Penang !! You did it again… - Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation

Penang !! You did it again… - Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation

COMMONWEALTH WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION
Latest News
December, 2013
Penang !! You did it again…
First of all congratulations to Dato Ong Poh Eng, the CWF Vice
President, who was elected to the position of President of the
CWF, at the Executive Board meeting held in Penang on the
23rd November, 2013. This election was in line with article 7.4
of the CWF Constitution - until the electoral Congress in
Glasgow next year, as a result of the casual vacancy which was
created by the recent resignation of the Hon. Vinson Detenamo of
Nauru. Dato Ong as Chairman of the Organising Committee
once again did a splendid job with his team.
He never stops amazing the world of weightlifting. In 2009
Dato Ong Poh Eng the newly elected President of the
CWF with the Secretary General of the CWF Paul Coffa.
Penang hosted the Commonwealth Championships for Senior and
Junior. The championships were a success. One year later, an even better tournament was organized with the 2010
World Clubs Team event. This was followed by another successful event in 2011 with the World Junior
Championships.
Dato Ong Poh Eng with the new Sports
Director of the CGF Matthew Curtain.
guests at the airport
Dato Ong Poh Eng welcomes Dr Tamas Ajan President of
the I.W.F upon his arrival at the airport.
Airport welcome hostesses dressed in
Malaysian cultural outfits.
Surpassing all this, 2013 saw the biggest Commonwealth Championships ever held in its history. Combined with this
magnificent event, for the very first time, the World Master Cup and Commonwealth Masters was incorporated with
the Commonwealth Championships. Over 60 countries took part – 32 in the Commonwealth Championships and 30
countries in the Master Tournament. Over 400 entries registered with an additional 160 officials.
YB Chong Eng Penang Minister for Youth and Sports at a press conference prior to the commencement of the championships. YB
received a CWF commemorative medal from the CWF President Dato Ong Poh Eng and General Secretary Paul Coffa, Mr Frederick Tan
Teck , the Director of Penang Sports Council standing on the right.
The International Weightlifting Federation was well represented with the attendance of Dr. Tamas Ajan, President of
the IWF, the Vice President from Thailand, Major General Yodbangtoey Intarat, from Australia the Vice President,
Mr. Sam Coffa, and IWF Executive Board members, Ms. Moira Lassen from Canada and Shri Birendra Prasad
Baishya from India.
All Vice Presidents of the CWF were also in attendance. Kevin du Plooy from South Africa, Matthew Curtain from
Australia, Steve Cannon from England, Garry Marshall from New Zealand. Also most of the Executive Board
members attended, Jim Ferguson from Scotland, Hafiz Butt from Pakistan, Salim Musoke from Uganda, and Tom
Liaw from Singapore.
We were also honored with many VVIP including the Chief Minister of Penang , The Right Hon, Lim Guan Eng at
the Opening Ceremony, HRH Prince Imran , IOC Member and President of the CGF. The Minister for Youth and
Sport of Penang, YB Chong Eng and many other dignitaries.
The Right Hon. Mr Lim Guan Eng Chief Minister of Penang during his opening speech made a plea to the IWF President that Penang is ready to host the World
Senior Championships in the not too distant future. The Chief Minister officially opened the championships – along side Dr Tamas Ajan, HRH Prince Imran and
Dato Ong Poh Eng. Picture on the right; Dr Tamas Ajan presents the Chief Minister with an IWF appreciation diploma.
All areas of the event were well run. For the first time the training hall and warm up area was in open air. The
competition venue was well set up. The equipment used was ZKC and the tournament was webcast for the duration
of competition with viewers from 114 countries.
The technical officials worked extremely hard and did an outstanding job for the six day duration. So did the MC’s
with Lyn Jones and Trent Dabwido. The loaders although very young were faultless. Anti-doping control was done
by the IWF. And the Organising Committee also had set up cultural and shopping tours.
The Masters component fitted in quite well and it was great to see the young and the old enjoying lifting and
competing. It was a true festival of weightlifting. The opening gala dinner and farewell dinner were magnificent.
The accommodation and food at Vistana was of the highest level.
Naturally all of this could not have been possible without the assistance of the Government of Penang. As a result, the
CWF is indebted to the Chief Minister and his Government for their continued support to major international
weightlifting events held in Penang.
And of course a special thanks must go also to the Penang Weightlifting
Association and the Malaysia Weightlifting Federation for supporting and assisting the event..
HRH Prince Imran enjoys the Opening ceremony and sang
two songs for all the participants. Dika Toua joined the fun
Prince
The Oceania Institute lifters entertaining the 650 guests with a typical pacific dance. Every
one enjoyed the spontaneous leap to the stage by the Pacific Island athletes.
