Archived news

Slovenia Starts Season in Style

Slovenian stars Janja Garnbret and Anze Peharc opened the 2019 climbing season with wins at Studio Bloc Masters 2019 in Pfungstadt, Germany, the first stop of the International Climbing Series (ICS) this year.

The ICS is held annually alongside the IFSC World Cup series and provides additional opportunities for elite international Sport Climbing athletes to compete at a high level. Two weeks before the first IFSC World Cup event of 2019 in Meiringen, Switzerland, 614 Bouldering participants from 43 nations and all 5 continents competed for early glory last weekend.

Slovenia showed their strength straightaway on Saturday, placing seven women and three men in the top 10 after qualifications. Combined world champions Garnbret and Jakob Schubert (AUT) topped all four problems in the semi-finals on Sunday, as well as Sergii Topishko of Ukraine and Slovenian teammates Peharc and Jernej Kruder, the current Bouldering season champion in the IFSC World Cup series and Studio Bloc Masters winner in 2017.

In the men's final in the evening, Peharc was the sole finalist to top three problems, concluding the round with a final top for the decisive victory. In the women's final, Garnbret mastered all four problems and was the only finalist to top the third problem, handing Slovenia their second victory of the day. Garnbret's compatriot Mia Krampl and Jessica Pilz (AUT) joined her on the podium with two tops, and Topishko and Vadim Timonov (RUS) edged Schubert by zone points to stand alongside Peharc with two tops as well.

Full replays of semi-finals and finals can be found on the Pfungstadt event page, and visit the Studio Bloc website for complete #SBM19 results.

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IFSC World Cup Meiringen: Registration Deadline

The IFSC Season kicks off on 5th April in Meiringen, Switzerland, with the first Bouldering World Cup of 2019.

As per the IFSC Rules 2019, the registration deadline for teams (Athletes and Team Officials) is 15 days before the first day of the event.

The team registration deadline for the IFSC World Cup Meiringen is 20th March 2019 at 23:59 CET.

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IFSC Welcomes Venue Delegate to the Team

The IFSC is pleased to welcome Federico Ferro as Venue Delegate. Working alongside the IFSC Marketing & Communications and Sport Departments and collaborating with Event Organisers and Technical Delegates, Federico will attend each event in the IFSC calendar to improve the conditions for Broadcasters, Sponsors and Spectators.

From a young age Federico has been passionate about sport, starting out as an Athlete and moving on to become an Event Specialist. Following a Master’s degree in Law in Rome, Federico specialised in event management with a Sport Management Master’s at the Luiss Guido Carli University. He then joined the Venue Management Team of the Baku 2015 Operational Committee for First European Games.

Federico continued to become Executive Director at the European Boxing Confederation in Lausanne, liaising daily with National Members, Sponsors, Broadcasters and all the LOCs involved, supervising the organisation of over 50 tournaments and being responsible for the European Championships.

Working for Balich Worldwide Shows in 2017 as an on-site Consultant, Federico managed the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

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Plenary Assembly week closes with EB meeting

Following a busy week and a historic Plenary Assembly in Tokyo, Japan, the IFSC Board and Staff came together for a final morning of meetings on Sunday, allowing for an in depth debrief of the week. The meeting, which focused on the decisions made at the Plenary Assembly on Saturday, was also a chance for the Executive Board to set a clear roadmap for the months ahead.

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Welcoming the Future - IFSC Plenary Assembly 2019

The 14th annual IFSC Plenary Assembly took place this week in Tokyo, Japan, and the agenda consisted of updates on Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, gender equality, Paraclimbing development and more.

2019 is a milestone period for Sport Climbing and the IFSC family: we signed an historic contract with Dentsu and Synca which opens new heights for our sport; Sport Climbing was proposed for the Olympic Games Paris 2024; and next month the qualification process begins for our first Olympic Games in Tokyo. The future is here,” opens Marco Scolaris, President of the IFSC.

500 Days Until Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

Personalised workshops and meetings for National Federations on Thursday and Friday preceded the IFSC Plenary Assembly, including a seminar which detailed the Tokyo 2020 qualification process and guidelines for athletes. The Olympic test event for Sport Climbing has been confirmed by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee of the Olympic & Paralympic Games for 6-8th March 2020 and will take place at the Aomi Urban Sports Park, visited this week by IFSC representatives.

“The Olympics seminar focused on further equipping our Member Federations to fully assume their roles in supporting the National Olympic Committees, less than 500 days before the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020,” says Jérôme Meyer, IFSC Head of Olympic Coordination.

Female Athlete Added to Executive Board

The proposal to add a female athlete representative to the IFSC Executive Board was approved during the IFSC Plenary Assembly on Saturday. The representative will be elected at the upcoming IFSC World Championships in Hachioji in August, alongside other members of the Athletes’ Commission. A new career path is also being put into place to include more women on the routesetting and officiating teams for IFSC events.

"Gender equality is a distinctive reality of climbing, and our sport has reflected this value since its foundation. There is a long way to go, though, and we are setting new goals for 2019,” says President Scolaris.

Paraclimbing Development Plan Approved

Following the Paraclimbing report presented by Paraclimbing Development Officer Daniel Torchia on Friday, a Paraclimbing development plan was approved during the IFSC Plenary Assembly. The plan includes the allocation of additional funds to Paraclimbing activities this season, creation of a Paraclimbing Committee and appointment of a Paraclimbing Officer.

“We are committed to expanding the development of Paraclimbing events worldwide, starting with the addition of a dedicated Paraclimbing Officer to our staff at home in Torino,” continues President Scolaris.

Moscow Elected World Championships 2021 Host

After hosting three international Sport Climbing events in 2018, Moscow was confirmed yesterday as the host of the IFSC World Championships in 2021. CISM also presented on the success of the first World Military Championships for Sport Climbing in Moscow last year.

Membership Expanded in Oceania

The Fiji Mountaineering and Climbing Association was ratified as IFSC Continental Member yesterday, expanding representation in Oceania ahead of the 2019 season and increasing the total number of IFSC Members to 91.

“Our mission is to develop Sport Climbing on all five continents, from Asia to Oceania. We are welcoming the future together, and every one of our stakeholders plays an essential role,” concludes President Scolaris.

The next IFSC Plenary Assembly will take place in Limassol, Cyprus, on March 13-14th 2020. In 2021, the IFSC Plenary Assembly will be hosted in Paris, France.

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Final Preparatory Meetings Ahead of the 2019 Plenary Assembly

On the eve of the 14th Annual IFSC Plenary Assembly, all parties completed final preparations to ensure the smooth running of tomorrow’s main event.

Continental Councils met in the morning to discuss in slightly smaller circles. The Asian Continental Council held their Plenary Assembly, overviewing upcoming events, changes in continental rules and reflecting upon a successful 2018. At the same time the National Federations in the Oceania region took part in a Continental Council meeting to make plans for the upcoming season.

IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris and Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer were joined by Japanese media Kyodo News and Nikkei Asian Review for a series of interviews around Sport Climbing in the Olympic Games. President Scolaris announced that the IFSC now feels at home in Japan ahead of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and Mr Meyer outlined the current status of Sport Climbing and Paris 2024.

The Executive Board continued Thursday’s meeting, touching on further subjects relating to the 2019 and 2020 season and the broader development of our sport.

