IWF concludes successful visit to Forde (NOR)
An IWF delegation, led by IWF CEO Achilleas Tsogas, was this week in Norway to discuss the present stage of preparation for the 2025 IWF World Championships, taking place in Forde, from October 2-11. The IWF group, also including Matyas Lencser, Competition Manager, and Timea Horvath, Development and Education Manager, was welcomed by Stian Grimseth, President of the Norwegian Weightlifting Federation, and his team.
From left to right: Timea Horvath (IWF), Gunnar Reiakvam (OC Forde 2025), Achilleas Tsogas (IWF), Matyas Lencser (IWF) and Stian Grimseth (OC Forde 2025)
During the two-day visit to Forde, in the western part of the country, the IWF representatives could revise all the aspects related to the set-up of the IWF showcase, namely: accommodation and transportation plan, competition and training venue, sports presentation, communication and promotion, protocol and ceremonies, anti-doping procedures, and visa and financial matters.
The competition venue
Together with the Norwegian organisers, the IWF delegation had the opportunity to visit the proposed venues (for competition/warm-up, and training), as well as the hotels hosting the participating athletes, coaches, and officials.
With a population of around 20’000, Forde is a town surrounded by water courses and mountains and is the smallest-ever host of an IWF World Championships. Coming from outside Norway, the preferred arrival airport is Bergen (the second largest city in the country), 170km away.
The training facility
“We had a very fruitful meeting in Forde, and we could definitively validate many of the items that had been discussed in the months before this visit. The Norwegian Weightlifting Federation and the local authorities are really determined to provide a great event in this so nice location. Considering Forde’s size, it will necessarily be a ‘compact’ championship, but everything will be done to provide an unforgettable experience to all those coming here in October,” considered Mr Tsogas at the end of the visit.
“Forde already hosted the 2016 European Championships, so there is previous knowledge of the demands of such complex events. Everything we saw here is perfectly adequate to successfully welcome the world weightlifting family in six months. I extend my gratitude and appreciation to our Norwegian hosts and wish them all the best in the last stage of the preparation,” concluded the IWF CEO.
IWF Communications