Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 23 March (BelTA) - Belarus has been invited to bid to host the 2019 IWF World Weightlifting Championships. This possibility was discussed in a meeting between Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and President of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Tamas Ajan on 23 March, BelTA has learned.

Tamas Ajan informed the President of the Republic of Belarus on the possibility of hosting the championship in 2019. This tournament will be a qualifying event for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2020. It is expected that four to five will apply for the right to host the 2019 event.

“If Belarus bids and wins, then it will be a good event,” Tamas Ajan said. In addition, he praised Belarus’ chances of winning the right to host the junior and youth world weightlifting championships to be held in the coming years.

The Belarusian side appreciated the offer from the IWF. The likelihood that Belarus will bid for these prestigious competitions is high.

Next year the country may host a major conference dedicated to the fight against doping. In discussing this proposal, Alexander Lukashenko assured the guest that Belarus is doing everything possible to support all international initiatives to fight doping and will do even more in the future.