FINLAND TO HOST WORLD POWERLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2010


The World Powerlifting Congress (WPC) has announced that the WPC World Bench Press and Powerlifting Championships will be held in Finland on 1-7 November 2010. The venue that has been selected to host the championships is the Mikaeli Concert and Congress Centre in Mikkeli. Last year's world championships were held in Bournemouth, England, where Finns claimed a number of gold, silver and bronze medals. Finnish powerlifters also set several world records.

Mikkeli promises to host the most impressive world championships yet in terms of arrangements and participants. Approximately 500 competitors are expected from the 43 countries represented by the World Powerlifting Congress. The event will be visible throughout Mikkeli and also on TV. Participants will compete in the Junior, Teenage, Open and Master series in the weight categories 44-90 kg for women and 52-140 kg for men. The Finnish participants will be selected on the basis of the WPC Finnish Championships to be held in Juva in May. Russia is expected to provide the highest number of participants, followed by the USA. The newest country represented by the WPC is South Korea, and competitors are also expected to arrive from as far away as Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Finland has established a strong reputation for hosting international sporting events. World Champion Ano Turtiainen and his family business have twice before organised the world championships in Finland: in 2002 and 2005, both times in Helsinki.

Interviews and enquiries:
Ano Turtiainen, Main Organiser
t. +358 (0)40 516 6735
ano.turtiainen@gometal.com
Further information about WPC: http://www.gometal.com/pages.php?gb=7

KyZsti Ylijoki, Managing Director
Miset Oy, Mikkeli Region Business Development Centre
t.. +358 (0)44 794 2210
kyosti.ylijoki@miset.fi