The International Weightlifting Federation website has been given a facelift ©IWF

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has launched a new website, coinciding with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and efforts to boost digital engagement.

It can be found at a new domain name, iwf.sport, and features a dedicated Tokyo 2020 section.

"We are very pleased to be able to make our own contribution to the way people will interact online with weightlifting at Tokyo 2020 and beyond, with the launch of this new website," IWF Acting President Mike Irani said.

"Weightlifting is universally accessible and universally useful, helping people to build and maintain strength throughout life.

"In order to best promote weightlifting, we must take full advantage of the incredible opportunity that is the Olympic Games.

"We will also bring to life the stories of our athletes, our World Championships and other events."

The IWF added that it will have a team on the ground in Tokyo to report on the weightlifting competition for the revamped website.

One of the five sections navigable from the top of the new website is dedicated to anti-doping, and the website launch comes as a time when weightlifting's doping past and governance concerns threaten its place on the Olympic programme. 

A recent one-day Constitutional Congress ended in stalemate, and the IWF Executive Board decided it will not resume until August, after the Olympics, and be an in-person gathering in Qatar rather than virtual.

Li Fabin is one of three Chinese weightlifting gold medallists so far at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images
Li Fabin is one of three Chinese weightlifting gold medallists so far at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

This drew fresh criticism from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which said it had "expressed its concern" to the IWF over the lack of a decision at the Congress.

It added that the "IOC reserves all rights concerning its relations with the IWF in the future, including the place of weightlifting on the programme of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and future Olympic Games."

Weightlifting's athlete quota for Paris 2024 has already been cut by ore than half.

At Tokyo 2020 - where weightlifting is underway - three of the four gold medals have so far gone to China.

Li Fabin and Chen Lijun were victorious in the men's 61 kilograms and 67kg events respectively, while Hou Zhihui took home the gold in the women's 49kg category.

Liao Qiuyun was unable to keep the streak alive, however, placing second in the women's 55kg today, losing to Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines.