Weightlifters Come Back to Life

(ATR) The First Pan American Online Cup draws global attention.

Guardar

(ATR) Beyond results and medals, the First Online Pan Am Cup for weightlifting showed that it is a format that could stay… with or without a pandemic.

With the essential support from the International Weightlifting Federation, the Pan American Federation’s initiative led more than 70 athletes from 15 countries on four continents to breathe the oxygen of high competition again after several months of isolation caused by the coronavirus.

A suggestion for future editions to certify the weight and anti-doping controls could be the presence of "independent observers" on-site, in order to guarantee "virtual" records.

Athletes were lifting at the same time but at different locations, and all attempts were taken by rounds,

They were lifting real weights in front of the camera, seeing each other’s attempts via video conference.

The president of the Pan American Weightlifting Federation, José Quiñones from Peru, does not rule out exploring cooperation agreements to ensure local anti-doping control for future online competitions.

However, apart from today’s good wishes, it would have been impossible to complete that process of sending samples in the face of restrictions on transport and border closure.

"But we’re already on that road, with an operational framework for the future," Quiñones told Around the Rings.

"As for weighing, we’ll do it through videos. We didn’t do it now because we wanted to focus on the complexity of competition."

"As ‘normality’ arrives, this model of competition shows that it doesn’t take large investments in events for them to be attractive and for people to participate enthusiastically."

"This format gives athletes the opportunity to compete, without it being in-person, who might not otherwise be able to do them for the costs inherent in an international competition."

"It was an American initiative but we wanted to deliver a product that could be used anywhere in the world."

"Africa did not compete because of internet limitations, but its directors expressed interest in realizing their continental event ‘online.’"

"It's very likely that there will be more ‘virtual’ events in the coming months."

"This weekend we had athletes who threatened world records from their homes, gardens, and other make-shift settings. The medals were divided among many countries."

"We appreciate the leadership of IWF president, Ursula Papandrea, and other members of her Executive, as well as her technology staff for making this project a reality."

"Seeing high-level athletes compete from their houses, in their garden, in the entrance of a building… ratified the sport’s message of seeking self-improvement based on daily sacrifice amid even serious threats such as this pandemic," Quiñones said.

Reported byMiguel Hernandez.

Guardar

Últimas Noticias

Utah’s Olympic venues an integral part of the equation as Salt Lake City seeks a Winter Games encore

Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation chief of sport development Luke Bodensteiner says there is a “real urgency to make this happen in 2030”. He discusses the mission of the non-profit organization, the legacy from the 2002 Winter Games and future ambitions.
Utah’s Olympic venues an integral

IOC president tells Olympic Movement “we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games” in Beijing

Thomas Bach, in an open letter on Friday, also thanked stakeholders for their “unprecedented” efforts to make Tokyo 2020 a success despite the pandemic.
IOC president tells Olympic Movement

Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts

The IOC says issues concerning governance, finance, and refereeing and judging must be sorted out to its satisfaction. AIBA says it’s confident that will happen and the federation will be reinstated.
Boxing’s place in the Olympics

IOC president details Olympic community efforts to get Afghans out of danger after Taliban return to power

Thomas Bach says the Afghanistan NOC remains under IOC recognition, noting that the current leadership was democratically elected in 2019. But he says the IOC will be monitoring what happens in the future. The story had been revealed on August 31 in an article by Miguel Hernandez in Around the Rings
IOC president details Olympic community

North Korea suspended by IOC for failing to participate in Tokyo though its athletes could still take part in Beijing 2022

Playbooks for Beijing 2022 will ”most likely” be released in October, according to IOC President Thomas Bach.
North Korea suspended by IOC