IWF Executive Board with USA Organizing Committee in Tokyo, Japan Wednesday

Anaheim, California Awarded 2019 IWF Youth World Championships

Anaheim to Host the World for Second Time in Three Years

Tokyo, Japan (June 14, 2017) – The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Wednesday awarded Anaheim, California, USA the 2019 Youth World Championships, giving the Southern California city a second IWF World Championship event to host within the next three years.



The IWF Youth World Championships showcases the best athletes in the World aged 17 and under. At the 2017 Youth World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, Team USA won two World Championships, posting two Youth World Records for Harrison Maurus (77kg) and CJ Cummings (69kg).

“We truly appreciate the trust of the Weightlifting community to host another World Championship level event, this time for the best youth in the World,” USA Weightlifting CEO Phil Andrews said. “There is no better place in the U.S. than Anaheim to hold a Youth Championship with Disneyland right across the street. We look forward to welcoming the World’s strongest teenagers to Anaheim in two years.”

The Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) will serve as the venue for the 2019 IWF Youth World Championships. It will mark the first time ever that the United States and Anaheim will host the IWF Youth World Championships. Later this year, the ACC will host the 2017 IWF World Championships Nov. 28-Dec. 5. The ACC also played host to the Wrestling competition during the 1984 Olympic Games.

“Hosting the 2019 IWF Youth World Championships and the future of weightlifting in Anaheim is an absolute honor,” said Jay Burress, president & CEO, Visit Anaheim. “It is our mission to support the next generation of superstar athletes – and hosting weightlifting’s best youth athletes would help us fulfill that mission.”



The City of Anaheim is located in close proximity to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and is home to Disneyland Resort, the Anaheim Ducks and Angels Baseball.

Prior to the 2017 World Championships, the United States also hosted the 2015 IWF World Championships in Houston, Texas. USA is also due host the 2017 Pan American Championships in Miami, Florida. The event department for USA Weightlifting is headed by Rio 2016 Olympic Games Weightlifting Manager, Pedro Meloni.



“In our aim to become a strong partner of the IWF we appreciate the trust they put in us to host another event,” said Ursula Garza Papandrea, USA Weightlifting President & IWF Vice President.

--30--

Press Contacts:

USA Weightlifting

Kevin Farley

Kevin.Farley@usaweightlifting.org

719-866-3043



Visit Anaheim

Tania Weinkle

tweinkle@visitanaheim.org

714-765-8854

About USA Weightlifting

USA Weightlifting, a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), is the National Governing Body for the Olympic Sport of Weightlifting in the USA. The mission of USA Weightlifting shall be to enable United States athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence in Olympic competition and to promote and grow the sport of Weightlifting in the United States. www.USAWeightlifting.org.

About Visit Anaheim

Founded in 1961, Visit Anaheim is a 501 (c)(6) nonprofit destination marketing organization. Visit Anaheim’s mission is to develop, promote, market and sell the destination as a premier visitor destination benefiting the economic vitality of the local community. In 2017, the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest convention center on the West Coast, is celebrating its 50th anniversary and ACC North, a 200,000 square foot expansion. For more information on Anaheim Convention Center expansion, visit: www.accexpansion.com. To learn more about Visit Anaheim, visit: www.visitanaheim.org follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.