World weightlifting championships begins in Turkey
By IANSThursday, September 16, 2010
ISTANBUL - The 2010 World Weightlifting Championships began in Turkey’s Antalya city Thursday, with men and women lifters from around the world competing in 15 categories.
Altogether 561 athletes from 81 countries will take part the competition, which is the first qualification round for the 2012 London Olympics, Hasan Akkus, president of the Turkish Weightlifting Federation, said in the opening ceremony.
“The lifters will not only compete for medals and Olympic qualification but also for contributing to world peace and friendship,” he was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
Turkish parliament speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin said the event would contribute to Antalya’s sports tourism.
The basketball world championship ended in Istanbul Sep 12 and the weightlifting tournament now in Antalya demonstrates Turkey’s capability of organising the Olympic Games, he said.
Istanbul has applied for hosting the 2020 Olympics.
