Statement on Reduction of Weightlifting at Olympic Games Paris 2024

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (December 7, 2020) -- The International Olympic Committee Executive Board today confirmed the sport of Weightlifting’s provisional status on the Olympic Games Paris 2024 Olympic Programme.

The IOC Executive Board also voted to reduce the number of Weightlifting competitions and participating athletes for the 2024 Games.

Rio 2016: 15 medal competitions (8 men/7 women) - 260 athletes

Tokyo 2020: 14 medal competitions (7 men/7 women) - 196 athletes

Paris 2024: 10 medal competitions (5 men/5 women) - 120 athletes

The following statement regarding the IOC Executive Board’s decision is attributable to USA Weightlifting CEO Phil Andrews:

"We are grateful the International Olympic Committee Executive Board maintained Weightlifting’s provisional status for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

However, the diminishing presence of our sport in the Olympic Games should be another wake up call that real and lasting reform must happen if Weightlifting wants to survive on the Olympic Programme.

If the International Weightlifting Federation leadership wants to prevent this death by a thousand cuts, it must change and put the clean athlete— and not themselves— first.

We will continue to work with other Member Federations to create an International Weightlifting Federation that is ethical, equitable and the gold standard of good governance in the Olympic Movement."

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