Finally, IFSC Member Federations registered for the Pre-Plenary Assembly and gathered to give several larger topics a preliminary hearing. In the one-and-a-half-hour meeting, key areas were presented for consideration and deliberation ahead of tomorrow’s Plenary Assembly. After a welcome from President Scolaris, Paraclimbing Development Officer Daniel Torchia presented a report of his research into Paraclimbing. Following this, Executive Director of Synca Creations Bae Soojun and Shingo Shibuya, Dentsu Inc. Senior Director, with whom the IFSC signed its latest deal, gave an overview of the agencies’ sports marketing backgrounds, on top of offering insight into a vision of how to increase the value of Sport Climbing by developing the visibility and revenue of events. It was followed by a speech by Pierre-Henri Paillasson, IFSC Vice-President & Treasurer, on how the Synca/Dentsu agreement will support IFSC current and future developments.

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IFSC Paraclimbing Development Officer Daniel Torchia.

Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru, IFSC Event Officer Alessandro Di Cato and European Council President Wolfgang Wabel outlined the IFSC World Cup event model, presenting figures from previous IFSC seasons to show the growth and development of our sport.

As a ceremonial start to tomorrow’s Plenary Assembly, the day concluded with an opening ceremony dinner at the restaurant Hokkaido Shinagawa. The dinner was also a chance for the guests to experience and enjoy local cuisine, discuss what they had heard in the pre-PA and prepare for a full day of proceedings in tomorrow’s main event.

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All Eyes look to the future on Day One of IFSC Plenary Assembly Activities

After the opening cocktail evening at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday evening, Thursday saw IFSC Member Federations, Board and Staff members continue the week’s events with a full day of meetings and workshops.

The IFSC Executive Board met with IFSC Staff for the first of a two-day preparatory meeting ahead of the Plenary Assembly, where statutes were reviewed and all were brought up to speed on plans for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 by Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer.

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IFSC Board and Staff members prepare for the 2019 Plenary Assembly.

At the same time, representatives of the IFSC Member Federations took part in a day of workshops. The morning workshop focused on the Olympics, diving into rules and regulations provided by the International Olympic Committee. In an informative seminar, Jérôme Meyer, IFSC head of Olympic Coordination, advised National Federations on the branding and equipment guidelines for Athletes taking part in the Sport Climbing events at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The workshop also addressed the Olympic Qualification system and possible selection decisions which National Olympic Federations may face. Again, the focus was to prepare and advise IFSC National Federations so that they can fully assume their role in supporting the National Olympic Federations in the Athlete selection. The morning workshop concluded with a discussion of the Olympic Solidarity program, headed by Silvia Verdolini, IFSC Sport Director, and Naomi Cleary from Sport Climbing Australia. The two introduced best practice on how National Federations can proactively and efficiently work with their National Olympic Committee using the Olympic Solidarity framework.

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Naomi Cleary of Sport Climbing Australia talks about the Olympic Solidarity program.

After lunch, National Federations reconvened to discuss changes in the upcoming IFSC event seasons. First of these was the IFSC Official Sport Equipment Project presented by Silvia Verdolini. The initiative started in 2018 to catalogue permissible equipment, with the aim to make the playing field fairer across international IFSC events. Using the same equipment at each IFSC event ensures that all stakeholders share the same experience, from Athletes and National Federations to Routesetters and Event Organisers. The workshop concluded with a presentation from Matthias Polig, CEO of Vertical-Life. Contracted to develop a new membership database and competition result software, the company provides a range of digital tools to improve climbing development. Matthias’ presentation gave attendees a view of the digital future of our sport.

The day culminated with a visit of the Aomi Olympic Games site for the IFSC Staff and Board members, allowing the team to see the location where Sport Climbing is set to take centre stage at the Games in 2020. IFSC and JMSCA representatives then met for dinner to celebrate a successful start to the 2019 IFSC Plenary Assembly events, with JMSCA co-organising the gathering this year. 2019 promises to be a busy but exciting year for the IFSC and JMSCA, as preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the 2019 World Championships continue.

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IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris with JMSCA President Kuniaki Yagihara and JMSCA Vice-President Yuji Hirayama during the IFSC and JMSCA dinner.

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2019 IFSC Plenary Assembly kicks off in Tokyo

Representatives from IFSC Member Federations including Australia (SCA), Germany (DAV), Great Britain (BMC), Nepal (NMA), and host nation Japan (JMSCA) to name a few, as well as IFSC staff and Board members arrived at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo today to kick off the events leading up to the 14th Annual Plenary Assembly this Saturday.

Prior to the PA, attendees will take part in a series of meetings, workshops, dinners and tours in a diverse programme designed to be informative for all members. Proceedings commenced this evening with a welcome cocktail in the hotel’s top-floor bar, where delegates gathered in a relaxed setting to enjoy the twinkling lights of Tokyo and catch up with fellow Federations ahead of the coming days.

During the welcome gathering, IFSC President Scolaris met Yagihara Kuniaki, President of the Japan Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association (JMSCA), host organiser of this year’s PA, and IFSC Marketing & Communications Director Anne Fuynel welcomed representatives of Dentsu Inc and Synca Creations whom the IFSC is delighted to have just signed a multi-year partnership with.

Formal events begin tomorrow with a meeting of the IFSC Executive Board and two workshops for the National Federations.

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IFSC Vice-President Communication Li Zhixin and Secretary General Debra Gawrych.

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Anthony Seah, IFSC Asian Council President with IFSC Vice-President Treasurer and Finances Pierre-Henri Paillasson.

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JMSCA President Yagihara Kuniaki alongside IFSC Continental Council Presidents Wolfgang Wable (Europe) and Romain Thevenot (Oceania).

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Maria Izquierdo, President of the IFSC PanAmerican Council above the Tokyo skyline with Secretary General Debra Gawrych.

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IFSC Marketing & Communications Director Anne Fuynel with representatives of Synca Creations and Dentsu Inc.

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Accreditation Desk Open for the IFSC Plenary Assembly 2019

Ahead of the 14th Annual IFSC Plenary Assembly this Saturday, delegates are invited to visit the Accreditation Desk on floor 2F of the Shinagawa Prince Hotel Main Tower from 2pm Japanese Standard time today, 13th March.

Here, delegates can collect their accreditation passes and delegate packs ahead of the week’s events. The Accreditation Desk will also be open on Thursday and Friday from 9.00am to 6.00pm.

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Tokyo 2020 celebrates #500daystogo

The Tokyo 2020 Organising committee celebrated 500 days until the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics on March 12, 2019 by releasing both the pictograms of the sports in the program and details about the torch run to be held before the event.


In line with the Tokyo 2020 brand promise of “Innovation from Harmony”, the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 sport pictograms are designed to subtly communicate the characteristics and athleticism of each sport, as well as artistically highlights the dynamism of athletes. They will play a key role in enhancing the experience of athletes and spectators alike during the Olympic Games.

Olympic Games sport pictograms were first introduced at the Tokyo 1964 Games, which arose from a need to communicate visually to an increasingly international group of athletes and spectators. Since then, pictograms have been created for every edition of the Games.

For more information about the Pictograms, please see the news on the Tokyo 2020 website.

In addition, the locations where the Olympic Flame will be on public display prior to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay. The planned display is based on the concept that the Olympic Games should aid reconstruction in disaster-hit areas of Japan. It will align with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay concept "Hope Lights Our Way" in what will be the tenth year since the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Tokyo 2020 will exhibit the Olympic flame--which will be lit in Greece--in the three most affected prefectures for two days each during March 20th - 25th 2020, aiming to give the public in those areas the best opportunity to view it before the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay.

