OCEANIA WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION Newsletter November, 2017. The spectacular Opening Ceremony at the 5 th AIMAG in Ashgabat -Turkmenistan For the first time, the region of Oceania was invited to compete at the 5 th AIMAG Asian I indoor Martial Arts Games which were held in the incredible city of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. This was truly an experience. The facilities for all sports in Ashgabat were outstanding. Given the wonderful sports facilities and excellent accommodation, Turkmenistan can run international games at a moments notice. Many officials and athletes alike, commented that they had never seen sporting facilities as good as what they saw in Ashgabat. The athletes village was incredible. Clean, spacious and without doubt, probably the best at any games. The volunteers played a major part in assisting with the smooth running of the games. They were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Apolonia Vaivai Fiji Silver medal Eileen Cikamatana -Fiji Gold medal Mathlynn Sasser Marshall Islands Silver medal
A special thanks must go to Ricardo Blas, the General Secretary of ONOC and the President of ONOC, Dr. Robin Mitchell, for their involvement in getting Oceania sports to Ashgabat. Also special acknowledgement to Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al -Sabah and to the President of the Republic of Turkmenistan H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, for allowing Oceania to be part of the 5 th AIMAG. The weightlifting event was magnificent. Ms. Jaquie White from Australia, did a great job as the Manager of the Weightlifting Event. The performances of the lifters from Oceania, in some categories, were quite outstanding. Eileen Cikamatana (Fiji) won gold in the 90kg category and was the only Oceania gold medallist from all sports. She established twelve records in the Oceania Senior, Oceania Junior, Commonwealth Senior and Commonwealth Junior. Eileen snatched 111kg and clean & jerked 142kg for a 253kg total. The full Oceania Institute squad on the way to Ashgabat. ASHGABAT INDOOR MARTIAL ART GAMES Two silver medals were also won by Oceania lifters Mathlynn Sasser (Marshall Islands) won silver in the 63kg category, setting 2 Oceania Senior records with 120Kg Clean & Jerk and 210Kg Total. Apolonia Vaivai (Fiji) won silver also in the 69kg category setting a new Oceania Senior record in the snatch of 105kg. A bronze medal was won by Sipaia Luniara (Samoa) in the +90kg category. The weightlifting venue The Athletes Village The Olympic Stadium The Opening Ceremony One of the Family Hotels The Olympic Stadium in the evening NEW CALEDONIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS On October the 8 th the 2017 New Caledonia National Championships was held at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute in Mont Dore.. It was great to see many newcomers to the sport of weightlifting, thanks to the Crossfit Clubs of New Caledonia. The competition was very well attended with some excellent performances by many new lifters.
IAN LAURIE INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT Steven Kari with 205 Kg Clean & Jerk The Ian Laurie International tournament organized by the Phoenix Club was held in Melbourne, Australia on the 4 th November. The event was professionally run with many outstanding results. Zac Grgurevic was awarded the Ian Laurie Cup for his excellent performance with a personal best in the total of 332kg in the 105kg category. Whilst guest lifter from Papua New Guinea, Steven Kari, produced his best ever clean & jerk with 205kg and a personal best total of 354Kg in the 94kg category. Paul Coffa caught up with some great lifters of the past. Ivan Katz, Bill Stellios, sitting Henry Altman, Nick Kiss von Soly and Robert Kabbas. Steven snatched 149kg and narrowly missed 154kg. It was fantastic to be able to catch up with some past lifters from Hawthorn, such as Steven Kettner, Henry Altman, Nick Kiss Von Soly, David Mansour, Bill Stellios, Craig Stevens, and others. Special thanks must go to Robert Kabbas, Ivan Katz and Michael Noonan, from the Phoenix Club, for organising what has now become a very prestigious annual event on the Australian calendar. OCEANIA MASTERS GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA The Australian, Oceania and Pacific Rim Masters Championships was held on the Gold Coast from October 27-30. Four days of intense competition, with so many good performances from the 350 athletes entered. It was very interesting to see two platforms running concurrently. This enabled the competition to move quickly and thereby avoiding very, very long days. There was two separate warm up areas adjoining the two competition platforms. 20 countries took part. The championships was held at the MANTRA ON VIEW HOTEL which is right in the heart of Surfers Paradise and just a couple of minutes from the magnificent beaches. The tournament was organised by the Australian Weightlifting Federation and special thanks must go to Coral Quinell the AWF Masters Co-ordinator. VANUATU MINI GAMES The General Secretary of the OWF, recently paid a visit to Vanuatu, to make sure that the weightlifting event of the Pacific Mini Games was proceeding according to plans. Together with Andrew Minogue, the CEO of the Pacific Games Council, they visited the hall where the weightlifting will be held. The venue is enormous, 80m x 40m. A brand new building. The athletes village is only one and half kilometres away. There will be 20 warm up platforms with ZKC and Double Happiness equipment in place. Most of this equipment has been provided by the Chinese Government. Weightlifting at the Mini Games has attracted 19 countries. All the top lifters of the Pacific Islands will be in attendance. meters The massive weightlifting hall in Vanuatu 80 meters by 40
