An IWF delegation travelled to Paris to inspect aspects of the weightlifting competition for the 2024 Olympics ©IWF

An International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) delegation have completed a visit to Paris prior to the city's hosting of the Olympic Games, to assess aspects of sport presentation, transport, venues, infrastructure, and medical services.

The group was comprised of general secretary Antonio Urso and Executive Board member and International Federation delegate Matthew Curtain.

On their two-day visit, the pair were hosted by members of the Paris 2024 sport department, led by sport competitions director Aurélie Merle and Jacqueline White, the weightlifting and Para powerlifting sport manager for the 2024 Games.

Senior representatives of the French Weightlifting Federation (FFHM), including President Michel Raynaud and first vice-president Jean-Paul Bulgaridhes also attended a session with the IWF and Paris 2024 to discuss strategies aligned to further promoting the sport in France.

The group also had the opportunity to visit the South Paris 6 venue, which is due to host weightlifting at the Games in the Paris Expo complex, as well as the hotels proposed to accommodate IWF technical officials and the IWF family.

"This has been a very valuable and productive two days," said Curtain.

The IWF delegation in Paris assessed aspects of sport presentation, transport, venues, infrastructure, and medical services ©Getty Images
The IWF delegation in Paris assessed aspects of sport presentation, transport, venues, infrastructure, and medical services ©Getty Images

"We thank the Paris 2024 team for their hospitality and collaborative approach to working with the IWF to deliver a fantastic athlete experience as well as the best possible showcase for our sport in 2024.

"The input and involvement of the FFHM is also, and will continue to be, crucial to maximising the opportunity of these Games.

"With less than two years to go, we feel the collective enthusiasm and excitement building."

Weightlifting appeared in the first edition of the modern Olympic Games in 1896 as well as in 1904 before featuring on the sporting programme every time from 1920 onwards.

Women's competitions were then introduced at Sydney 2000.

Weightlifting for Paris 2024 has received huge interest as nearly 1,300 athletes are on the preliminary entry list for the first qualifying event, the IWF World Championships, due to be held in Bogota in December.