The Relay itself will commence on 26 March at the National Training Center J-Village in Fukushima. It will pass through all 47 prefectures in Japan over 121 days, giving these a chance to showcase their diverse cultural and scenic attractions.

Check where you can see the Olympic flame in Japan from March 20 to March 25th 2020 on the Tokyo 2020 website.

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IFSC signs Historic Contract with Dentsu, Synca

The IFSC has agreed on a mult-year partnership with Dentsu and Synca Creations.

Dentsu Inc., based in Tokyo, is the world’s largest advertising agency brand and the marketing agency of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic & Paralympic Games. Also headquartered in Tokyo, Synca Creations Inc. is a TV production and distribution company which has been a media partner of the IFSC in Japan since 2013.

"This historic agreement opens new heights for our sport, new horizons for our athletes and events, and strengthens our presence in Japan ahead of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. This milestone deal will enable us to consolidate our organisation and invest in key developments to enhance the attractiveness of Sport Climbing and its strong appeal among youth,” says Marco Scolaris, IFSC President.

You can find the full press release about the deal here.

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IFSC President Meets BMC President at the CWIF 2019

On the occasion of the CWIF (Climbing Works International Festival) 2019, one of the UK’s top Bouldering competitions which sees international Athletes go head to head with members of the British public, IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris visited Sheffield, UK.

Welcomed by owners of The Climbing Works and IFSC Officials Graeme Alderson and Percy Bishton, alongside IFSC Honorary Member and Climbers Against Cancer (CAC) Ambassador Reindert Lenselink, President Scolaris attended the renowned pre-IFSC season event. Featuring World Cup style Boulder problems, the CWIF 2019 made history by nominating the first female Chief Routesetter at an international Sport Climbing event, IFSC Routsetter Katja Vidmar.

“I have finally been able to enjoy this famous event and meet British Athletes as well as many other friends,” stated President Scolaris. “I also had the opportunity to spend the final day of the CWIF with Lynn Robinson, British Mountaineering Council (BMC) President. We shared feelings and views for the future of our sport and challenges that IFSC Member Federations will face with the new Olympic perspective Sport Climbing has achieved.”

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President Scolaris and BMC President Lynn Robinson present medals to the CWIF 2019 team winners. Photo: Eddie Fowke / The Circuit Climbing.

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President Scolaris and BMC President Lynn Robinson applaud the CWIF 2019 women's podium (Gold: Melissa Le Néve. Silver: Stasa Gejo. Bronze: Chloé Caulier).

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IFSC President Attends Opening of French Olympic Training Facilities

On February 28th, IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris attended the opening ceremony of the new Bouldering area of “Pôle France Escalade” at Brunerie (Tremplin Sport Formation) in Voiron, France.

President Scolaris was welcomed by Pierre You, President of the Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade (FFME), IFSC Vice-President Treasurer & Finances Pierre-Henri Paillasson, French Sport Climbing champions such as Anouck Jaubert and Hélène Janicot, and TSF Director Franck Volpi.

“It is so inspiring to see that Olympic preparation centers are developing all over the planet, offering our athletes the opportunity to train in the best possible conditions,” President Scolaris said. “I wish for these centres to become a point of international exchange and a cultural reference for climbers across world, in line with the genuine tradition of climbing.”

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IFSC Celebrates International Women's Day

Sport is one of the most powerful platforms for promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls.

For International Women's Day this year, the IOC invited the Olympic Movement to support the UN Women’s campaign by sharing a picture on social media of an inspiring woman in sport. The IFSC joined the campaign today by celebrating the first Youth Olympic medallists of Sport Climbing at Buenos Aires, the first gender-balanced Olympic event ever.

"Gender equality is a distinctive reality of climbing, and our sport has reflected this since its foundation when, for instance, prizes were made identical," says Marco Scolaris, IFSC President. "There is a long way to go, though, and we want to set new goals. At the IFSC Plenary Assembly next week, we will propose the addition of a female athlete representative to the IFSC Executive Board."

In 2018, 40% of IFSC athlete licenses were distributed to women, and Katja Vidmar became the first female IFSC routesetter. At home, women now comprise 70% of IFSC full-time staff in Torino.

"A new career path is being put into place to include more women on our routesetting and officiating teams," says Silvia Verdolini, IFSC Sport Director. "Already in 2019, we will welcome a second female IFSC routesetter: Hélène Janicot."

Learn more about the women in sport movement on the IOC website here, and join the celebration online by sharing a picture of the women in climbing who inspire you most at #WomensDay #WomenInSport #WomenInClimbing!

Gold - Sandra Lettner, Austria

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Sandra Lettner Austria

Silver - Vita Lukan, Slovenia

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Vita Lukan Slovenia

Bronze - Laura Lammer, Austria

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Laura Lammer Austria

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IFSC Officials Make Final Preparations for the 2019 Season

The Annual IFSC Officials Seminar took place on 16-17th February in Turin, Italy, home to the IFSC Headquarters. IFSC Officials including Technical Delegates, Jury Presidents, Judges and Routesetters joined IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris, along with members of the IFSC Executive Board and Staff, to make final preparations ahead of the upcoming 2019 season which will start in Meiringen, Switzerland on 5th April.

Prior to the Officials Seminar, Technical Delegates and Jury Presidents met on Friday 15th February to discuss topics outside of the weekend’s programme. Members of the Routesetters Commission met separately at the IFSC Headquarters to run through updates around the Commission, before meeting with all 2019 nominated Routesetters the following day.

The Officials Seminar commenced on Saturday morning, with a welcome address from President Scolaris and an overview of the Sport Department’s trajectory in the approach to Tokyo 2020 from IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru. Silvia Verdolini, IFSC Sport Director, then provided an update on the Sport Department’s structure, introducing new Sport Assistant Hazel (Haesol) Han and offering insight into organisational charts both in and outside of IFSC events. Ms Verdolini also outlined the IFSC Official Sport Equipment project, which aims to create a fairer field of play across the event calendar, as well as improvements to the presentation of our sport moving forward.

“The Officials Seminar provided the perfect opportunity to formally introduce the IFSC Officials to the Official Sport Equipment project,” announced Sport Director Silvia Verdolini. “Moving forward, the Officials will create IFSC events using only Official Sport Equipment, so this was a great time to talk through the catalogue’s implications and plans for implementation.”

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IFSC Sport Director Silvia Verdolini updates the Seminar on the structure of the Sport Department.

IFSC Event Officer Alessandro Di Cato then continued with a rundown of the 2019 calendar and events, before the Officials participated in a practical debrief of the 2018 season, ensuring that last year’s challenges transform into strong points for the 2019 season. Debra Gawrych, IFSC Secretary General, at this point joined the seminar to deliberate the direction in which our sport is heading in 2019, ahead of a talk from Director of the IFSC Ethics Commission Marc Le Menestrel on corruption and ethics in sport.

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Marc Le Menestral, Director of the IFSC Ethics Commission, shares his findings with the IFSC team.

Saturday afternoon saw the Officials split into two groups, where Jury Presidents and Judges were presented with a new result system by Vertical-Life CEO Matthias Polig, Head of Development Iiro Virtanen, Software Engineer Saulius Astromskis and Lead Interaction Design Riccardo Zecchini, before preparing for the 2019 season with a consideration of competition rules. Routesetters carried out a further debrief of the 2018 season, preceding an address of the Routesetters’ mandate agreement and Routesetting guidelines.

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Matthias Polig, CEO of Vertical-Life shares the new result system for IFSC events with the Officials.

