The European Weightlifting Federation shows full unity with the International Weightlifting Federation and strongly shares the commitments and measures imposed by the international governing body in the context of the IOC’s clear recommendations regarding the dramatic conflicts in Ukraine and participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in the international and continental sport events.
The EWF Executive Board supports the IWF Decision to suspend the participation of all athletes, team officials and technical officials from Russia and Belarus from any international or continental weightlifting event and decided to extend IWF restrictions to the EWF U15 and U23 competitions, until further notice. In addition, and also until further notice, no EWF competitions will be staged in or assigned to these countries.
The EWF President promptly informed the Russian Weightlifting Federation and the Belarusian Weightlifting Federation about the continental body’s further decision and position.
The EWF emphasizes its deeply concern about the safety of the weightlifting community’s members located in the conflict areas and expresses, once again, its full solidarity. Our Federation monitors the evolution of the escalating situation in Ukraine, is in contact with the Ukrainian Weightlifting Federation and is ready to support any IWF or humanitarian initiative for the Ukrainian weightlifting community deeply affected by the conflict.
The EWF hopes for common involvement for better times and for peace to be restored as soon as possible.