The CWF Executive Board meeting held on November 23rd . One of the main items on the agenda was the appointment of a new President. Dato Ong was
elected unopposed. During the meeting a surprise visit was made by HRH Prince Imran IOC member for Malaysia and President of the CGF.
CWF Executive Board Meeting
This meeting was held on the 23rd November 2013. The board had the pleasure of Dr. Tamas Ajan at the meeting.
The most important item on the agenda was the election of an interim President, where Dato Ong was elected with a
unanimous vote. The position of interim President will be until the Electoral Congress is held in Glasgow in July 2014.
Also one of the agenda items was the hosting of the 2015 Commonwealth Championships. India submitted a
proposal to host the event. The Executive Board endorsed the submission.
The CWF Annual Congress held on Nov. 24th was attended by 32 Commonwealth countries and almost all countries from the IWF Masters attended.
CWF Annual Congress
The CWF Annual Congress was attended by a large number of people including the Masters who were invited to the
Congress. Quite a number of items were deliberated – amongst them:
 The endorsement of India hosting the 2015 Commonwealth Championships.
 A verbal report was made by Jerry Wallwork from Samoa on the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games.
Naturally weightlifting will be one of the highlights of the Games, with possibly the best facilities for
weightlifting that you could ask for.
 Matthew Curtain made a report on the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, assuring everyone that everything
was in place. He also introduced the new weightlifting manager, Moira Lassen, who will start in the position
early in the new year, due to Matthew having resigned as a result of taking up his new position as Sports
Director of the Commonwealth Games Federation. Congratulations were extended to Moira Lassen on her
new appointment. We all know she will do a great job for weightlifting.
New Executive Director for New Zealand
With the resignation of Gavin Hubbard, New Zealand has now appointed a new Executive Director who is none other
than Garry Marshall, the CWF Vice President.
Resignation
Regrettably we need to inform you all, that Matthew Curtain due to his new position with the CGF as their Sports
Director, has no option but to resign as Vice President of the CWF due to conflict of interest. We have replied to him,
thanking him for his incredible assistance from 2006 onwards. His position will be vacant until the Electoral Congress
in Glasgow next year.
Resignation
The Hon. Vinson Detenamo President of the CWF for the last 12 years resigned in
October . His resignation was accepted with great regret by the Executive Board on
November 23rd and the Congress on the 24th. During his term as President, Vinson
saw the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation develop into a sporting organisation
worthy of international recognition and praise.
Such examples of these
accomplishments include the status of the Commonwealth Championships itself and
how the IWF consider the event as leading competition within the annual calendar.
Moreover, outstanding athletic excellence and the increased participation of
development across the Federation are also a testament to his vision and unwavering
commitment to the sport.
The CWF acknowledges his outstanding service and wishes him a long and healthy
future.
The. Hon. Vinson Detenamo
Paul Coffa MBE
Secretary General
David Katoatau – Kiribati wins the 94Kg
Category
Ivon McKnee – Barbados 105Kg Category
Liam Larkins –Australia 85Kg Category
Tovia Opeloge- Samoa 105Kg Category
Shivan Saini – India 85Kg Category
Itte Detenamo- Nauru wins the +105Kg Cat.
Master lifters on the victory stand.
Petelo Lagikula (Guest lifter) France +105Kg
Steven Kari- PNG Clean & Jerk 200kg 94Kg category
Mary Opeloge –Samoa wins the 75kg cat.
Mary smashed all Oceania records
Come Dereck – Seychelles 85Kg Cat.
MHD Azim – Malaysia +105Kg category
Richard Patterson - New Zealand, 85kg gold
medallist receives award from Dato Ong.
Obehi Joseph – Nigeria wins the 75+Kg Juniors
SPONSOR OF THE CWF
Melbourne -Australia
Oceania Institute lifters helping out in the setting up of
the training hall in Penang
The warm up area was also an outdoor area, 10 platforms were set up.
The team of ‘loaders’. They did a superb job.
Tom Liaw sponsored 10 pairs of shoes to Kiribati lifters.
The outdoor training hall in Penang, just a few meters from the
competition hall. The training area had 30 platforms..
The food was plentiful for everyone.
The brilliant Nigerian female team.
The competition hall, well set up and always full of spectators.
Paul Coffa at the closing function of the Championships.
YB Chong Eng Minister for Sport presents best lifter
trophy to champion Nigerian Okoli Obioma Agatha.
HRH Prince Imran and Puan Sri enjoying watching the lifters of the
Commonwealth training . HRH was so impressed with the all set
up of the Championships.
Jaqui Preketes from Touchdown Tours in Melbourne
enjoys the opening ceremony alongside Paul Coffa
and Matthew Curtain.
The General Secretary of India with his successful Indian female
Team.
HRH Prince Imran receives souvenir from the CWF.
The ball room at Vistana for the Opening and Closing functions.
YB Chong Eng Minister for Sport with PNG Team.