European Weightlifting Federation

THE POLISH FEDERATION PRIZED ITS CHAMPIONS IN BYDGOSZCZ WEIGHTLIFTING GALA

ewfAdmin — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 08:07:22 +0000

On Saturday, March 16, 2024, the Conference Room of the Sports Center of the beautiful polish city Bydgoszcz, hosted a ceremonial and impressive Weightlifting Gala, summarizing the best weightlifting results and achievements accomplished in 2023.

Special congratulations, thanks and awards were given to European and World Championships medalists, sport clubs and National Team’s coaches, sponsors and partners of the Polish Weightlifting Federation. The special guests of the Gala were the EWF President Antonio Conflitti and the EWF Secretary General Milan Mihajlovic, who didn’t want to lose the highly appreciated opportunity to congratulate the awardees led by the president of the PWF and Vice-president of the Polish Olympic Committee, Mr. Waldemar Gospodarek.

“The Polish Federation made special efforts to celebrate its champions and all those who contributed to the successes of the Polish weightlifters last year in the most elegant way, the Gala moments being sometimes accompanied by a duet of violinists from Bydgoszcz who entertained the guests and this is perfect context to mixt sport and culture”, the EWF General Secretary said enthusiastically.

Clips with the successful attempts of the champions were played on the monitor in the hall, as a reminder of those indescribable emotions felt in the 2023 international arenas in Chisinau, Bucharest, Guadalajara and not only.

All the participants and guests were warmly welcomed by the president of the PWF, Waldemar Gospodarek, who reminded proudly the total of 67 medals won by the polish weightlifters. Gospodarek also talked about the activity and projects of the federation he leads and which will host this year’s European Junior and U23 Championships in Raszyn, between 26 October and 03 of November and the Youth and U15 continental competition next year in August, most probably in Bydgoszcz, residence town of the polish President.

At the end, the president of the European Weightlifting Federation, Antonio Conflitti, and the Secretary General, Dr. Milan Mihajlovic, received special commemorative trophies from the hands of the head of polish weightlifting governing body. Conflitti underlined the very good job done by Gospodarek nationally and internationally, mentioning about the historical importance of the Polish Federation for the entire continental weightlifting family: “Your federation, as a co-founder of the European Weightlifting Federation, is one of the strategic members of the EWF and, in the same time, home of the EWF.”

The head of the EWF presented the EWF Bronze Star to Mr. Zbigniew Gorlewski, well-known collector and expert in the history of weightlifting from all points of view, including from a statistical one. It was a special moment to reiterate the importance of the history of our sport with one of the most passionate lovers of weightlifting. A very special moment was the presentation of the first official EWF Bulletin with the official information about the establishment of the European Weightlifting Federation, about the founding Member Countries, about the first official continental competition and about the organizational structure of the European body at that time, all this as if to it also pays tribute to all those who contributed to the development of our sport on the continental level and beyond, but who are no longer among us. All this had an even greater burden, taking into account the fact that this year EWF celebrates its 55th anniversary.

FIRST OFFICIAL EWF BULLETIN CAN BE ACCESED HERE

Gospodarek conclude the speeches and award moments showing the willingness to host the Senior European Championships in 2026, but not before receiving the official T-shirt of the EWF from President Conflitti.

During the stay in Poland, the EWF officials had the opportunity to visit the sports infrastructure and facilities in Bydgoszcz, proposed city for hosting the European Championships in 2025 and upon returning to Warsaw they happily revisited the Sports Complex in Raszyn, which will host this year’s Junior and U23 competition and which the teams from all over Europe got to know in 2022 on the occasion of the Europeans reserved for the youngest athletes in Europe.

POLISH WEIGHTLIFTING GALA VIDEO

The post THE POLISH FEDERATION PRIZED ITS CHAMPIONS IN BYDGOSZCZ WEIGHTLIFTING GALA first appeared on European Weightlifting Federation.

EWF AND IOA STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONS

ewfAdmin — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 18:19:20 +0000

Friday, the 15th of March, the EWF President Conflitti and General Secretary Mihajlovic along with triple Olympic Champion Pyrros Dimas and Organization Director Iris Vlachouticos paid a visit to the International Olympic Academy’s headquarters in Athens, where they had the great pleasure to meet Isidoros Kouvelos, the President of the International Olympic Academy and the IOA Consultant Dionysis Gangas, with whom discussions were held about the importance of education and the spread of Olympic values in close collaboration with the European weightlifting family.

