Applications are open for the 2025-2028 IWF Refugee Team
The regulations for the future IWF Refugee Team have now been published after the recent approval of the IWF Executive Board concerning the continuation of this successful programme. Initiated in 2023 and renovated in 2024, the new guidelines will now comprise the 2025-2028 quadrennium, thus providing more stability to the project.
The IWF Refugee Team will be composed by two male and two female lifters, to be chosen by the IWF Refugee Working Group. Two additional athletes (one from each gender) can be included in the group, provided they are IOC Refugee Scholarship holders.
In order to be eligible for the Team, athletes must be officially recognised as refugees in the country they reside, in accordance with the UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) protocols. In the selection process, priority will be given to lifters coming from war zones and areas affected by environmental disasters.
The lifters included in the IWF Refugee Team can compete in IWF events, but will not be considered for the Los Angeles 2028 Qualification System and Olympic Games. This prerogative is reserved to athletes with an IOC scholarship.
The members selected to the IWF Refugee Team must fully comply with the IWF Anti-Doping Rules and complete all education activities related to this topic.
Besides the four lifters, a Team Manager and a Team Physiotherapist will also integrate the programme.
The application deadline to be included the IWF Refugee Team is February 16, 2025. By March 30, 2025 the IWF Refugee Working Group will decide on the athletes and support personnel that will integrate the Team.
All relevant information can be found here