FORDE, Norway, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- In a tranquil fjord town surrounded by mountains and water, the 2025 IWF World Weightlifting Championships have turned Forde into the sport's global focal point. For International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) President Mohammed Jalood, the choice of host city was more than logistical - it was symbolic of weightlifting's inclusivity and reach.

"This championship is different," Jalood said, smiling after another record-breaking day. "We are in a small city, and that is always a challenge. But the local organizing committee did a fantastic job. The crowd has been very passionate, and the competition hall is amazing."

He added with a laugh: "Maybe some athletes said their rooms were small - but that's because this is not a big city! Still, everything here is clean, natural, beautiful. You walk outside, and you see water, mountains, fresh air. It's like a painting."

While acknowledging that some competitors faced long journeys - many arriving via Dubai or other connecting hubs - Jalood said the results spoke for themselves.

"We have seen four or five world records already. That tells you about the high level of competition. Without this level, those records could not be broken," he noted.

The event, staged in Forde's multipurpose arena, is the first World Championships contested under the new bodyweight categories introduced for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.

"This competition will make weightlifting more popular," Jalood said. "And on Oct. 9, Solfrid Koanda [the home favorite and Paris Olympic gold medalist] will make the event even more attractive. The King and the Prime Minister of Norway will come to watch. We need events like this."

Looking ahead, Jalood expressed confidence in next year's 2026 IWF World Championships in Ningbo, China, which will serve as a key Olympic qualification event for Los Angeles 2028.

He revealed that the IWF and the Chinese organizing committee had recently held meetings to finalize the competition schedule: "We cannot delay too far into November because December already has other qualification events. But we have agreed on the right time for Ningbo."

The IWF will announce the Olympic weight categories on Oct. 27, 2025, following approvals from the federation's Technical, Executive, and Athletes' Commissions, and final confirmation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"This time, the IOC gave us one extra men's and one extra women's category. Previously, we had five each; now we have six. It's a big step forward," Jalood said.

He emphasized that the reform focuses on athlete health and competitive balance. "We need to reduce the gaps between categories to make the sport fairer and safer. When we had only five categories, the difference between two classes could be 14 or 16 kilograms. With six, those intervals will become smaller, which helps prevent excessive weight cutting and improves athlete welfare."  ■