The meeting was crowned by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations, which will have as its main objective cooperation for the organization of mutually beneficial initiatives in the following directions:

– Seminars on Olympic values for weightlifting athletes, NFs management, coaches, and ITOs at the IOA premises in Ancient Olympia;
– Joint research projects of interest to both Parties;
– Training camps for athletes and coaches at the IOA premises in Ancient Olympia;
– EWF support for the enrollment in the IOA master’s studies of prominent European weightlifters for the Master’s Degree Program in “Olympic Studies, Olympic Education, Organization and Management of Olympic Events.

The relevant details of the above fields of cooperation will be discussed and agreed in details in due course, while specific contracts related to the aforementioned initiatives should be established independently of this present Memorandum of Understanding.

Last year, the EWF organized the first edition of the EWF Cup right at the location of the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, the cradle of global Olympism, on which occasion the IOA was able to get acquainted not only with an innovative competition, but also with the ambitions of the European Weightlifting Federation to promote our sport under the umbrella of Pierre de Coubertin’s values.

The IOA President said that everyone involved in sport, especially in the Olympic movement, should visit at least ones in a life ancient Olympia and International Olympic Academy: “We welcome weightlifters from Europe and all over the world.”

“We are more than satisfied about this important step undertaken with the IOA with the support of its President Kouvelos and his staff. The EWF has now the opportunity and tool to promote and spread as much as ever the Olympic values that are leading our daily activity in sport. Special thanks again to our hosts, colleagues, and friends Pyrros Dimas and Iris Vlachoutsicos for their support in this matter.”, stated the EWF President at the end of the successful meeting.

Pyrros Dimas completed the Conflitti’s comments and mentioned: “Olympic Values and Olympic Education is now more than ever important for the youth not only in sport but also for life itself. The MoU between IOA and EWF sets a strong Olympic Values pillar for all european weightlifters!”

The post EWF AND IOA STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONS first appeared on European Weightlifting Federation.

EWF LEADERSHIP’S VISIT AT THE HELLENIC OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

ewfAdmin — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 13:04:19 +0000

The President and Secretary General of the EWF, accompanied by Pyrros Dimas visited, on the 15th of March, the Hellenic Olympic Committee Headquarters in Athens, where they had the great pleasure of meeting the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the European Olympic Committees, Spyros Capralos and the HOC General Secretary Emmanuel Kolympadis.

The EWF officials therefore had the opportunity to discuss the European Youth and U15 Championships, planned this year in Thessaloniki, in June, but they did not lose the opportunity to discuss in detail the activity of the European weightlifting governing body, about projects, development and about the determination to include weightlifting in the program of the continental competitions held under the auspices of the European Olympic rings.

Moreover, the activities undertaken to promote weightlifting at the EOC level, including the demonstration mixed international weightlifting event, organized in Maribor, Slovenia one day after the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 European Youth Olympic Festival, were all remembered with the desire to reach the EWF goals of being accepted as soon as possible in the EYOF 2025 program in Skopje, North Macedonia and in the 2027 European Games.

The discussions generated interest from both sides, especially in the perspective of a new meeting that will take place on the occasion of the EOC Session in Bucharest, on the 5th and 6th of June 2024.

“We are more than delighted about the openness and kindness with which we were received by President Capralos. I hope that in the very near future our dreams will become reality. I think that the biggest steps have already been taken. I want to thank our colleagues and friends Pyrros Dimas and Iris Vlachoutsicos for facilitating this meeting at the highest level. European Weightlifting continues to be on best way for its development”, President Conflitti stated with satisfaction at the end of the visit.

Triple Olympic champion Pyrros Dimas emphasized the success of the meeting: “The development of weightlifting in Europe and the world has always been my priority therefore, I congratulate the EOC and EWF cooperation progress for weightlifting to be part of the EYOF and the European Games.”

Shortly after the meeting, on the social media page of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, through a post, it was also confirmed favorable feedback of President Capralos to the idea of seeing weightlifting in the program of the 2027 European Games.

The post EWF LEADERSHIP’S VISIT AT THE HELLENIC OLYMPIC COMMITTEE first appeared on European Weightlifting Federation.

