Ten days of competition, 48 competition sessions, 448 female and male athletes from 75 participating countries from the 5 continents and over 20 new senior and junior world records set. These are just some of the numbers that summarize the resounding success of one of the most spectacular competitions that the IWF has had for a long time: the Senior World Championships held in Manama BRN, between the 06 and 15 of December 2024.
This event enjoyed an Opening Ceremony, opened and coordinated by the President of the host Federation, Eshaq Ebrahim Eshaq and by the speech of the IWF President Mohamed Jalood, with an impressive audience from the heads of delegations participating in the IWF Congress, which took place one day before the official launch, on December 4, 2024, IOC Members, representatives of several National Olympic Committees from the world, representatives of the Diplomatic Missions and many other distinguished guests. The most important guest of the evening at the Bahrain National Theater in Manama was certainly HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, head of the government’s Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, clear proof of the maximum importance and prestige of the events in Manama dedicated to our sport.
The protagonist of the ceremony was the world’s strongest weightlifter, the Georgian Lasha Talakhadze, who, playing perfectly in the role of an actor with experience on the theater stage, started the stories about the birth of the state of Bahrain and the strength of its people. The magical evening ended with an official dinner organized with the support of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, unconditionally involved for the success of the activities and the competition in Manama.
The venue of the competition, for which the location was also created on Google Maps, was an impressive one, which tested the creativity, but also the ability of the Organizing Committee to build from scratch a spectacular tent arena for the evolution of the world- wide champions, but also a location more than generous for the official training sessions.
The competition logo that recalls the sails of the traditional Bahraini dhow boats, famous for fishing activities, trade and the search of pearls. The design and layout were a constant call of the local culture associated with the technology of the most complex and modern events. The Organizing Committee provided an area for fans and visitors with an exhibition space to mark the 50 years of history of the Bahrain Weightlifting Federation, but also for the fans to live and enjoy the experience of a high standard World Weightlifting Championships to the fullest. The organizing committee exceeded all standards and imposed new ones, which will be very difficult for future hosts to overpass. The visibility of the competition was maximum in Manama, which offered posters and advertisements on almost all the streets.
Mr. Eshaq Ebrahim Eshaq, the President of the host Federation commented for EWF on the success of the World Championships in Manama: “With the 2024 IWF World Championships, we tried to set a new standard for weightlifting events in terms of athlete satisfaction sports presentation, fan engagement, accommodation, transport, and hospitality. I am more than honored hearing reviews like “best world championships ever” and “how will anyone ever beat this”. It shows that we have successfully succeeded with our project.
This is mainly due to the amazing people involved in the project. From the volunteers working, to the sports authorities supporting the event. The Bahraini people proved to be the real-world champions of this event and they did it all with a smile.
The streets of Manama turned into a lively canvas with pictures of weightlifters on huge billboards and LED screens all over the city, not to mention on the event venue itself which was the biggest temporary structure to ever be constructed in Manama!
Weightlifting will forever be part of Bahrain’s sporting history which means the world to me and my team!”
The President of the Weightlifting Federation of Bahrain addressed special thanks to the EWF as well, mentioning the high contribution offered for the promotion of the event on social media channels.
The EWF President and General Secretary and the other members of the EWF Executive Board present in Manama were more than delighted with the organization. EWF President, Kt. Antonio Conflitti, who also holds the position of Member of the IWF Executive board, congratulated the Weightlifting Federation of Bahrain: “I want to sincerely congratulate the host Federation, the President Eshaq Ebrahim Eshaq and the entire team of the Local Organizing Committee for the exceptional organization of the World Championships. All requirements were exceeded and I am glad that the performances of the athletes from Europe were at the height of the competition. We are looking forward to the edition of the Senior World Championships in Forde 2025.”
Twelve athletes from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Moldova, Spain and Türkiye won 25 medals at the World Championships in Manama.
The World Senior Championships in Manama ended with a Closing Ceremony as spectacular as each of the days and moments in the competition. At the end, the EWF President was symbolically presented with the IWF flag, the 2025 edition of this competition to be held on the old continent, in Norway, between 03 and 12 October.
In Manama, on the occasion of the IWF Congress, there was also a ceremony to award distinctions to some Presidents of EWF Member Federations and some personalities from our Europe for the contribution to weightlifting: Michel Raynaud (FRA, Merit Certificate), Waldemar Gospodarek (POL, Gold Collar), Taisto Kuppola (FIN, Gold Collar), Stian Grimseth (NOR, Gold Collar), Karl Rimböck (GER, IWF Hall of Fame induction).
One of the important measures adopted at the same meeting was the approval of the new IWF categories for Junior and Senior, which will come into force starting on June 1, 2025:
Women, 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 77kg, 86kg, +86kg
Men, 60kg, 65kg, 71kg, 79kg, 88kg, 98kg, 110kg, +110kg