The European Weightlifting Championships ended on Sunday, April 26, with officials, referees and coaches from across the European Weightlifting praising the work of Astrit Hasani and the organisation of the event by the Georgian Weightlifting Federation.

Dr Astrit Hasani holds a postgraduate degree from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from the University of Warsaw, also has longstanding family ties to the Olympic Movement. Speaking to Sportsin during the European Championships, he backed the “Fit For the Future” initiative led by Kirsty Coventry, president of the International Olympic Committee.

He said the EWF’s current planning follows the same direction and that meetings in Batumi with federation officials and national representatives focused on aligning priorities.

The EWF president, has prioritised sporting neutrality, gender equality and increasing the number of women in executive roles. He also said weightlifting must remain free from political influence, adding that reforms are needed to improve its presentation and strengthen efforts against doping ahead of future Olympic cycles.

A number of weightlifters are seeking clarity on what changes and innovations the new president of their federation will introduce.

Astrit Hasani said weightlifting must preserve its traditional foundations while introducing innovation to engage younger athletes. He added that increasing participation in competitions is essential to keeping athletes consistently involved in the sport.

Since his election as EWF president in April 2025, Hasani, one of the youngest leaders in international sport, has prioritised sporting neutrality, gender equality and greater female representation in executive roles. He recently met in Brussels with International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry.

He said weightlifting is above politics and that the federation strongly supports the “Fit For the Future” strategy, adding that reforms are needed to improve its presentation and strengthen efforts against doping ahead of future Olympic cycles.

“There is broad agreement within the Executive Board and Technical Committee that weightlifting competitions should not exceed five days, adding that reducing competition duration has become a priority. A working group has been established within the EWF to examine how this can be achieved.”

“Furthermore, only a limited number of weightlifters reach national teams, highlighting the barriers athletes face in reaching the elite level. One possible solution, he said, would be to introduce more competitive club-based events, giving athletes greater opportunities to compete, showcase their talent and progress through all levels of the sport.”

“The proposals would be presented to the International Weightlifting Federation”. He added that “ongoing cooperation with the IWF will continue to support efforts to modernise the competition format and improve efficiency.”

You met with two key figures in international sport following your election as President of the European Weightlifting Federation, Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee, and Spyros Capralos, President of the European Olympic Committees.

The EWF president described the federation’s vision as rooted in European human and cultural values while remaining aligned with the standards of the Olympic Movement.

He backed the agenda of International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry to advance the core principles of the Olympic Movement. Referring to their meeting in Brussels during the European Evening of Sport, he stressed the importance of engaging young leaders to drive change in sport.

He also confirmed signing a cooperation agreement with Spyros Capralos, president of the European Olympic Committees, during the Milano Cortina event. The agreement will allow the European Weightlifting Federation to join the EOC’s EU Office of Sport in Brussels, opening opportunities to organise training camps and educational seminars with support from the European Union.

“Maintaining close relations with both organisations remains a priority, with ongoing cooperation seen as key to keeping the federation’s planning aligned with European and Olympic standards.”

One of his first measures after taking office was the removal of the under-15 and under-23 categories from official record recognition, citing the lack of full anti-doping coverage in those age groups. The move reflects efforts to strengthen the federation’s anti-doping framework in line with fair play principles.

Mr. President, the prize money of 144,000 euros awarded in Batumi has attracted significant attention from participating teams. Is there a possibility that this approach will continue?

Dr Hasani expressed gratitude to the Georgian federation and its president, Lasha Talakhadze, for organising the competition. He noted that Talakhadze, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, understands the importance of prize money as a source of motivation for athletes.

He added that the European Weightlifting Federation has backed his proposal to introduce the EWF Grand Prix, an initiative aimed at improving the financial well-being of athletes. Prize money and athlete support, he said, are central to the new competition format, designed to provide more tangible financial benefits for lifters across Europe.

He also said the process of selecting a host city is underway, with a condition that the first city to commit at least 100,000 euros in prize money will be awarded hosting rights for the inaugural EWF Grand Prix.

“Female representation within the Executive Board has been increased to five members. The EWF Vice President and Chair of the Technical Committee, Tina Beiter, is a woman, marking a first in the history of European weightlifting.”

He also encouraged women weightlifters to engage at all levels of the federation, adding that the goal is to achieve a balanced representation of men and women across the sport.

On educational programmes, he said the federation has expanded its training camp activities during his first year in office. These camps are held annually in different European cities, with coaches and lecturers invited from across the continent.

Photos by Easy Sports