PROMISING START FOR THE PREPARATIONS OF THE 2024 EWF YOUTH AND U15 CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE EUROPEAN CITY OF SPORTS 2024

ewfAdmin — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 12:20:52 +0000

In preparation for this year’s European Youth and U15 Championships, scheduled for June 15–23 2024, the General Secretary of the Hellenic Weightlifting Federation, the triple Olympic champion Pyrros Dimas and the Organization Director, Iris Vlachoutsicos welcomed the EWF President, Antonio Conflitti and EWF General Secretary, Milan Mihajlovic for a technical visit to Thessaloniki, Greece, on March 14, 2024.

An important meeting took place at the Municipality of Thessaloniki, hosted by the Mayor Stelios Aggeloudis, and Deputy Mayor in charge for Sport and Culture, Koula Giannakidou. During this official visit, full support was pledged for the weightlifting event.

Mayor Aggeloudis remarked “Knowing Pyrros Dimas for a long time, his contributions to weightlifting have not only marked history in Greece but throughout the world. Greek weightlifters have a strong connection to the sport in general and they have always demonstrated the ability to achieve impressive performances. This year, with Thessaloniki being declared the European City of Sports, is committed to making this competition memorable“; said Mayor Aggeloudis.

Following this meeting, the delegation went to the Region of Central Macedonia’s headquarters and met with the Deputy Governor for sport and culture, Christos Mittas. He emphasized the region’s dedication and support for the Organizing Committee, including the provision of volunteers and calling on spectators to attend this important event.

The delegation then visited the official participants’ hotel and the competition venue. The Capsis Hotel, chosen for the athletes, meets all the criteria for hosting participants in the European Championships. Competitions and training sessions are set to be held at the “Palais des Sports,” where the delegation was welcomed by George Violistis, President of Thessaloniki Sports Complexes and Vice President Giorgos Babaratzas. The arena is fully equipped to host major events, having previously been the venue for weightlifting international competitions, e.g. the successful edition of the 2001 IWF Junior World Championships.

“The Hellenic Weightlifting Federation honors the appointment of Thessaloniki as the European City of Sports for 2024 where they will organize the European Youth and U15 Championships. We are pleased to welcome the EWF President Antonio Conflitti and General Secretary Milan Mihajlovic and would like to thank them for their support and the approval of our organizational plan”, said Pyrros Dimas.

EWF is grateful to the Hellenic Weightlifting Federation and Pyrros Dimas, whose popularity is evident everywhere. We’re all expecting a spectacular event ahead of us.
“With great pleasure, EWF has announced its return to Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic movement, for the 2024 European Championships. Since Greece has not longer hosted European championships for 21 years, this event is particularly noteworthy. The EWF is excited to commemorate this historic comeback and highlights the strong historical and cultural connections that our sport has with the original Olympic goals”, the EWF President Antonio Conflitti stated.

The post PROMISING START FOR THE PREPARATIONS OF THE 2024 EWF YOUTH AND U15 CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE EUROPEAN CITY OF SPORTS 2024 first appeared on European Weightlifting Federation.

Unveiling the Logo: Thessaloniki, 2024 European City of Sport, Welcomes Weightlifting Rising Stars with the Iconic White Tower

ewfAdmin — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 20:14:51 +0000

REGULATIONS

DRAFT TIMETABLE

The European Youth and U15 Championships will be held in Thessaloniki, Greece, on June 15–23, 2024.

Athletes intending to compete at the European Youth Championships must properly provide their Whereabouts information three months before and throughout the competition. Since the Competition starts on the 15th of June 2024, the whereabouts information should be submitted for Q1 2024 by 15th March 2024 and should be submitted for Q2 2024 by 31^st March 2024.

We are pleased to announce that the European Youth and U15 Championships will take place in Thessaloniki, Greece, from June 15 to June 23, 2024. The Organizing Committee of the European Youth & U15 Championships has officially unveiled the event’s logo, a crucial element for public identification and recognition.

This logo features a barbell superimposed on Thessaloniki’s renowned monument, the White Tower, symbolizing the strength and heritage of both the sport and the host city. This design has received unanimous approval from the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Weightlifting Federation, underscoring its significance and the unity it represents within the weightlifting community.

Pyrros Dimas, a triple Olympic champion and Secretary General of the Hellenic Weightlifting Federation, stated: “After the World Youth Championship held in 2022 in Heraklion, Crete, our country undertakes another major weightlifting event, the European Youth & U15 Championship that will held in Thessaloniki in cooperation with the European Weightlifting Federation. We are expecting athletes from all over Europe and we have a goal through the event included in the events of “Thessaloniki – European City of Sports 2024″, to showcase Greece but also beautiful Thessaloniki to the whole world”

The post Unveiling the Logo: Thessaloniki, 2024 European City of Sport, Welcomes Weightlifting Rising Stars with the Iconic White Tower first appeared on European Weightlifting Federation.

