“We already know for sure that the IWF Executive Board which follows the December elections will be very different to any that has gone before it, reflecting a more egalitarian culture that is also more clearly focused on the needs of weightlifters,” said IWF Interim President Dr. Michael Irani. “This will follow on from clean weightlifting competitions at Tokyo 2020 and the adoption of completely revised governance measures in satisfying the criteria for success that were established for us by the IOC.”

The 2021 IWF Junior World Weightlifting Championships were successfully held in Tashkent in May, as were the Asian Weightlifting Federation’s 2021 Congress and Asian Championships.

“Our friends in Tashkent have already proven themselves to be very capable organizers of important weightlifting events this year, and the IWF is deeply grateful both to them and to the others who had shown interest in hosting our events. The IWF is pleased to be able to deliver this measure of certainty around the 2021 IWF World Weightlifting Championships for all our athletes,” continued Irani. “And in this difficult year, with the effects of the pandemic still being felt, our main priority will continue to be ensuring safe and healthy conditions for all involved.”