Day one concluded with a report on Paraclimbing from IFSC Paraclimbing Development Officer Daniel Torchia, prior to the full presentation of his findings surrounding Paraclimbing research at the 2019 IFSC Plenary Assembly in Tokyo next month. IFSC Officials, President Scolaris, Secretary General Debra Gawrych, VP Sport/Events Kobinata Toru and IFSC Staff then met for a dinner in the city, allowing stories of IFSC events to be shared and a team-feel to take hold.

“The aim of the Officials Seminar is not only to inform the Officials of the changes to be implemented over the coming season, but also to create synergy amongst the IFSC team,” stated President Scolaris. “To push the boundaries of our sport and put on the best events possible we all, from IFSC Officials to IFSC Staff and Executive Board members, must work together as one team.”

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IFSC President Marco Scolaris welcomes IFSC Officials in Turin.

Continuing the team-building theme, Sunday started with a talk on teamwork from guest speaker Giovanbattista Venditti, an Italian rugby union player who plays not only for Zebre, but for the Italian national rugby union team. Marc Le Menestrel then added to his work from the Ethics Commission, baring the promising news that Sport Climbing has not yet succumbed to corruption. An overview of the 2019 rules was then offered, with the impact they may have on both Judges and Routesetters.

With just over one year to go until the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, preparations were put forward for the Tokyo 2020 Sport Climbing events. As Sport Climbing will feature in multiple Multi-Sport events in 2019, the Urban Bouldering Format was then addressed, which will come into play in said Games throughout the coming season.

“With the inclusion of Sport Climbing in the Urban Park at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 and the Aomi Urban Sports Venue at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, it is important to work closely with the IFSC Officials to guide our sport during its development as an Urban sport,” explained IFSC VP Sport/Events Kobinata Toru.

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IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru talks Tokyo 2020.

Sunday afternoon saw the Jury Presidents and Judges separate from the Routesetters once more to further discuss 2019 rules, whilst the Routesetters talked about National Federation training requests and the Routesetter career path. Technical Delegates and Jury Presidents ended the seminar with a discussion on how to better manage risks across events, prior to a training session for the Jury Presidents before the start of the 2019 season.

The 2019 season kicks off on 5th April with the first Bouldering World Cup of the year in Meiringen, Switzerland.

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Applications Open for the 2020 and 2021 IFSC World Cups

Applications are now open for the 2020 and 2021 World Cup seasons and this year, National Federations can apply to host a World Cup in two seasons via the same application.

In previous years applications for host cities have been open for only the following year but, in an effort to allow more efficient planning for National Federations, Event Organisers and Athletes, the IFSC wishes to launch competition calendars further in advance by confirming simultaneously the host cities for the next two years. By enforcing an earlier World Cup preparation process the IFSC aims to improve the quality of each competition season, as well as to establish greater relationships with Event Organisers and better the communication between IFSC stakeholders.

For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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2019 Plenary Assembly Press Conference - Save the Date

IFSC President Marco Scolaris will be discussing Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 qualification and more at the press conference following the 14th Annual Plenary Assembly, taking place this year in Tokyo, Japan.

The press conference will be held on 16th March at 18:00 (local time) at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, and representatives of the media are invited to attend.

"From the first Youth Olympic medals last year to qualification for the first Olympic Games for Sport Climbing, our Olympic journey together continues in 2019, and Japan is a leader on this incredible climb," says President Scolaris.

More information can be found in the press conference Invitation and Plenary Assembly Programme & Agenda.

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Sport Climbing Proposed for Olympic Games Paris 2024!

In the year preceding Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and following Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, Sport Climbing and the IFSC have reached another milestone on the Olympic journey.

During a press conference today in Paris, France, the Paris Organising Committee of the Olympic & Paralympic Games (Paris 2024) confirmed a proposal to include four additional sports in the Sports Programme of the 33rd Summer Olympic Games: Breakdance, Skateboarding, Surfing and Sport Climbing.

Next Steps to Inclusion

The proposal will next be presented to the IOC Executive Board on March 26th-28th. If accepted, the proposal will then be put forward to the 134th IOC Session on 24th June in Lausanne, Switzerland. If approved, Sport Climbing will feature in the Summer Olympic Games for the second consecutive edition.

“It is again a great day: our climb goes on, and new challenges are taking shape beyond Tokyo. We are happy to see that Paris 2024 is supporting the new wave, which is strengthening the Olympic movement. We are grateful for the proposal’s recognition of the value of Sport Climbing and the work the IFSC has done. We are proud to be part of this process and we look forward to the next steps in the following months,” says Marco Scolaris, President of the IFSC.

The press conference was attended by Sport Climbing representatives Jérôme Meyer, IFSC Head of Olympic Coordination; Pierre You, President of the Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade (FFME); and French star Sport Climbing athlete Julia Chanourdie.

Recognition of a Rapid Rise

With this proposal, Paris 2024 aims: “to support the development of four booming sports all over the world […] and to offer spectacular and sustainable Games that enhance the performance of athletes and engage youth and the general public, thanks to sports with a strong lifestyle dimension.”

Since the founding of the IFSC in 2007 and definitive recognition by the IOC in 2010, Sport Climbing has already achieved inclusion to the Sports Programmes of multiple Olympic events. In 2016, Sport Climbing was added to the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo and most recent Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, where Sport Climbing made its Olympic debut.

“Sport Climbing is making history in the Olympics and the world of sport. One century after 1924, there is now an opportunity at the next Olympic Games in Paris to celebrate a youthful sport, growing at a rapid pace all around the world. If there is any home of Sport Climbing, it is right here in France, and we know the entire climbing community is ready,” says Pierre You.

Enriching the Experience

Additionally, Paris 2024 plans to enrich the Sport Climbing event in 2024 by expanding from one to two distinct competitions, six to twelve medals and 40 to 72 athletes in total. Under the proposal, 16 women and 16 men would compete for six medals in the Speed discipline; 20 women and 20 men would compete for six medals based on the combination of results in the Bouldering and Lead disciplines.

“‘Innovative, connected and engaging,’ Olympic Games Paris 2024 have been announced as ‘Revolutionary Olympic Games.’ The planned expansions for 2024 would create the opportunity for more Sport Climbing countries and athletes to express their talents on the Olympic stage. As the IFSC and our stakeholders have been doing for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires and the Olympic Games in Tokyo, we look forward to working closely with the IOC and Paris 2024 to meet high expectations and make spectators of Sport Climbing active participants, from anywhere in the world,” concludes Marco Scolaris.

Show Your Support!

Get involved on the #ClimbToParis and show the world #ItsYourTurn by sharing the news on social media and posting on the #SportClimbing2024 Facebook event!

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IFSC Welcomes new Sport Assistant

The IFSC is pleased to welcome Hazel (Haesol) Han as Sport Assistant. Hazel will join the Sport Department’s efforts in creating an IFSC Official Sport Equipment Catalogue for Bouldering, Lead and Speed competitions, a project which aims to create a fairer playing field across all IFSC events.

A native of South Korea, Hazel has studied and lived overseas for more than 12 years. Passionate about the vibrant field of international sporting events, she previously held a position within the Protocol team at the PyeongChang Organising Committee for the Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games.

Hazel received a BA degree from Trinity College, USA, and a joint MA degree in Public Policy from the Central European University, Hungary & University of York, UK. Her previous roles include non-profit organisations, a bouldering gym, and voluntary positions for a climbing charity and mountain film festival. Hazel loves spending time in the mountains and climbing outdoors, plus the challenges and inspirations that accompany the great outdoors.

