LEADERSHIP CHANGES AT THE INTERNATIONAL WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION

By mutual consent, the IWF Director General Attila Adamfi is moving on from the Federation after 25 years of service. After starting as a volunteer at key IWF events, Mr Adamfi began working for the Federation full time in 2001 as Competition Director, becoming Director General in 2014.

As part of his remit, Mr Adamfi led the delivery of weightlifting competitions for seven Olympic Games (including preparations for the forthcoming Tokyo 2020) and three Youth Olympic Games. He also managed the successful creation, operations, activities and deliverables of the Sport Programme Commission and independent Clean Sport Commission, whose work was pivotal in the IOC Executive Board’s decision to confirm weightlifting’s place on the programme for Paris 2024. Mr Adamfi also played a key role in establishing gender-balanced bodyweight categories, delivering renewed bidding and hosting processes, and delivering IWF World Championships and other multisport events.

“I am proud to have had the chance to lead the IWF’s operations as its Director General, including the success of weightlifting at Olympic and Multisport Games.” said Mr Adamfi.

“Ensuring the sport’s future, including developing an innovative Qualification System – which won the IOC President’s praise – was my most significant achievement. As one of my latest projects, I enjoyed being part of the first ever real online international event, the ‘Panam Cup Live by ZKC’, engaging the weightlifting community by providing safe competition opportunity for our most important stakeholders, the athletes. Having had the chance to make weightlifting be a central part of most of my professional life, I am looking forward to putting my transferable skills and experience at the service of new opportunities in sport.”

A new position at the IWF of Chief Executive Officer has been established and will be advertised. Further restructuring and governance changes are also underway. An Electoral Congress expected in March 2021 will see elections for the IWF President, General Secretary, Vice Presidents, Executive Board and Committee member positions.

“The IWF is grateful to Mr Adamfi for a quarter century of dedicated service to our sport and in particular for his key role in resolving the IOC’s concerns from 2017 to 2019,” said IWF Interim President Ursula Papandrea. “He crossed boundaries working with the Commissions and presenting their recommendations to the Executive Board understanding the needs of the weightlifting community. His role was pivotal in getting the Board not just to agree but to carry through on the decisions.”

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