Bernd Schneider became President of the Swiss Amateur Weightlifter Association

ewfAdmin — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 18:37:04 +0000

The Swiss Amateur Weightlifter Association recently went through leadership changes.

The newly elected President of the Swiss Amateur Weightlifter Association is Mr. Bernd Schneider.

The position of General Secretary is currently vacant.

EWF congratulates Mr. Bernd Schneider and wishes him and the Swiss Amateur Weightlifter Association all the best in future work.

Official Site

http://www.swiss-weightlifting.ch/

Address

CH – 8272 Ermatingen / TG

Russenmoosweg 1

Contact

Phone: +41 77 496 90 27
Email: president@swiss-weightlifting.ch

The post Bernd Schneider became President of the Swiss Amateur Weightlifter Association first appeared on European Weightlifting Federation.

Malta Weightlifting Association Celebrates Triumphs at 64th Malta Sports Journalists Association Awards Night

ewfAdmin — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 18:33:33 +0000

On a dazzling night, on March 2, 2024, filled with excitement and celebration, the Malta Weightlifting Association took center stage, reveling in its success in elevating the status of weightlifting on the island. The highlight of the evening was Tenishia Thornton’s remarkable achievement as she clinched the prestigious Sportswoman of the Year award during the 64th edition final night organized by the Malta Sports Journalists Association.

The honor was bestowed upon Thornton by Hon. Clifton Grima, the Minister responsible for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation, alongside Sandro Micallef, President of the Malta Sports Journalists Association. Thornton’s outstanding contributions to the sport were recognized with this coveted title, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Adding to the association’s triumphs, Kim Camilleri Lagana secured the Youth Woman Athlete of the Year, following in the footsteps of her teammate Tenishia Thornton, who had previously won this title for three consecutive years. This duo’s exceptional performances highlight the depth of talent within the Malta Weightlifting Association.

Rylee Borg, nominated for the Youth Man Athlete of the Year, and Jesmond Caruana in the Official of the Year categories, earned well-deserved places in the top five finalists, showcasing the association’s all-encompassing impact on the sport.

The award ceremony, broadcasted live on local TV, revealed a total of 12 honors, with seven determined by the jury’s votes. Among these accolades were the People’s Choice Award, the International Sports Event of the Year, and the newly introduced Sport for Social Change Award, chosen by the Executive Committee of the Malta Sports Journalists Association. Additionally, two awards were presented upon the nomination of Special Olympics Malta, adding a layer of inclusivity and recognizing the broader impact of sports on society.

The Malta Weightlifting Association’s success at the awards night underscores their commitment to promoting and developing weightlifting on the island, solidifying their position as a key player in the Maltese sports landscape. As they bask in the glory of their achievements, the association looks forward to continuing its efforts in bringing the weightlifting sport to new heights in Malta.

Source: Malta Weightlifting Association

The post Malta Weightlifting Association Celebrates Triumphs at 64th Malta Sports Journalists Association Awards Night first appeared on European Weightlifting Federation.

Achievements of the Georgian Weightlifting Federation in 2023

ewfAdmin — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 18:26:48 +0000

The Georgian Weightlifting Federation has recently been recognized nationally for its outstanding achievements and contributions to the realm of sports in 2023 in Georgia.
These accolades underscore the federation’s commitment to excellence and the remarkable talent of its weightlifters.

Lasha Talakhadze, a prominent figure in weightlifting, was honored with the title of the best athlete of 2023 by the National Olympic Committee of Georgia. This prestigious recognition is a testament to his extraordinary abilities, devotion, and hard work in the sport.

The Association of Sports Journalists of Georgia honored Talakhadze as the best athlete of the last 20 years, a noteworthy distinction that emphasizes his lasting excellence and significant impact on the sport,

In the junior category, Mariam Murgvliani was named the best junior female athlete of 2023 by the Association of Sports Journalists of Georgia. This award not only celebrates her remarkable achievements at a young age but also shines a light on the promising future of Georgian weightlifting.

The Association of Sports Journalists of Georgia recognized the National Weightlifting Federation of Georgia as the best sports federation of 2023. This award is a testament to the federation’s accomplishments in sports and capable leadership. It represents the federation’s vital role in the growth and promotion of weightlifting in Georgia as well as its noteworthy contributions to the sports community at large.