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IFSC Calendar 2019: from Game Changers to Tokyo Hopefuls

2018 crowned the first Youth Olympic champions of Sport Climbing, and all eyes turn to Tokyo in 2019.

42 game changers shone in the spotlight of the first Youth Olympic Games for Sport Climbing in Buenos Aires, the most digitally-consumed edition in the event’s eight-year history. Standing atop the podium beside teammates Shuta Tanaka (JPN) and Laura Lammer (AUT), Sam Avezou (FRA) and Vita Lukan (SLO), Japan’s Keita Dohi and Sandra Lettner of Austria capped-off a memorable chapter in the sport’s Olympic journey. After qualifying at home in Innsbruck, Lettner brought back a gold medal to Austria, also host last year of the IFSC World Championships. Dohi extended the Olympic legacy of Japan in Sport Climbing, winning gold two years before the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“Sharing the podium with Laura was a dream come true, for us and for climbing in Austria,” said Lettner.

“I’m delighted with the result and I’m also happy because we created a good impression as a sport,” said Dohi. “Sport Climbing is going to be recognised in Japan. I hope everyone comes to see it at Tokyo 2020.”

This year, Sport Climbing qualification events begin for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the first in the sport’s history. Traditionally held biannually, the IFSC World Championships will take place again in 2019 in Hachioji, Tokyo. Bouldering, Lead and Speed climbing performances will set the stage for the expanded Combined finals, the first qualification event. The IFSC World Cup series will also carry extra weight in 2019. Top athletes in the Overall World Cup ranking will earn a spot at the second qualification event in Toulouse, France. Meiringen, Moscow, Chongqing, Wujiang, Munich, Vail, Villars, Chamonix, Briançon, Kranj and Xiamen all appear on the calendar again, and the season will conclude in Inzai, Japan. View the full Tokyo 2020 Qualification System, and the provisional 2019 calendar can be found at ifsc-climbing.org and above.

“2018 was certainly a golden year for Sport Climbing. The sun has set on our debut at the Youth Olympic Games, but another one rises as the climb to Tokyo continues in 2019. Let’s keep journeying together, as one community, to make the most of this new chapter,” says IFSC President Marco Scolaris.

Media may already register to attend IFSC events on the online media accreditation platform. Registration closes 1 week before the event for TVs and 48 hours for other media. TVs who wish to film the competition climbing should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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IFSC President and Head of Olympic Coordination Travel to Tokyo to Prepare for Tokyo 2020

With only a year to go until the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris, Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru and Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer travelled to Tokyo to meet the team behind Tokyo 2020 and the organisers of the first ever Olympic Sport Climbing events.

Meeting with the Tokyo 2020 team, President Scolaris, VP Kobinata Toru and Jérôme Meyer spent 20-27th January 2019 planning for the Sport Climbing Olympic test event, fine-tuning the final venue layout and addressing services such as accommodation, accreditation and tickets.

“As we move full speed towards Tokyo 2020, we’re working closely with the team responsible for the Olympic Sport Climbing events to ensure the smooth-running of the events and guarantee that our sport is presented to the world in its best possible light,” explained Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer.

President Scolaris added, “There is a great atmosphere between the IFSC and the Tokyo 2020 team; We’re sharing our knowledge of Sport Climbing and they’re working tirelessly to cater for the needs of our events. Preparations are right on track for the Olympic premiere of our sport.”

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President Scolaris, VP Kobinata Toru and Mr Meyer join the Tokyo 2020 team for a meal in Tokyo, accompanied by Benoit Beylier from Entre-Prises.

Whilst in Tokyo, President Scolaris and Mr Meyer also met with Eric Surdej, CEO of Entre-Prises to visit the venue for the 2020 Olympic Sport Climbing events. Entre-Prises designs, manufactures and installs bespoke solutions for the sport of climbing throughout the world and, as the Official Climbing Wall Partner of the IFSC, is set to be the Sole Supplier of the Tokyo 2020 climbing walls.

“Entre-Prises will produce the walls for our Olympic events next year, so it was important for their CEO Eric Surdej to join us in Tokyo to view the venue from the perspective of the climbing wall manufacturer,” stated Jérôme Meyer, IFSC Head of Olympic Coordination.

President Scolaris and Mr Meyer ended their visit to Tokyo by meeting agencies Synca and Dentsu to discuss current developments and share innovative ideas. Methods were put forward to improve the presentation of Sport Climbing moving forward to Tokyo 2020.

Following the meeting, President Scolaris said “As Sport Climbing becomes increasingly prominent in the public eye, we are determined to focus our efforts on improving the spectator experience whether it be on site or on TV.”

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President Scolaris and VP Kobinata Toru are interviewed by Japanese media. Photo: Takashi OKUI.

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IFSC Secretary General and Marketing Director Visit Japan Ahead of Upcoming Season

In order to maximise Sport Climbing exposure and benefit the rapid development of the sport both in Japan and worldwide, IFSC Secretary General Debra Gawrych, Marketing & Communications Director Anne Fuynel and IFSC Consultant Steven Morris (Director Europe of Broadreach Media) spent the last week in Tokyo, Japan.

Meetings were held with various Tokyo-based stakeholders, among which were Synca, a Japanese corporation that has actively contributed to the inclusion of Sport Climbing in Japan’s leading television channels, and Dentsu, the fifth largest communications agency in the world.

“It is an exciting period for Sport Climbing,” stated IFSC Marketing and Communications Director Anne Fuynel. “The sport is receiving increased attention, confirming its attractiveness amongst younger generations and top players in the sporting industry.”

Debra Gawrych, IFSC Secretary General, added, “As Sport Climbing rises in popularity, it is crucial that the IFSC continues to develop innovative and engaging ways to showcase our sport, working closely with key stakeholders along the way to share ideas and perspectives.”

Following the Synca and Dentsu meetings, seniors in the IFSC Marketing & Communications team held a debrief, where all put forward that they were pleased with proceedings and agreed their confidence in announcing good news in the near future, with the outcome of the week having a tremendous impact on IFSC stakeholders.

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IFSC President to talk Tokyo 2020 at the Premiere of the Indoor.Climbing.HUB, ISPO Munich

International sports trade fair ISPO Munich kicks off this Sunday at the Messe München exhibition grounds, Germany. Now in its 49th year, this weekend will see ISPO Munich premiere its Indoor.Climbing.HUB, where IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris and IFSC Consultant and former top athlete Charlotte Durif will give insight into Sport Climbing’s journey to Tokyo 2020 and beyond.


As Sport Climbing experiences a period of rapid growth, the Indoor.Climbing.HUB aims to explore key topics impacting our sport, bringing together significant stakeholders within the Sport Climbing industry to discuss the sport’s development and present tangible data for growth. IFSC President Marco Scolaris and Charlotte Durif, IFSC Consultant, will be amongst the hub’s programme of speakers, offering an overview of the Olympic format for Sport Climbing, questioning strategic considerations and deliberating potential post-Olympic opportunities that may arise as a result of the Tokyo 2020 Sport Climbing events.


“With the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games being only one year away, it is an extremely exciting time for the development of our sport,” says President Scolaris. “The IFSC is meticulously planning for the Games and anticipating the evolution of Sport Climbing post-2020. The Indoor.Climbing.HUB will be a great opportunity to meet with key figures in the Sport Climbing industry and prepare for the future of our sport, sharing expectations as well as concerns.”


