The International Powerlifting Family is celebrating its birthday. The federation has honoured its 50th anniversary with a dinner at the Harbert Center during The World Games 2022. President Gaston Parage paid tribute to the close friendship between the IPF family and The World Games Family. IWGA President José Perurena extended congratulations on the anniversary in front of several hundred guests. Perurena recalled the long and close relationship between Powerlifting and the IWGA over the past four decades.
The setting for the anniversary celebration was therefore a perfect fit. The Strength Sport has been part of The World Games from the beginning, and together they have walked a successful path. Team Manager and Judge Hiroyuki Isagawa from Japan revealed, during an interview, that at the first edition of The World Games in 1981 in Santa Clara, USA, the competitions took place in a tent. In Birmingham, a concert hall provided the perfect stage for the strongest men and women of these Games. The best three men and women received their special commemorative gift from the eleventh edition of the TWG that evening. Emanuel Scheiber, Secretary General of the Federation, had organized the evening perfectly, and was able to present a video of the highlights of the past 50 years.
Emanuel Scheiber took the opportunity to welcome the IWGA Board Members present. They will have been pleased to hear with what appreciation Gaston Parage spoke about The World Games as an important platform for his sport.
"We enjoy being a member of The World Games family and so do our athletes. They love being part of this event, and look forward to being able to show their class at The World Games."
The IWGA had honoured the federation's birthday in a special way. Gaston Parage said the oath for all officials during the Opening Ceremony of the Games. On Sunday two powerlifters, Agata Sitko (POL) and Volodymyr Rysiev (UKR), were on the Plaza stage as Athletes of the Day. Hiroyuki Isagawa was the star guest of the Instagram Live format “Let's meet with”. That’s how we celebrate friendship.
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association, organised with the support of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and over 100 countries will take part in The World Games.