Fifteen years later, a Senior World Weightlifting Championship returns to Latin America

As expected, the announcement of Bogotá as the new venue for the World Weightlifting Championship this November provoked numerous reactions in the world of Colombian sports.

The press and social networks in Colombia echoed in the last hours the decision of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to choose the Colombian capital after the resignation of the city of Chongqing due to the COVID-19 outbreaks hitting China.

“We are very proud to host the World Championship,” said Javier Suárez, director of the Institute of Recreation and Sports of Bogotá. “It is an event that has been worked on jointly with the Colombian Olympic Committee and the Colombian Weightlifting Federation.

The capital of the country is once again the scene of major international events and therefore the satisfaction of having the best in the world in our city.”

Colombia was one of eight member countries who expressed interest in hosting. In the official IWF statement, the other potential host cities were not identified, however last month the United States Weightlifting Federation revealed Atlanta as a candidate.

The eight countries made a presentation of their offers followed by a question and answer session in front of the Executive Board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland which in a secret vote decided the winner. Bogotá prevailed by a majority vote.

The date has not yet been specified but the tournament must take place sometime between November 1 and December 31.

The World Championship in Bogotá will be the first qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

IWF Interim President Michael Irani recalled Colombia has provided a steady stream of powerlifting champions over the years. “Weightlifting has changed the lives of many young Colombians and the World Cup will be significant in the growth of the sport within the country.”

IWF General Secretary Mohammed Jaloud said “our vision of an inclusive sport with a global presence and the future of this growing sport will resonate when Bogotá takes over the World Cup.”

“We are going to work together so that Bogotá is remembered as the venue for the best Weightlifting World Championship and history is made,” said William Peña, president of the Colombian Weightlifting Federation.

In the “Team Bogotá” María Isabel Urrutia, first gold medal winner in Sydney 2000 and Ubaldina Valoyes, bronze medalist in London 2012, are counted as coaches.

It is the first time Colombia will host a Senior World Championship, but the country already has proven experience in important international events, and is preparing to host others such as the Pan American Games in Barranquilla in 2027.

Bogotá assumes this great responsibility, also supported by a long history in the organization of relevant sports events such as the 2001 Copa América de Fútbol final; the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2011; Bolivarian Games 2017 and 2022; co-sponsor of the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games, and several Davis Cup tennis matches and BMX Cycling World Cups.

The Senior World Championship has been organized since 1898 by the IWF. Since 1946 it has been held annually except for the years in which the Olympic Games are held. The Olympic tournaments of 1964, 1968, 1976, 1980 and 1984 were also counted as World Championships.

The first World Championship for women was held in 1987 but in a different venue than the men’s version. As of 1991, they are held at the same time and in the same venue as the men’s competition.

Bogotá will be the fifth occasion of a World Cup in Latin America after the editions of Mexico City (1968), Lima (1971), Havana (1973) and Santo Domingo (2006).