President Scolaris and IFSC Consultant Charlotte Durif will speak as part of the Indoor.Climbing.HUB at ISPO Munich on Tuesday 5th February, 12.00pm.

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Unique set of Holds released for the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games 2018

Laurent Laporte, Director of Cheeta Holds, was appointed by the IFSC to produce a never-before-seen set of holds to debut at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018.

The set of holds, consisting of 125 shapes that prior to the Games had been kept under wraps away from athlete eyes, featured a unique ‘futuristic’ grip, which put the athletes through their paces in a rigorous set of routes and boulder problems.

Working with Laurent Laporte of Cheeta Holds, the IFSC Routesetters used a brand-new set of holds for the Lead and Bouldering competitions to ensure fairness within the field of play.

Named “2018”, the range of holds is now available for sale from Cheeta Holds.

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Garnbret on Short List for Athlete of the Year

Ten candidates remain in the race for The World Games' Athlete of the Year award, including Sport Climbing star Janja Garnbret (SLO), currently in 7th place.

Every year, top athletes from 25 participating sports of The World Games face-off for the annual award. The winner is decided by public vote, which takes place throughout the month of January. Fans can vote once per day for their candiate, and new subscribers to The World Games' newsletter may vote twice per day according to the rules. On January 15th, the field shrinks to the top ten for the duration of the vote. Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) claimed the prize last year in an incredibly tight race, and Adam Ondra (CZE) won in 2014 after becoming the Bouldering and Lead world champion.

Garnbret, Athlete of the Month in September, recorded numerous achievements in 2018. She placed 1st or 2nd at every Bouldering and Lead event in which she competed. At the biannual IFSC World Championships, which took place in Innsbruck and featured the Combined finals for the first time, Garnbret placed 1st in Bouldering, 2nd in Lead and 1st in the Combined finals. In the annual IFSC World Cup series, she won more events than any other athlete (6) and placed 1st in Lead, 4th in Bouldering and 1st in the Combined season rankings. In total, Garnbret amassed eight gold and five silver medals in 2018.

In addition, Garnbret showed good sporting spirit during competitions and was a role model off the climbing walls. Instead of competing in May events, Garnbret took time to focus on her final examinations for school. Besides school and climbing, she does not have time for much else. "And even if I had time for anything else, I would still go climbing," she laughs.

Show your support for Garnbret and Sport Climbing by voting every day until February 1st on The World Games website.

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IFSC Executive Board Teleconference January 2019

Along with IFSC Executive Board and staff members, IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris discussed preparations for the coming year last Friday, 11th January, during the IFSC’s monthly Executive Board teleconference.

With next year seeing the inclusion of the first Sport Climbing events in the Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020 was one of the focuses of the meeting. Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer disclosed the status of the venue layout, stating that plans for the warm-up area are currently being finalised. Meyer added that an Olympic test event will be held shortly after the World Championships later this year, requiring practical operations to ensure the smooth-running of the upcoming Games.

Plans for the 2020 Youth World Championships and the 2021 World Championships were then brought to the table, with the Sport Department also providing updates to this year’s Calendar, including the 2019 World Championships scheduled to take place in Hachioji, Japan, in August.

Rounding off the Sport Department agenda, IFSC Sport Director Silvia Verdolini reported on the Sport Department Management Committee Meeting, before the Executive Board voted on the Bouldering Urban Format Task Force report, 2019 Officials’ Nominations, the World Games Qualification Process and Selection Criteria for T20 Holds, Macros and Volumes. The latter vote saw the Board review how Holds, Macros and Volumes will be selected for the Olympic Games.

Anne Fuynel, IFSC Marketing & Communications Director, continued by raising a series of changes to the Marketing & Communications team in 2019, beginning with the appointment of a Venue Delegate and a new Event Sponsor and Media Officer, both whom will be based at the IFSC Headquarters in Torino, Italy. Although the Venue Delegate will work within the Marketing & Communications Department, IFSC Sport Director Silvia Verdolini informed the Board that the responsibilities of this role will be shared with the Sport Department. It was also announced that a new Sport Assistant will join the IFSC in early February, ahead of the 2019 competition season.

Marketing & Communications Director Anne Fuynel then offered insight into existing and upcoming Sponsorship Deals, with key contracts set to be signed before the end of the month.

With just two months to go until the IFSC Plenary Assembly in Tokyo (registrations are open until Thursday 31st January), the Administration Department put forward the Provisional Agenda for the Board’s approval. The Plenary Assembly Programme, sent out to IFSC Member Federations in December 2018, can be viewed here.

Further Executive Board discussions surrounded changes to the IFSC Medical Commission, Member Federation updates and a review of IFSC Statutes. It was confirmed that the next Executive Board teleconference will take place on Wednesday 13th February at 12:00pm CET.

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Job Opening: IFSC Venue Delegate

The IFSC is searching for a Venue Delegate, who shall be responsible for the management of sponsors and broadcasters during the main IFSC Events, for the upgrade of sport presentation, and to ensure the delivery of high-quality events.

Based at the IFSC Headquarters in Torino, Italy, the Venue Delegate will have a dual role in the delivery of successful Events in order to fulfil IFSC sponsorship and broadcasting contracts: a coordination role in the preparation of events, and an operational role on Events. He/she will be assisted by the IFSC Event Sponsor and Media Officer and will work closely with the IFSC Event Officer and the Technical Delegates nominated to each Event.

Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “Venue Delegate Application” in the subject line, no later than Thursday 31st January 2019.

For the full job description, please click here.

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IFSC Festive Closure

Please be advised that the IFSC office will be closed during the festive period.

Following the working day on Friday 21st December, the office will remain closed until Monday 7th January 2019.

We wish you a wonderful festive season and warm wishes for 2019, which will see our sport reach new heights as we gain ever closer to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Bring it on.

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IFSC Sport Department Meet to Discuss the Future of Sport Climbing

The IFSC Sport Department met in Torino, Italy, on 6-7th December, to discuss the evolution of Sport Climbing in the approach to the sport’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic debut.

IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris welcomed key figures in the IFSC competition calendar with an update on the progression of the IFSC and the development of our sport. President Scolaris gave an overview of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2018 in Buenos Aires, where the first ever Olympic Sport Climbing medals were awarded, before handing over to Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer for a full YOG debrief. Insight into preparations for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was then offered, ahead of the Olympic qualifying events in 2019.

Updates on changes to the Combined Format, which sees athletes compete across the three disciplines of Sport Climbing: Lead, Speed and Bouldering, were then presented. Led by Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer, discussions focussed on how these changes, decided upon by the Executive Board in their meeting earlier this month, will be implemented in future competitions and in particular, the 2020 Games.

“As we approach Tokyo 2020 it is vital that Sport Climbing moves and grows with us, evolving for the better as we prepare to showcase our sport to a new and bigger audience than ever before,” states IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru, informing the Sport Department of the direction in which the IFSC wishes to take our sport moving forward.

Amendments to the Sport Climbing competition rules were then raised by member of the Rules Commission Tim Hatch, who reviewed the work of the Commission over the previous months alongside Director of the Rules Commission Francois Leonardon, selected Technical Delegates (TDs), Jury Presidents (JPs), athlete representatives and coaches.

Friday saw a continuation of the Sport Department meeting, beginning with an open debate led by IFSC Sport Director Silvia Verdolini into the roles of each commission, their mandates and composition.

“We wish to create a more efficient structure within the commissions and the Sport Department as a whole. By bringing the technical commissions directors under one roof to discuss this matter, we can work together to find a solution and benefit the future of Sport Climbing,” says Sport Director Silvia Verdolini.