IWF GENERAL SECRETARY OFFICE OPENS IN ASTANA The IWF has officially opened its new General Secretary office in Astana, Kazakhstan. See pictures below. The OWF wishes Mohamed Jalood all the very best. NEWS: Mr Mohamed Jalood, the IWF General Secretary at the opening of his new office in Astana-Kazakhstan. Some guests at the Opening of the IWF General Secretary office, From left: IWF Executive Board Members Mr Shakhrillo Makhmudov, Mr Mohamed Jalood, IWF Board member Mr Maxim Agapitov and the President of the WFA, Mr Khaled Mehalhel. COMMONWEALTH GAMES REGIONAL ITO s The Oceania region will have the following International Technical Officials appointed by the IWF officiating at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. They are as follows: Sheeva Cook- Nauru Australian National Technical Officials appointed are: Garry Marshall- New Zealand Lawrence Townsend Keisha -Dean Soffe New Zealand Coral Quinell Della Shaw Fiji Luke Gardner Jennifer Sanchez- Australia Melissa Robinson Debra Keelan- Australia Pedro Sanchez Lilly Coffa-Australia Kylie Booth Danielle Waller -Australia Lyn Jones Mary Macken- Australia Michael Keelan Philip Maunder -Australia Leanne Goldsworthy Alan Tano -Niue 2019 PACIFIC GAMES -SAMOA Due to the Tongan Government pulling out from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games, Samoa has now been officially given the rights by the Pacific Games Council to host the 2019 Pacific Games. Samoa has some brilliant facilities in place such as the weightlifting venue, boxing venue, swimming venue, and many others. And with the support of the Samoa Government especially the Prime Minister The Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegao, the Games undoubtedly will be a great success. The sport of weightlifting will be at its best under the leadership of Jerry Wallwork. The Samoan weightlifting facilities are without doubt some of the best in the world. The weightlifting facilities in Samoa
OTHER NEWS Talavai Iona from Tuvalu has been elected the new President of the Tuvalu Weightlifting Federation. Talavai was a past President and due to his commitments to Government for two years, he needed to vacate his position. The OWF is very pleased to have him back again as President. Mr. Williams Worworkon has been appointed the interim President of the Vanuatu Weightlifting Federation until next year s elections. Henry Tavoa remains as the General Secretary. Henry is also the CEO of the Vanuatu Olympic Committee. Next year the international club email tournament which is run by the OWF, will be named ELEIKO International Club Email Tournament. Eleiko will contribute two sets of male competition weights 190kg each and two sets of female Eleiko competition weights 185kg each. The tournament will be held on July 27-29, 2018. SIR JOHN DAWANINCURA AWARDED BY ANOC. At the recent ANOC Annual General Assembly (Association of National Olympic Committees) held in Prague, in front of 206 National Olympic Committees and representatives from International Federations, Sir John Dawanincura, President of the PNG Weightlifting Federation and President of the PNG Olympic Committee, received the MERIT AWARD for his outstanding service to sport and the Olympic movement. The award was presented by the IOC President, Thomas Bach and the ANOC President, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al -Sabah. Sir John, has been involved with sport for over forty-five years. Over the many years, Sir John has served on the Boards of ANOC, ONOC, Pacific Games Council, and the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation. Briefly his resume reads as follows: Two terms on the Executive Board of ANOC (1993-1997 and 2001-2005). Currently a member of the ANOC Marketing and New Source of Finance Commission having been elected to this position in 2015. One term as President of the Pacific Games Council (1995-1999) Two terms as Vice President of ONOC (1993-1997 and 2001-2005) Member of the Pacific Games Constitutional Review Committee (1997-2009) Executive Board Member of ONOC (1984-2005) Chairman of the ONOC Development Commission (1993-1997) Currently President of the PNG Weightlifting Federation since 2011 Currently Vice President of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation since 2014 26 years as Secretary General of the PNG Olympic Committee (1984-2010) Currently President of the PNG Olympic Committee since 2012 In addition to this he has attended: 9 Olympic Games 7 Commonwealth Games 12 Pacific Games and 10 Pacific Mini Games In weightlifting in PNG, Sir John has been instrumental in taking the sport to the highest level in the Oceania region and the Commonwealth. The success of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where PNG won two gold medals was a tribute to Sir John s enormous contribution and commitment to the athletes. Weightlifting under his leadership, was the highlight of the Pacific Games held in Port Moresby in 2015. His contribution to the region in the sport of weightlifting is greatly valued. Congratulations Sir John. The award is richly deserved. PRAGUE 2017 ANOC ASSEMBLY
s Sir John Dawanincura with the IOC President Thomas Bach Sir John with some PNG lifters at the Oceania Institute Sir John with Paul Coffa at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Fed. Annual Congress held at the Gold Coast. Sir John with his Junior weight lifters in Port Moresby Sir John congratulates Steven Kari for winning the Commonwealth championships at the Gold Coast.