The strong presence of weightlifters from Mediterranean countries in Taranto has attracted considerable attention at the Mediterranean Games, held every four years. The competition has also received a warm response from local spectators, who have turned out in good numbers to watch the athletes in action.
The competition in San Giorgio Jonico has also brought together some of the leading figures in international weightlifting. IWF President Mohammed Jalood, European Weightlifting Federation President Dr Astrit Hasani and Olympic legend Pyrros Dimas, a three-time Olympic champion and bronze medallist who also serves on the IWF Technical Committee, are among those attending the three-day competition, alongside athletes, coaches and national federation presidents from across the Mediterranean.
Speaking briefly to SportsIn on the sidelines of the competition, Jalood said the IWF, in cooperation with its affiliated federations across the five continents, has introduced a number of reforms and initiatives. The aim, he said, is to put the sport on a better path, improve Olympic standards and further promote Olympic values among weightlifters.
Jalood pointed to Paris 2024 as an important result of those efforts. “All these efforts produced results at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The weightlifters were clean, and we are very happy that, as a first step, we were able to promote a culture of anti-doping and fair competition throughout the global weightlifting community,” he said.
IWF President Mohammed Jalood
He added that Paris 2024 was only the beginning of a longer process. The IWF, he said, remains committed to implementing its targeted programmes. Jalood also highlighted progress in increasing the participation of women weightlifters in management and judging positions, adding that he was aware of similar reforms being introduced by the five continental weightlifting federations.
Jalood also praised the quality of the competition in Taranto and the atmosphere surrounding the event. Athletes from Turkey, Albania, Greece, Egypt and Italy are among those competing, with several expected to produce high-level performances. For Jalood, however, the atmosphere created around the competition is particularly important. “What matters to me more than anything is the very beautiful atmosphere surrounding these Games, and I am very grateful to the organisers,” he said.
EWF President Dr Astrit Hasani, who also took part in the conversation with SportsIn, agreed with Jalood and pointed to the growing opportunities for European weightlifting. He noted that weightlifting has been included in the European Games for the first time, describing this as the biggest achievement for the sport. He said the EWF is working together and learning from other sports federations to make the most of this opportunity.
EWF President, Dr Astrit Hasani
Hasani also highlighted the support he has received from IJF President Marius Vizer, saying that cooperation with leaders of other international sports federations has provided valuable opportunities to exchange ideas and experiences.
He also referred to last week’s mixed team weightlifting event in Lausanne, attended by IOC Member and ITTF President Petra Sörling and IOC Sports Director Pierre Ducrey. Hasani said the event received very positive feedback and provided an important experience for weightlifting. Sörling also invited him to attend the mixed team table tennis event in Chengdu.
Hasani also revealed that he had submitted proposals to the IWF president concerning changes to the medal structure and the playing of national anthems after both the snatch and the clean and jerk. He stressed that any decision would require further discussions and consultation with members of the IWF Executive Board, but said the proposals were open for consideration.
Olympic legend Pyrros Dimas
Pyrros Dimas also referred to the mixed team event in Lausanne, describing it as a step forward in the IWF’s efforts to update weightlifting. “We have to update the sport together with the interests and preferences of the athletes and the fans of weightlifting,” Dimas said.
He added that changes to the judging rules and making them easier for spectators to understand how victories and defeats are determined were among the recent reforms that were necessary for weightlifting. Shortening the duration of competitions is another reform that has gained broad support within the IWF.
The aim is to make weightlifting not only a technically demanding discipline for its athletes, but also a competition that is easier for audiences to follow and understand.
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