OCEANIA WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION

Newsletter May 2017

THE IWF GENERAL SECRETARY NEW HEADQUATERS

Walking distance from Tiananmen Square and two blocks away from the Chinese Olympic Committee, is the new headquarters of the I.W.F. General Secretary. The Government of and the Chinese Olympic Committee have provided this magnificent headquarters for the sport of weightlifting. At the main entrance the five Continental Weightlifting logos signifies the importance of the five continents.

The Presidents of the three continents, Pan American – Mr. Willian Ozuna, Europe – Dr. Antonio Urso, and Oceania – Hon. Marcus Stephen were invited to visit the IWF headquarters. Mr. Ma Wenguang also invited the IWF Vice President – Sam Coffa, the IWF Executive Board Member – Moira Lassen, Mr. Luigino Matos Musse Assistant to the President of Pan America and Paul Coffa – the General Secretary of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation.

The magnificent entrance of the new headquarters in - China

The logo of the IWF and the five continents signifies the Mr. Sam Coffa is warmly welcomed by the General Secretary importance of harmony and unison in weightlifting. Mr. Ma Wenguang

The facilities of the headquarters is the ultimate. Apart from the administration offices, the headquarters also contains five very impressive large offices for the five continents fully furnished. The IWF VIP room is remarkable. In addition to this the Continents also have been allocated a large hall for functions and media conferences.

Over the two day visit, the IWF General Secretary, Mr. Ma Wenguang, organised a meeting with the three continents. In due course the continents of Africa and Asia will be invited as well. During dinners, Mr. Ma had special guests from the Government and the Corporate Sector joining the leaders of the three continents. The three continental Presidents at the farewell dinner congratulated Mr. Ma for his endeavours in providing such a magnificent facility for the sport of weightlifting. Also a special thanks must go to Wang Yan for her kind assistance towards the guests.

From left: Mr. Ma Wenguang, Sam Coffa, Marcus Stephen, Antonio Urso, Paul Coffa and Mr. Ma Wenguang in the VIP Lounge Antonio Urso, Paul Coffa, Willian Ozuna, and Moira Lassen.

The Presidents of the three continents pointing to their logos.

Official photo in the VIP Room. Meeting held in the Pan American office.

Creative Chinese chefs make a weightlifting Mr. Ma Wenguang with the Hon. Marcus The large Continents Hall bar from vegetables for the VIP dinner Stephen relaxing in the court yard of the for each guest. IWF headquarters.

INSTITUTE LIFTERS COMPETING IN FRANCE Eleven lifters from the Oceania Weightlifting Institute have been invited to compete in France at the French National Championships to be held on June 10-11 in the city of Mont De Marsan. This trip has been kindly funded by the office of the High Commission of France to New Caledonia. The stay in France has been covered by the French Weightlifting Federation through the Sport Ministry. The squad is very pleased to be given this opportunity to compete as guests in France. During their stay, they will visit the excellent sporting facilities that Paris has. They will be staying and training at the National Institute of Sport INSEP.

Taretiita Taboroua 77Kg Eileen Cikamatana 90Kg Toua Udia 77Kg Luisa Peters +90Kg

Elson Brechtefeld 56Kg Thelma Toua 48Kg David Katoatau 105Kg Dika Toua 53Kg

Morea Baru 62 Kg Jessica Adjan 63Kg Steven Kari 90Kg

The Oceania Institute lifters support Candidate City Paris

SOLOMON ISLANDS TEAM 2023 Whilst visiting New Caledonia a delegation from the Solomon Islands Organising Committee of the 2023 , paid a courtesy visit to the Oceania Weightlifting Institute. The delegation was very impressed with the facilities. They were also very happy to meet many of the top lifters of the region who are residents at the Institute. Many questions were asked to Paul Coffa, the General Secretary of the OWF, with regards to weightlifting. They were very pleased to hear that the OWF would assist in many ways with the running of the weightlifting event in 2023.

From left Casper Pule Director of Sports, Paul Coffa, Hezilyn Maui Senior Paul Coffa sharing some valuable advice with the officials of the 2023 Administration Solomon Government, Ishmael Nori Vice President Solomon Islands Pacific Games. PGA Games and Gabriel Suri Chairman National Sports Council .

GENERAL SECRETARY VISITS C.O.N.I. The General Secretary of the OWF, Paul Coffa and his son Jamie Coffa, on their way to Sicily for a short break, paid a courtesy visit to the Italian and European President, Dr. Antonio Urso in Rome. Whilst in Rome they also visited the headquarters of the Italian National Olympic Committee (C.O.N.I) where they were welcomed by the President Mr Giovanni Malago and the Chief Executive Officer Mr Alberto Miglietta.

The Institute lifters whilst in Europe for the French National Championships, have been invited by the Italian Federation to train for one week in Rome at the Army Olympic Sports Centre. Paul Coffa was invited to visit the Army Olympic Sports Centre where he met Colonel Remo Del Favero the Commander of the Centre. The institute team will be in Rome from June 12-18

Paul Coffa, CONI Chief Executive Officer Mr Alberto Miglietta and Dr Antonio Urso

Paul Coffa with Antonio Urso and Jamie Coffa at the CONI headquarters Paul Coffa receives a plaque from Colonel Remo Del Favero at the Army Olympic Sports Centre in Rome

PACIFIC LEGEND SPORTS OFFICIAL VISITS INSTITUTE Legendary athletics sports official and commentator, Mr Bob Snow from , whilst in New Caledonia visited the Oceania Weightlifting Institute . Bob for decades has assisted with the running of athletics amongst the Pacific Island nations. He was very pleased to meet the weightlifters , especially the elite, such as Dika Toua, Steven Kari, and Morea Baru. Bob has at many different events seen these lifters in action.

Bob Snow with the Papua New Guinean lifters Bob with the Kiribati lifters

Paul Coffa MBE OWF General Secretary