As Sport Climbing is now identified as an Urban sport, the IFSC is working to establish an innovative and engaging format to showcase our sport in an Urban setting. Bouldering is set to be included in the upcoming ANOC Beach Games and FISE World Series events, so TDs Graeme Alderson and Fabrizio Minnino, Director of the Routesetter Commission Percy Bishton and Evgeniy Chernyshev, Director of the Event Commission, brought a range of format ideas to the table to potentially be implemented during these competitions.

The Sport Department rounded off the two-day meeting with an introduction to the 2019 Calendar from IFSC Event Officer Alessandro Di Cato, before a presentation of the Nominations of Officials moving into 2019.

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ISMF Meets IFSC in Torino

The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) visited the IFSC Headquarters in Torino, Italy, on 11th December, to exchange over organisational resemblances.

Representatives from ISMF, the international governing body for Ski Mountaineering competitions, included General Manager Roberto Cavallo and ISMF Secretaries/Press Office Giulia Avagnina and Valeria Ponzo. Alongside IFSC President Marco Scolaris, IFSC Administration Director Francesca Jengo also attended the meeting.

Sharing a number of similarities, the IFSC and ISMF came together to talk about organisational workings and developments.

"The IFSC and ISMF could learn from each other to benefit the growth of Sport Climbing and Ski Mountaineering," President Scolaris said at the end of the meeting.

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IFSC President & Vice President join National Olympic Committees and Mayor of Hachioji in Japan, to Prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

The XXIII Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) General Assembly took place in Tokyo, the home of the 2020 Olympic Games, on 28-29th November. Represented by IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris and Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru, the IFSC was one of many International Federations in attendance, together with representatives of the 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

ANOC aims to benefit the Olympic Movement by strengthening relationships between the NOCs and for the first time in recent years, representatives from all NOCs were present at the General Assembly. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Federations, 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games Organising Committees and 2026 Winter Olympic Games Bid Committees also attended the conference.

“It was a great honour to join members of the Olympic family from across the world at the ANOC General Assembly,” declared IFSC VP Kobinata Toru. “As we pass the 600-day countdown to Tokyo 2020 and Sport Climbing’s first ever appearance in the Olympic Games, it felt pretty special to see all 206 NOCs meet together.”

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The ANOC General Assembly 2018 marked 603 days to go until Tokyo 2020.

Tokyo 2020 preparations were reported on, followed by a review of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) which were held in Buenos Aires just one month before the General Assembly. Highlights of the YOG 2018 included a number of firsts for the event, with the first Olympic medals being awarded for Sport Climbing and an even number of men and women competing in the Games for the very first time. The YOG 2018 also celebrated its eighth year by achieving a higher level of coverage than its predecessors, making the event the most digitally-consumed to date.

“It was a fantastic feeling to see photographs from the Sport Climbing event in Buenos Aires included in the assembly, illustrating the success of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games,” elated President Scolaris.

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An overview of the YOG 2018, featuring photographs from the first Olympic Sport Climbing event.

Aside from a number of Olympic updates, the General Assembly offered an overview of the ANOC World Beach Games 2019, where the IFSC has been invited to host a Bouldering event. The ANOC Beach Games, which are scheduled to take place in San Diego during October 2019, will feature 17 disciplines across 15 different sports. Sports chosen for the Games include beach, water and action sports, all chosen for their appeal to a younger audience.

Following the ANOC, IFSC President Marco Scolaris and VP Kobinata Toru joined Japan Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Association (JMSCA) President Yagihara Kuniaki and VP Hirayama Yuji for a special dinner, to talk about the upcoming IFSC Plenary Assembly (PA) and the 2019 IFSC World Championships. Both the PA and World Championships will be held in Tokyo.

Whilst in Tokyo President Scolaris and VP Kobinata Toru also met with Mr Takayuki Ishimori, Mayor of Hachioji, to discuss plans for the 2019 IFSC World Championships. Hachioji (located on the western side of Tokyo) is set to host the 2019 Championships, which will be the first opportunity for Olympic hopefuls to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Sport Climbing events. During the meeting President Scolaris assured Mayor Ishimori that the IFSC, working alongside the JMSCA, will deliver the best possible event in Hachioji 2019. In return, the Mayor confirmed his full support of the World Championships and his willingness to assist Sport Climbing on its journey towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“Meeting with Mayor Ishimori presented the IFSC with an opportunity to plan our partnership for the World Championships in August, as well as to prepare for future IFSC events in Hachioji,” stated President Scolaris. “We feel at home in Japan and I was extremely happy to see Hachioji’s determination to invest in our sport, both in the approach to Tokyo 2020 and beyond.”

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IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris and Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru meet Mr Takayuki Ishimori, Mayor of Hachioji.

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2019 IFSC Plenary Assembly Registrations Closed

The IFSC and the Japan Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Association (JMSCA) are pleased to announce that the 14th IFSC Plenary Assembly will take place in Tokyo, Japan on March 16th 2019.

All Member Federations have received the Plenary Assembly Programme. Registrations are now closed. If you require more information, please contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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IFSC Sport Department Meet with Technical Delegates to Prepare for the Upcoming Season

IFSC Sport Director Silvia Verdolini and Event Officer Alessandro Di Cato met with Technical Delegates (TD’s) Graeme Alderson, Christophe Billon, Vincent Caussé and Fabrizio Minnino at the FFME (La Fédération Française de la Montagne et de L'Escalade) headquarters in Paris on November 26-27th, to analyse the 2018 season and prepare for the coming year.

Technical Delegates deal with all IFSC-related sport and organisational matters during the running of IFSC events, ensuring that all facilities and services provided by the competition organiser adhere to IFSC Regulations. With Sport Climbing gaining more TV coverage as we journey closer to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the demands of IFSC competitions are ever increasing and for this reason, the role of the Technical Delegate is changing. The purpose of this meeting was therefore to discuss exactly how the role will evolve moving into 2019, as well as to discuss how to better clarify and implement the competition rules across the continents in the coming season.

“Technical Delegates are key to the smooth running of all IFSC events,” stated IFSC Sport Director Silvia Verdolini. “As Sport Climbing grows and gains an increasing amount of TV exposure, it is vital that we meet with our TD’s to plan the development of the role to ensure that our competitions run without any glitches.”

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IFSC Official Sport Equipment Catalogue Introduced to the Industry at Halls and Walls Convention, Germany

Halls and Walls, the annual climbing hall convention of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV), took place in Nuremberg, Germany, on the 23rd-24th November. The DAV welcomed IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru and Sport Director Silvia Verdolini in Nuremberg to share plans for the IFSC Official Sport Equipment Catalogue with the climbing industry.

The convention saw exhibitions from some of the biggest brands in the climbing world, with 2018’s hottest products on display and expert discussions surrounding the latest topics and issues in our sport, from climber health and safety to climbing wall management and maintenance. Talks also offered insight into the latest apps, software and technology for monitoring safety and personal progression in climbing.

IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru and Sport Director Silvia Verdolini introduced plans for the IFSC Official Sport Equipment Catalogue to the industry, an initiative which aims to make the playing field fairer across international IFSC events. The catalogue will contain details of IFSC approved equipment such as holds, volumes and macros and in future, IFSC events will use only IFSC Official Sport Equipment within the Field of Play. Using the same equipment at each IFSC event ensures that all stakeholders share the same experience, from athletes and National Federations to routesetters and event organisers.

