Just a few days before the end of 2003, all friends of weightlifting will have the chance to live a great historical moment not only for the Hellenic Weightlifting Federation and the Hellenic Sports but, also for the world weightlifting family.

This will be the inauguration event for the "Weightlifting House", that unique venue designed and created by the Hellenic State exclusively for the weightlifting sport.
At the same time, it is a proof of all Greek people's feeling of love for weightlifting.
This is the place where the Tofalos-Kakousis International Competition - IWF Grand Prix will be organized, between 9-10 December 2003.

The above organization will be the most important one, in both levels - one refers to the competitions, since the world's top male and female lifters are going to participate and, the other refers to the organization, because in view of the forthcoming Olympic Games to be held between 14-25 August 2004, all sectors - competition area, technology, manpower, facilities - will be tested.

Therefore, now that a great aim for the Hellenic Weightlifting Federation has been fulfilled, the competition of the Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Indoor Hall, it is my need to express my thanks and gratitude towards International Weightlifting Federation and all the weightlifting friends worldwide for the co-operation, assistance and support we had and still have but, above all, for their sincere friendship.

We look forward to meeting each other in Athens!

Yannis Sgouros
IWF General Secretary