of the IWF and the Hungarian Olympic Academy.

The 2010 Youth Olympic Games are about to begin in Singapore. For your information please note that the ENTRIES BY CATEGORY are available on the IWF website.

Mr. Dae Sung Moon, Member of the Athletes Commission of the International Olympic Committee and Olympic Gold Medalist in taekwondo from South Korea arrived in Budapest for an official visit. He met Dr. Tamás Aján, and had a highly profitable discussion about the Olympic Movement and relevant issues concerning International Sports.

The President of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), Dr. Julio C. Maglione has accomplished a three days visit in Budapest during which he has met Dr. Tamás Aján. They had an informal and friendly discussion about several topics regarding to the Olympic Movement, the Youth Olympic Games, the London 2012 Olympic Games and other sport issues.