Russia awarded 2030 weightlifting world championships; several countries condemn decision

In the second half of October, the International Weightlifting Federation decided that the 2030 world weightlifting championships will be held in Russia. The country has waged a full-scale war in Ukraine since February 2022, and the decision has drawn wide international attention and condemnation from several countries and officials.

How the decision was made

Russians and Belarusians were long isolated from international sport after the invasion began, but they are gradually being brought back in several sports, with the right to compete under their own flag. The weightlifting federation had already allowed athletes from both countries to return to competition in June this year. In October it went further when deciding on hosts for the 2028 and 2030 championships.

The decision was made not by the federation's member countries, including Latvia, but by its executive board. It includes president Mohammed Jalood of Iraq and 29 other members from various countries, such as the Cook Islands, Nauru, the United States, Saudi Arabia, China, Kosovo and the Philippines.

Reaction

Norway condemned the decision. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said it was immoral to give Moscow the privilege of hosting major international sporting events while its aggression continues. Ukraine's Minister of Sports Matviy Bidny said the country will not take part and will demand that the championship be moved to another country; appeals are being prepared for the federation and the International Olympic Committee.

European Commissioner for sport Glenn Micallef pointed to the role of Aleksandr Vinokurov, president of the Russian weightlifting federation, in securing the decision. Vinokurov is on the EU sanctions list. Micallef warned that sport must not become a back door around sanctions.

The Polish federation also condemned the decision and asked whether sports organisations consistently take the wider political context into account. Poland recently lost the right to host the European junior and U-23 championships because it refused to guarantee visas for Russian and Belarusian athletes.

Viktors Ščerbatihs, chairman of the Latvian Weightlifting Federation, told Latvian Radio that Latvia will not challenge the decision for now but is ready to join other countries' position if a strong opposing bloc forms. He believes the decision may have been made to test the reaction of the weightlifting community, and that Russia could still lose the hosting rights.