Twelve years later, the World Weightlifting Championships will return to Europe in October in Førde, Norway. The town, with a population of around 15.000, will become the smallest to host the event. Mohammed Jalood discusses this unique edition and the prospects for the competition in the second part of his interview with Francs Jeux.
Geographically, the World Championships have been held in almost every region of the world over the past 20 years, with the exception of Africa and Oceania. Why?
This is true for the Senior World Championships, but we also held Junior World Championships in Suva, Fiji, in 2019, for example. Beyond the financial considerations of hosting our flagship event, geographical distance and the inherent difficulties of reaching certain nations are key criteria. Visa procedures are also taken into account. But while Europe, the Americas, or Asia often lead the way in terms of organization, weightlifting is definitely a universal sport in terms of participation! Our competitions welcome lifters from five continents, and our medal tables also show a wide variety of countries that shine at the highest level.
What can you do to organize international weightlifting events in these regions?
We have implemented effective development programs, but they primarily serve to directly support athletes from developing countries. This has proven successful in terms of participation and even achieving good results at the international level. When it comes to organizing international events, we must rely on the support of national authorities to bring these competitions to their respective territories. Our success in this area varies depending on the level of their athletes and their governments' investment in sport.
"Førde is a small town, but it's looking forward to hosting the World Championships! The IWF is always open to discussions, regardless of the size of the country or federation."
.
Førde will become the smallest host in the history of the IWF World Championships this year. Should we expect a different event than usual due to this unusual situation?
That's right, Førde is a small town in Norway, but a town that is eagerly awaiting the World Championships in October! The level of involvement and enthusiasm from local, regional, and national authorities is immense, and everything will be done to provide an unforgettable experience for all participants. The goal is to closely involve the local population by organizing numerous social activities in Forde's central square. This will create a special bond between the weightlifting family and the town's citizens.
Is holding the World Championships in a small town also a signal you are sending for future editions, namely that anyone can host this event?
This was not a criterion when choosing Førde. Norway has already hosted successful events in the past and has recently attracted international attention thanks to the results of its athletes. The most recent example is Solfrid Koanda, who won the first Olympic gold medal for a Norwegian weightlifter, at Paris 2024. This has created a very positive dynamic in Norway and provided the necessary context for continued national support for the organization of these World Championships. In any case, the IWF is always open to discussions with potential hosts, regardless of the size of the country or federation.
The two-platform format was introduced by the IWF at the 2024 Youth World Championships.
You tested the two-platform format last year in Lima to create a more compact competition. Will you be applying it to the Elite World Championships in the future?
Indeed, the two-platform format was a great success in Lima. As we conduct this interview, we are back in the Peruvian capital for the IWF Junior and Youth World Championships, using this system once again. This allows the event to move faster and offer spectators and viewers a more consistent flow of emotions. The athletes are also very satisfied with this solution. After this second successful experience, the two-platform format will always be considered when planning future IWF events. The only potential limitation is the size of the venue, which must be larger to accommodate a two-platform competition.