These achievements are a clear indication of the Georgian Weightlifting Federation’s excellence and the bright future that lies ahead for weightlifting in Georgia. The federation’s commitment to nurturing talent and promoting the sport has undoubtedly placed it at the forefront of the Georgia sports community.

The post Achievements of the Georgian Weightlifting Federation in 2023 first appeared on European Weightlifting Federation.

HISTORIC INAUGURAL MEETING OF EWF ATHLETE COMMISSION. DAVID LITVINOV AS NEW EWF EB MEMBER

ewfAdmin — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 16:19:51 +0000

On 27 February 2024, the EWF Athlete Commission convened its inaugural meeting, during which David Litvinov (ISR) was elected as the first EWF AC Chairman.

At the Congress in Sofia on 17th February 2024, European NFs delegates approved the appointment of 6 members to the Athletes Commission: Anaas Michel-Cozzela (FRA), Despina Polaktsidou (GRE), Jenny Tong (GBR), David Litvinov (ISR), Arturs Plesnieks (LAT), and Sean Kevin Brown (IRL). This development paved the way for Athletes Commission representatives to join and become members of the EWF Executive Board, aligning with the approach previously applied by the IWF.

This milestone establishes the EWF as the first Continental weightlifting Federation with such a composition, with Athletes representatives as member of the Executive Board.

The Athletes Commission’s first meeting was convened by EWF President Antonio Conflitti, in the presence of IWF Athletes Commission Chair Forrester Osei, EWF General Secretary Milan Mihajlovic, and former EWF Athletes Commission Chair Jesmond Caruana. Following an open vote in which the athletes participated, the following individuals were selected: David Litvinov (ISR) as Chairman, Jenny Tong (GBR) as Vice Chair, Sean Kevin Brown (IRL) as Commission Secretary, along with Despina Polaktsidou (GRE), Arturs Plesnieks (LAT), and Anaas Michel-Cozzela (FRA) as members of the AC Commission. Together, they will actively collaborate to drive the development of weightlifting in Europe.

The Athletes’ Commission’s primary role is to represent active athletes and provide them with a platform to voice their perspectives in the governance of the European Weightlifting Federation. This includes offering advice to the Executive Board on matters affecting the EWF from the athletes’ viewpoint.

EWF encourage all European athletes to engage with their representatives, share their ideas, and actively participate in shaping the future of weightlifting in Europe.

For further communication regarding EWF Athletes Commission, please contact EWF Athletes Commission Chairman and member of the EWF EB, David Litvinov, at
athletes@ewf.sport

The post HISTORIC INAUGURAL MEETING OF EWF ATHLETE COMMISSION. DAVID LITVINOV AS NEW EWF EB MEMBER first appeared on European Weightlifting Federation.

SAVE THE DATE!! WEBINAR 5th March – New Categorization rule

ewfAdmin — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 11:01:42 +0000

We would like to inform you about THE NEW DATE for the webinar on the new categorization rule, which will be held on the 5th March 2024 at 1:00 PM CET.

(The webinar initially scheduled for 20th February has therefore been postponed!)

Date: 5th March 2024
Time: 1:00 PM CET

SAVE THE DATE!

This webinar aims to clarify the functioning of the newly implemented categorization rule. It will outline the specific obligations and requirements applicable to the Member Federations as set out in Articles 18.9 and 18.10 of the 2024 IWF Anti-doping Rules.

The webinar will be hosted by the International Testing Agency (ITA).

While we understand there may be questions regarding the categorization of Member Federations into different groups (A, B, or C), we would like to specify that this session will primarily focus on explaining the rule itself.

The focus of the webinar is specifically dedicated to clarifying the operational requirements for the Member Federations within each category.
Kindly be aware that the session is not intended for discussing the categorization of the Member Federations itself.

All participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about the practical implementation of the requirements via the chat feature. This will provide an opportunity for attendees to clarify any point of confusion regarding the new rule.

We anticipate an informative session, and we encourage all Member Federations to join us for this important webinar!

REGISTRATION LINK:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8p_9BE4JQna3-lOgNYCpxw#/registration

The webinar will be delivered in English with simultaneous translation to three additional languages – Arabic (العربية), Spanish (español) and Russian (русский).

Should you have any immediate inquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact at antidoping@iwf.sport.

The post SAVE THE DATE!! WEBINAR 5th March – New Categorization rule first appeared on European Weightlifting Federation.