On Friday, before the Solomon Games Weightlifting competition started at Multipurpose Hall, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry responsible for Sport, Permanent Secretary Mr. George Palua handed over the world class weightlifting equipment’s to the Solomon Islands Weightlifting Federation (SIWF) President Mr. Leslie Ata to be used for the competition and for future weightlifting competitions that will be organized by the Federation in the country.
The equipment’s include a world standard competition platform, a training platform and a set of weightlifting weights. The Permanent Secretary highlighted during the handover ceremony that the Ministry is optimistic to see progressive development of all sports in the country and handing these equipment’s to the Federation is government’s support towards weightlifting development.
There is opportunity for the Ministry to work with the Federation to develop weightlifting sports in the Provinces and opts to support the development according to the Federation’s development plan. The Permanent Secretary wishes the Federation a good Solomon Games weightlifting competition, as athletes will be competing using the world standard equipment’s for the first time which replaced the home made plywood platform.
SIWF President Mr. Leslie Ata in his responding remark when receiving the equipment’s, stated that the Solomon Islands Weightlifting Federation really applauded and acknowledged the Ministry of Home Affairs for recognizing the need and donated the equipment’s to the Federation for the advancement of the weightlifting sport in the country. This year’s Solomon Games is a different competition from other weightlifting competitions held in the country as World standard equipment’s will be used.
President Mr. Leslie Ata who recently acquired his category II in Weightlifting Technical Refereeing, Judge, Jury, time keeper and speaker said that this world class standard equipment’s used will set the standard of this year’s Solomon Games Weightlifting competition to the next height and he thanked the Permanent Secretary for making this a reality.
He further assured that the Federation will continue to work with the Ministry of Home Affairs to see the development of weightlifting is progressing and to organize local competitions as now they have standard world class equipment’s.
