World Senior Weightlifting Championship

The World Senior Weightlifting Championship, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh from September 3, 2023, to September 17, 2023, was attended by the presidents of the national federations that registered for participation, as well as the President of the International Weightlifting Federation.

The championship was held at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Olympic Complex in the Ministry of Sports Hall. It is considered the first of its kind in the history of weightlifting, as participation was mandatory for the Paris 2024 Olympics qualification.

The championship saw the participation of approximately 2,500 male and female athletes from 170 countries, including Olympic champions and athletes who have won multiple medals in world championships. The International Weightlifting Federation selected sixty referees to officiate the competition, nine of whom were Saudi referees.

The organizing committee's preparations for the championship began more than a year before the event was announced, to ensure favorable conditions and deliver high technical standards during the competition. Nine hotels were selected to accommodate the participating delegations, visas were issued, and the logistical, administrative, media, medical, and volunteer teams were appointed. In addition, agreements were made with international companies specializing in weightlifting equipment.

The organizing committee provided twenty buses, operating sixteen hours daily, to transport the participating athletes from their accommodation to the competition and training venues. Additionally, over seventy training platforms were prepared, and the International Weightlifting Federation approved their training schedules, which run from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The committee also prepared a fully equipped media center, providing high-speed internet, a food area, and a station to answer media inquiries. Additionally, seats close to the competition platforms were arranged for the audience to offer them a better viewing experience of the competition.

Male athletes competed in several weight categories, ranging from fifty-five kg to over 109 kg, while female athletes competed in weight categories ranging from forty-five kg to over eighty-seven kg. During the championship, the Anti-Doping Committee was present to perform its role by testing more than fifty samples daily and raising awareness among members of the sports community.

In 2021, the Kingdom hosted the World Junior Weightlifting Championship in Jeddah City, which played a role in the international weightlifting community's decision to select the Kingdom to host the World Senior Weightlifting Championship, making it the first qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

This hosting contributes to achieving the goals of the sports sector in support of Saudi Vision 2030 and enhances opportunities for hosting global events.