New year , new rules!

The International Weightlifting Federation released the 2020 version of the official weightlifting competition rule book.

Download PDF: 2019 IWF Rulebook – Technical and Competition Rules and Regulations.

2020 Rule Changes & Additions

(changes are in bold)

1.2.6 Youth Olympic Games bodyweight categories:

Men:

55 kg

61 kg

67 kg

73 kg

81 kg

+81 kg

Women:

45 kg

49 kg

55 kg

59 kg

64 kg

+64 kg

3.3.6.16 Scoreboard

Scoreboards must be set up in a prominent place in the FOP, both in the competition area and warm-up area in order to record and display the progress and results of the specific category as it happens. The warm-up area, scoreboard(s) must always be in start number order (as a Real Time Display System). Spectators, scoreboard(s) can be in ranking order.

3.3.6.17 The scoreboard must contain the following information for all athletes in the group being contested and for the top three (3) athletes from the previous groups:

• athlete start number, in numerical order (before the competition)

• athlete start number, in numerical order or ranking order (once competition has been started)

• name of each athlete according to the allocated start number

• year of birth

• IWF / IOC code

• three (3) attempts in the Snatch

• three (3) attempts in the Clean & Jerk

• Total

• final classification

• indication of the athlete called and the one to follow next

6.1 PRE-COMPETITION PROCEDURES – ENTRIES

6.1.1 Participants may only be officially entered by their respective Member Federation by way of the Online Entry System or both the traditional Preliminary and Final Entry Form documents.

REGULATION TO 3.3.3 – BARBELL

REGULATION TO 3.3.7 – VIDEO PLAYBACK TECHNOLOGY (VPT)

1 Requirements for VPT:

a) A minimum of four (4) cameras: one (1) in front of the stage, two (2) on both sides diagonal to the stage, and one (1) at the back at platform level Cameras will be positioned around the stage, three (3) cameras at the front of the stage to be as close as possible to the 3 sitting referees, the 4th camera to be positioned on the side edge of the stage in line with the centre of the platform but no further away from the competition platform than four hundred (400) cm (measured from the side) of the competition platform. Three (3) cameras located in front of the stage should be positioned at a height of 30cm above the competition platform, and the side camera should be at the height of the competition platform.

b) VPT uses own-produced signal, however, it must be connected to the Scoreboard and / or Videoboard and Television / Broadcasting to allow in-venue spectators and TV viewers watch the replay. When the Athlete or Team

requests for a Challenge, Videoboard and / or TV must indicate “Challenge”

c) VPT must serve multi purposes, incl. video archives for later use (e.g. Technical Official training, scientific analysis, seminars / education, etc.).

VPT and pertaining monitor to be located on Jury Table or nearby and pertaining monitor must be provided on Jury Table (i.e., Jury Table may have two (2) monitors; Real Time Display System and VPT monitor). One (1) Attempt Board to be preferably provided nearby the steps of the stage to control next athlete to wait during VPT procedure.

To reverse the Referees’ decision after the VPT replay, unanimity majority is

required among the Jury Members.

Past Rule Changes

2019 Changes:

2.5.1.11 Touching the barbell with his / her footwear is a no lift!

Video Reviews (Section 3.3.7):

3.3.7 Video Playback Technology (VPT) (VPT is technology to review the Referees’ / Jury’s decision if challenged or in case of disagreement within the Jury.

3.3.7.2 At Senior, Junior and Youth World Championships, Olympic and Youth Olympic Games it is obligatory to apply VPT.

3.3.7.2 At Senior, Junior and Youth World Championships, Olympic and Youth Olympic Games it to apply VPT. When the decision of the majority of the Jury members differs from that of the Referees’ decisions, the Jury may review Referees’ decision and / or Jury’s own decision by way of VPT.

Requirements for VPT:

a) A minimum of four (4) cameras : one (1) in front of the stage, two (2) on both sides diagonal to the stage, and one (1) at the back at platform level

b) VPT uses own-produced signal, however, it must be connected to the Videoboard and Television / Broadcasting to allow in-venue spectators and TV viewers watch the replay. When the Athlete or Team requests for a Challenge, Videoboard and / or TV must indicate “Challenge”

c) VPT must serve multi purposes, incl. video archives for later use (e.g. Technical

Official training, scientific analysis, seminars / education, etc.).

a) A : one (1) in front of the stage, two (2) on both sides diagonal to the stage, and one (1) at the back at platform level b) VPT uses own-produced signal, however, it must be connected to the Videoboard and Television / Broadcasting to allow in-venue spectators and TV viewers watch the replay. When the Athlete or Team requests for a Challenge, Videoboard and / or TV must indicate “Challenge” c) VPT must serve multi purposes, incl. video archives for later use (e.g. Technical Official training, scientific analysis, seminars / education, etc.). The procedure can be started by Jury (by stopping the competition) or Athlete / Team (by submitting a Challenge Card to the Technical Controller) before the timing clock is started for the next attempt, or the next athlete having been called appears on the stage, whichever is the last. Upon receiving a Challenge Card, the Technical Controller shall immediately stop the competition.

There is no limit in the number of replays, however, the Jury must make their decision as quickly as possible.

however, the Jury must make their decision as quickly as possible. To reverse the Referees’ decision, unanimity is required among the Jury Members .

. 9.1 Athlete / Team can only challenge the decisions of its own attempts.

9.2 One (1) Challenge Card is provided for each athlete at the weigh-in.

9.3 If the Athlete / Team wants to challenge the Referees’ or Jury’s decision a Challenge request shall be submitted to the nearest Technical Controller by using the

Challenge Card.

Challenge Card. 9.4 Upon receipt of a Challenge, the Technical Controller must stop the competition to forward the request to the Jury.

9.5 Challenge request can be made only once per athlete. However, if the Jury approves the Challenge, the Athlete / Team retains the Challenge right.

What’s New in 2018: (All changes are listed on the last two pages of the PDF)

now your hair can touch the bar

“In the case of tie(s) in different group(s), the athlete(s) who competed earlier in time will be ranked higher regardless the attempt number at which the athletes reached the relevant result.”

scale precision was dropped from 10 grams to 50 grams

These were the 2017 Changes:

Abolishment of bodyweight advantage (see 6.8.2), “who lifts more, wins!”. More Here

15/20kg rule for entry total weights (6.6.5) changed to 20kg for both genders

Introduction of 8th bodyweight category for women (90kg, +90kg)

Minimum Entry Totals application for Senior World championships

Athlete Pass introduction (similar to Warm-up Pass) (3.3.5)

3.2.2 Only IWF authorized professional cameras, recording equipment or drones allowed in the Venue, within the FOP or in additional spaces.

Also updated: IWF Constitution and By Laws