By Gary Anderson

June 27 - IWF logoA new logo for the 2013 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships has been unveiled at a press conference in Wroclaw as the Polish Weightlifting Federation (PZPC) president, Szymon Kołecki revealed he expects the host country to win at least one medal.


Kolecki was joined at the press conference, held at the Hala Stulecia (Centennial Hall) in Wroclaw, venue for the Championships which are due to take place from October 16 to 27, by Mayor of Wroclaw, Rafał Dutkiewicz and the Governor of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Rafael Jurkowlaniec.

This will be the second time the IWF World Championships will be held in Poland, and the first to be staged outside of Warsaw, since the men's and women's events were combined in 1991.

The previous two men's Championships in 1959 and 1969 were staged in the Polish capital.

In 1996 the women's Championships were held in Warsaw because of the Olympic Games in Atlanta, which doubled up as the World Championships for men.

Women were first allowed to compete in the Olympic weightlifting events at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Szymon KoleckiDouble Olympic silver medallist Szymon Kolecki was elected president of PZPC in December 2012

The 10,000 capacity Hala Stulecia in Wroclaw is celebrating its centenary year and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2006.

"Weightlifting is a great sport with a long tradition," said Dutkiewicz.

"We are very pleased that this event will take place in our city,"

Kolecki, who was elected to his current post after defeating incumbent Zygmunt Wasiela during elections in December 2012, praised the people of Wroclaw and Lower Silesia for their support in organising the event.

The double Olympic weightlifting silver medallist at 94 kilogrammes, added: "As for the Championship, we expect to win at least one medal, but if we can get two it would be even better."

Bartlomiej Wojciech Bonk of Poland competes in the Mens 105kgBartlomiej Bonk of Poland competing in the men's 105kg category at London 2012, winning a bronze medal
At London 2012 Poland came joint fifth with the Ukraine in the weightlifting medal table with two medals.

Azdrian Zieliński won gold in the men's 85kg category while Bartłomiej Bonk secured bronze in the 105kg division.

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