N. Korea in talks to host world weightlifting event: officialNovember 18, 2014 - 09:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - North Korea, the world’s most reclusive country and an outsider in sports for decades, is in talks with the International Weightlifting Federation to host a world championship event, the organization’s top official said, according to the New York Times. Word of the talks comes after a string of competitive successes for North Korean weight lifters, who won a dozen medals at this year’s world championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, which ended Sunday, Nov 16. A day after the North Korean team left the world championships in Kazakhstan, the director general of the I.W.F., Attila Adamfi, revealed that Pyongyang had expressed an interest in inviting the world’s best lifters for a major competition. “Although they have not made an official bid, they have expressed an interest in hosting a world championships,” Adamfi said. He added: “It is already their most successful sport. They have the infrastructure and the sport-specific know-how. We have visited Pyongyang, and they have great facilities and a great venue that seats about 10,000. There are enormous challenges to overcome, but it could happen within five years, maybe sooner.” Adamfi said that North Korea’s hosting the senior world championships was “not realistic” for a variety of reasons and that a competition there would more likely be a world youth or world junior championship event. Those events attract hundreds of lifters from dozens of countries. Coaches and officials would raise the number of visitors to about 700. North Korea has never staged a notable international championship event, but the country took a first step last year by hosting the Asian Interclubs Cup. The event was watched by the nation’s leader, Kim Jong-un, who has reportedly warmed to the sport, especially as his country has become a global contender in it. In 2012, North Korea surprised many observers by winning three gold medals in weight lifting at the London Olympics. Related links: Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |