Kyiv Demands Moscow Be Stripped of 2030 Weightlifting World Championship

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga condemned the decision by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to award Moscow the right to host the 2030 World Championship and demanded it be cancelled.

"The IWF's decision to grant Moscow the right to host the 2030 World Championship is inadmissible," Sybiga wrote on X on Monday, October 26. According to him, Russia continues to kill Ukrainians, including athletes, and granting Moscow the privilege of hosting a major international competition is "immoral." Sybiga warned that this decision could normalize Russian aggression and give the Kremlin an opportunity to claim a return to normal international relations without ending the war or facing accountability. He called on the IWF and the International Olympic Committee to overturn the decision.

Ukraine's Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidny stated that Ukrainian athletes will not compete at the World Championship if it takes place in Moscow. Kyiv is preparing official appeals to the IWF and IOC demanding a new, transparent selection process for the host country. Bidny also intends to raise this issue with European sports ministers, including representatives of European Union member states and Council of Europe members.

The IWF announced its decision on October 25.