IWF allocates its World Championships in 2027 to Armenia and in 2028 to Venezuela

Yerevan and Caracas will be the respective hosts of the 2027 and 2028 editions of the IWF World Championships, after the decision of the IWF Executive Board (EB), meeting today in Phuket (THA). The Armenian capital successfully hosted the 2023 European Championships, while the Venezuelan metropolis staged the recent Pan-American showcase. In addition to the two senior competitions, the EB also awarded the organisation of the 2026 IWF World Youth Championships to Buenos Aires, in Argentina.

“We had two very interesting and professional candidates for our World Championships, so we naturally opted for this double award. This also brings further stability to our calendar and allows more time to prepare and successfully deliver two great competitions. After Ningbo, in China, we travel to Europe in 2027 and to Americas in 2028 – three successive World Championships in three different continents,” underlined the IWF President Mohammed Jalood after the vote of the IWF Executive Board.

The IWF Executive Board in Phuket

If the allocation of the IWF showcase was the highlight of the meeting, other important topics were discussed, namely:

• The approval of the first-ever IWF anthem (to be ratified by the IWF Congress, taking place this Saturday);
• The approval of the IWF Technical Committee’s proposal to reduce from 10 to eight the bodyweight categories for both men and women;
• The approval of the audited 2023 IWF Financial Report;
• The acknowledgment of an updated report on the final preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games, presented by Jacqueline White, Weightlifting Sport Manager of the competition. The EB was informed that “everything is perfectly on track” for a smooth running of the event in the French capital;
• The presentation of updated reports on the IWF Anti-Doping Programme, IWF Refugee Team, and the IWF Sustainability Project.

Partnership with SBD
The EB also ratified the partnership with British company SBD. Based in Sheffield, and specialised in the design and manufacture of apparel products for strength sports, SBD will be in Phuket during the IWF World Cup (starting on March 31), distributing free knee sleeves and T-shirts to participants in the event.

A dedicated booth will be available in the training area of the competition in order to interact with athletes and coaches, and to further promote SBD products. Present already in 50 countries, the company is also sponsoring 20 powerlifting national teams around the globe.

“We are delighted to have recently entered into a partnership with the IWF and to have a presence at the IWF World Cup, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. We look forward to developing a collaborative long term relationship with the IWF to support the continued growth of weightlifting. We also wish the very best of luck to all athletes competing over the next few days,” considered Benjamin Banks, CEO of SBD.

The IWF Athletes Commission representatives at the IWF Executive Board: Forrester Osei, Hidilyn Diaz and Luisa Peters

The IWF World Cup will be staged from March 31 to April 11 in Phuket (THA) and constitutes the last qualifying event leading to the Paris 2024 Olympics. Moreover, it is also the second mandatory competition (after the 2023 IWF World Championships) for all those aspiring at being in the French capital this summer.

IWF Communications

Photos by Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia