A mixed team competition at Ancient Olympia in Greece and street
events in Lausanne and Jamaica are the latest innovations on the
weightlifting calendar as the sport tries to find new ways of becoming
"more attractive and dynamic".
An Olympic champion from Qatar, a world champion from Colombia and a
host of European athletes will be on the streets in the "Olympic
capital" of Lausanne on Saturday as weightlifting takes a step outside
its usual surrounds to stage an outdoor mixed gender team event.
Spectators at weightlifting competitions should be as close to the
platform as boxing fans are at ringside, say the latest group of
athletes to be given a voice in the way their sport is governed.
Spectators at weightlifting competitions should be as close to the
platform as boxing fans are at ringside, say the latest group of
athletes to be given a voice in the way their sport is governed.
Imagine a future world for weightlifting where athletes are the centre
of attention on a completely different level. The walls have gone and
the warm-up and back-room decisions on the next lift are out in the
open, part of a vibrant show watched by thousands of spectators.