Colombia hosts powerlifting officials course ahead of 2018 Americas Championships

Para powerlifting continues to grow around the world as eight participants attended a Technical Official Level 3 course in Cali, Colombia, this being the first to be delivered with the updated 2018-2021 Rules and Regulations.

The course provided participants with an overview of the key updates, including the breakdown of the detailed lift phases and no lift execution.

Some of the topics covered were: competition levels, cycle and management; minimum qualification standards; athletes’ eligibility and classification; A.H. formula; roles and responsibilities of technical officials; referee signals and commands; kit check inspection; weigh-in; athletes’ and officials’ presentation; technical rules’ bodyweight categories; venue and equipment requirements; round system; lift phases; errors in loading or announcing; and 4th attempt.

Educator Jenny Ortiz Cardenas said: “After three days of information, practice and hard work at the technical officials’ course in Colombia, the participants showed dedication and love towards the sport of Para powerlifting.”

The technical officials were able to immediately put their learning into practice at a national competition that took place in the days following the course.

This was also another step towards raising awareness of the sport ahead of the 2018 World Para Powerlifting Americas Open Championships set to take place in the Colombian capital city of Bogota between 5 and 9 December.

Courses in Nigeria, Brazil, Malawi, Algeria, Japan, Ethiopia and again Colombia will also be held in 2018.

The education course calendar for the year can be found on World Para Powerlifting’s website.