IWF120y/40 – 1973: Olympic weightlifting at the core of the IWF activities

Throughout its history, the International Weightlifting Federation has incorporated many activities that have since then gained their independence in the sports scene. It starts from the very beginning: in 1905, the “Amateur Athletes World Union” also comprised wrestling, a sport that was dissociated from our Federation in 1920. But in 1950, at the Paris Congress, the delegates approved the inclusion of the “movement of physical culture” (bodybuilding) to the activities of the Federation, dictating also the change of name from FIH to FIHC (translating from the French acronyms: the International Weightlifting Federation became International Federation of Weightlifting and Bodybuilding). This move was certainly dictated by the more intense activity of bodybuilders around the world, some in a professional manner (something not allowed then in the Olympic sphere). It’s not a coincidence that the present International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation indicates 1946 as the official year of its foundation. Anyway, the scope of bodybuilding activities within our Federation remains vague and even the rules to implement the “Nicest Athlete of the World Contest” were difficult to implement. In 1968, at the Mexico City Congress, a joint proposal from Great Britain, Germany, and Mexico to remove “bodybuilding” from the rule book was accepted. But at the same gathering, a majority of votes decided on the inclusion of “powerlifting” (Squat, Bench Press, and Dead Lift) in our Constitution. This novelty lasted even shorter, as in November 1972, the founding meeting of the International Powerlifting Federation took place in the USA, the country also hosting the initial World Championships of this sport in 1973. From then to date, the IWF concentrated its efforts on developing and creating the best possible competitive frame for Olympic weightlifting.