The PRESS RELEASE about participation of kettlebell lifting in the program of TAFISA World Games

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From September, 26 to October, 2 2008 in Busan (South Korea) the 4th TAFISA World Sport for All Games were held under the IOC and UNESCO patronage.
Similar Games are spent each 4 years and, actually, are analogue of the Olympic Games for those kinds which are not included into the Olympic program. In Games in Busan have taken part sportsmen from 103 countries, representing 5 continents – Europe and Asia, Africa, the North America, the South America and Australia.
The program of the Games consisted of the two parts:
Demonstration program – traditional games and native sports;
Sport program – competitions of 10 International Federations representing neo-Olympic sports.

For the first time due to the efforts of International Union of Kettlebell Lifting and Association multisports of Russia the program of the TAFISA World Games included Kettlebell lifting (demonstration program).

Kettlebell lifting
Kettlebell lifting demo programs at the World Games consisted of the following exercises:
- classical biathlon men: short jerk of two kettlebell from chest, snatch of one kettlebell with hand change);
- men performance “Long Cycle”;                                                                                        - men power juggling;
- women performance “Snatch”;
- women power juggling.

The last part of the contest – women power juggling – gave special pleasure to the spectators. Oxana Nikifor, master of sports and Russia champion whose performance was brilliant managed to ensure the audience that it was quite easy to operate with kettle bells.

Demonstrations passed on various platforms during all period of carrying out of Games and used invariable interest at spectators and official representatives of TAFISA.
Each performance began with representation of kettlebell lifting (history, rules), from the announcement of weight of kettlebells and from the offer for all comers to try the forces in their lifting. In spite of the fact that among spectators there were also sportsmen from other kinds of sports, seldom it was possible to whom to fix over a head one 32kg-kettlebell. Therefore spectators always with delight welcomed the first lifting at once steams 32kg-kettlebells in exercise "jerk", and with each subsequent lifting their amazement accrued. Many could not believe to the eyes when the girl with ease showed repeated liftings of the 16kg-kettlebell in exercise "snatch". The storm of emotions was caused by performances on power juggling – under melodies of "Katyusha" and «NOSTRADAMUS».
During all the demonstrations days there constantly were a lot of people who would like to try kettlebell sport. The equipment was especially popular during the breaks. Sportsmen of IUKL explained to all interested persons of a basis of technics of performance of exercises, rules of sports competitions, and heads of delegation have come into contacts to representatives of many countries and sports federations.
Most of the visitors came on the second day of the demonstrations after TV reports about the sport had been broadcast on TV. The day before TV reports about exotic sports of the 4th TAFISA World Games had been transmitted on TV. The success of the TV presentation exceeded all the expectations.
- After such presentation and advertisement on TV and in newspapers we will have no problems in creating a Kettlebell Lifting Federation in Korea - said the head of the Games organizing committee Wan-Shik Hong when receiving the equipment for kettlebell lifting.
Upon termination of IV World Games the organizers of the 5th TAFISA World Sport for All Games Siauliai-2012 agreed to include the Kettlebell Lifting in the program.

President of IUKL Imants Lochmels has separately thanked the Secretary general of Association multisports of Russia Alexey Kylasov, for the given possibility to present kettlebell lifting on World Games and to include in structure of delegation latvians representing of IUKL. According such cooperation strengthens friendly links between the people of Latvia and Russia.

A photo album: Busan, South Korea, the World Games 2008

 

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