Russia will host the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships in Moscow, marking the first time an Olympic sports federation has awarded the country hosting rights to a major global event since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) announced the decision on Sunday, also confirming that Ahmedabad, India, would host the 2029 edition.
The 2030 championships will also serve as a qualifying event for the 2032 Olympic Games.
The decision marks a significant development in Russia’s return to international sport after restrictions were imposed following its war against Ukraine and a state-sponsored doping scandal linked to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
No world championships in an Olympic sport, whether summer or winter, have been held in Russia since the start of the war. The 2025 World Aquatics Championships, initially awarded to Kazan, were moved to Singapore.
Russian Weightlifting Federation president Aleksandr Vinokurov thanked the international body for awarding Moscow the event, saying the country had the experience and infrastructure to stage major competitions.
The Russian federation described the decision as a breakthrough, saying it was the first Olympic sports federation to bring a top-level official competition back to the country in many years.
The announcement comes amid a gradual easing of restrictions on Russian athletes by the International Olympic Committee. On July 7, the IOC opened a pathway for Russian athletes to compete in qualifying events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The move drew opposition from Ukraine, which appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking to overturn the IOC’s decision.
Russian athletes have faced restrictions or competed under neutral status at international events following the invasion of Ukraine and revelations of a state-backed doping programme.
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