Moscow has been selected to host the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships, becoming the first Russian city to secure a global championship in an Olympic sport since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) announced the decision on Sunday, also confirming that Ahmedabad, India, will host the 2029 edition of the championships.
The announcement represents a significant development for Russian sport, which has faced international restrictions and exclusion from numerous competitions since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine.
IWF General Secretary Jose Quinones welcomed the successful bids and expressed confidence in both host cities’ ability to organise the championships.
“All the bids we received were excellent and we are sure that the championships in your respective countries will be a huge success,” Quinones said.
The selection of Moscow marks the Russian capital’s return as host of the prestigious weightlifting competition after nearly five decades.
Moscow last hosted the World Weightlifting Championships in 1983, making the 2030 event its first opportunity to stage the tournament in 47 years.
The decision comes amid developments suggesting a gradual easing of restrictions on Russia’s participation in international sporting events.
Russian athletes and sporting organisations have faced sanctions and limitations across multiple disciplines following the country’s military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022.
In July, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, a move that could help facilitate Russian participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The award of the 2030 championships to Moscow is another development in this process, allowing Russia to host a major international event in an Olympic discipline.
The IWF’s announcement establishes India and Russia as the respective hosts of the 2029 and 2030 World Weightlifting Championships, with Ahmedabad staging the competition before it moves to Moscow the following year.