“Halls and Walls was the perfect opportunity to introduce the IFSC Official Sport Equipment Catalogue to the industry,” declared Sport Director Silvia Verdolini. “I’d like to thank the DAV for their warm welcome of the IFSC at the convention, where we were able to obtain feedback from climbing professionals as well as obtain contacts from brands interested in applying for their equipment to feature in the Catalogue.”

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IFSC Executive Board Meeting December 2018

The IFSC Executive Board Meeting took place in Torino, Italy, on 3rd-4th December. IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris met with the Board alongside IFSC staff to discuss organisational updates and Sport Climbing developments.

President Scolaris welcomed all to the meeting with an appreciation for the dedication and hard work of the Executive Board and IFSC staff in the ongoing journey towards Tokyo 2020, labelling Sport Climbing as an up and coming Urban Sport.

Proceedings commenced with a review of the IFSC’s Governance and Statutes, continuing with a vote from the Board on a series of proposed amendments to be finalised during the Plenary Assembly in March 2019. Director of Marketing & Communications Anne Fuynel then offered insight into marketing contractual changes entering 2019, before the Administration department reported on the IFSC’s GDPR assessment and President Scolaris and the Board discussed Human Resource matters and the provisional budget for 2019. Following this, the Administration department informed the congress of preparations for the 2019 Plenary Assembly in Tokyo, raising ideas for workshops and timings of the meeting. The upcoming Plenary Assembly will ratify the membership of Fiji, the latest Continental Member of the IFSC which was acknowledged during the Executive Board Meeting.

An additional Plenary Assembly, to be held in August 2019 during the IFSC World Championship, was considered by the Executive Board. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session will decide in June which sports are to be included in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and whatever the decision, the Executive Board believes that a further Plenary Assembly would be recommendable to meet with the National Federations and develop a strategic plan for the years to come.

Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer addressed plans for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the future of our sport, also giving an overview of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games which took place in Buenos Aires.

A unanimous approval was obtained by the Board for the Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration, which aims to guide the actions of the Olympic Movement.

The Sport department continued with an outline of the upcoming IFSC Official Sport Equipment Catalogue, focusing on the Holds, Macros and Volumes category, as well as proposing potential changes to the format and competition rules of Sport Climbing. A report was then presented by the Event Working Group detailing the format and athlete quota for IFSC Youth World Championships moving forward, then the Executive Board also discussed the athlete quota for the World Championships. The meeting came to a close following updates on Multi-sport Games (e.g. the World Urban Games and ANOC Beach Games), the IFSC Athletes Commission and future proposals and meetings.

The next Executive Board Meeting, to be held as a teleconference, will take place on Friday 11th January.

A summary of the Board’s decisions around the Combined Format, Olympic Qualifying Event, YWCH Format, World Cup Format and the 2019 World Championships can be found here.

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Buenos Aires 2018 Most Digitally-Consumed YOG

Coverage of Buenos Aires 2018 made the third edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) the most digitally-consumed in the event’s eight-year history.

Digital platforms including BuenosAires2018.comOlympic.org and olympicchannel.com
attracted 6 million unique users, generating 58 million page views. Some 188 million video views were registered across the Olympic Channel, YouTube and social media platforms, making digital viewership 94 times that of Nanjing 2014.

As part of the #GameChangers campaign that was launched ahead of the Games, athletes and fans were provided with digital tools to curate their own content. Some 122 million users viewed the digital sticker packs, while hundreds of athletes created their own animated GIFs which were seen by 28 million people. To reach new audiences who would not normally consume sport, a team of seven influencers worked with athletes to create engaging content that was seen by 12 million people. Social media coverage of Buenos Aires 2018 also saw significant traffic, with 713 million impressions engaging fans in Games-time content, medal moments, sports action, athlete takeovers, interviews and daily live shows.

Making its Youth Olympic Games debut, the Olympic Channel was the worldwide digital rights-holder for the first time, ensuring global coverage for the YOG. Users from 234 countries and territories visited the Olympic Channel platform during the Games, with the highest viewership coming from the host country of Argentina and 66 per cent of all traffic coming from mobile devices. Live events were a key driver of platform viewership, accounting for approximately 70 per cent of all video views with an average watch time of 8.32 minutes. To ensure that Olympic Channel content was accessible on multiple platforms, distribution was extended to 77 members from within the Olympic family, including International Sports Federations.

Visit Olympic.org for the full news.

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Biggest International Athletes' Forum Upcoming

The IOC Athletes' Commission is set to invite the largest ever contingent of international athlete representatives to Lausanne, Switzerland, from April 13th to 15th for the bi-annual IOC International Athletes' Forum.

The IOC Athletes' Commission Strategy was launched at the 2017 International Athletes’ Forum. At its core is the desire to further strengthen athlete representation in decision-making bodies, to make sure that the athletes' viewpoint is heard at the highest level across all Olympic Movement stakeholders, and to empower athletes’ commissions and their members to become effective leaders.

Athlete representatives from all 206 National Olympic Committee athletes’ commissions will be added to the list of invitees for the first time, increasing the expected participation to around 350 athlete representatives and making this the biggest ever gathering of its kind. Other participants on the IOC Athletes’ Commission’s invitation list include all the Olympic Summer and Winter International Sports Federations.

The full news can be found at Olympic.org here.

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Russia, Slovenia Stand Tall in Sport Climbing’s World Military Championships Debut

Host of the IFSC Youth World Championships and IFSC World Cup this year, Moscow added last week a third elite international Sport Climbing competition to its 2018 collection. The World Military Championships programme includes 25 sports recognised by the International Military Sports Council (CISM), and the recently signed convention of collaboration between the CISM and the IFSC paved the way for Sport Climbing’s debut. The 1st edition of the CISM Climbing Indoor World Military Championships took place from November 28th to December 2nd and showcased the talent of top military Bouldering, Lead and Speed climbing athletes.

Former IFSC World Cup season champions Mina Markovic and Domen Skofic concluded their 2018 tenures by setting the high points in qualifications and finals on Wednesday. Markovic climbed at least five moves higher than her competitors on every route and was the only woman in Moscow to clip the top chains. Skofic broke a four-way tie after qualifications and cracked the code to the crux sequence in finals to make it back-to-back wins for Slovenia.

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Lead Men

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Lead Women

The spotlight turned the following four days to the host nation of Russia. Aleksandr Shikov and previous world champion Anna Tsyganova recorded the fastest times in Speed qualifications and finals on Thursday and raced to first place in the standard record format. Shikov edged Amir Maimuratov of Kazakhstan in a close men’s big final by eight hundredths of a second. Less than one second decided the women’s big final as well, and Tsyganova maintained a steady pace to best Youth Olympian and compatriot Elena Krasovskaia.

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Speed Women 3

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Speed Men 2

One missed top was all it took to fall out of the running for first place in Bouldering. Krasovskaia and Aleksei Rubtsov set the bar high in qualifications on Friday and finals on Saturday by topping every problem. Rubtsov fell just once in the men’s qualification and showed perseverance in the final, using 13 attempts to top four problems and completing the sole top of the last problem for the victory. Krasovskaia showed equal spirit, fighting for tops until the very end to stand atop the podium. Austria also excelled in Bouldering and placed three athletes on the podiums.

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Bouldering Men 2

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Bouldering Women 2

Regarded as the home of Speed climbing, Russia featured a throwback to the classic format before the closing ceremony on Sunday. Athletes raced up two non-standardized routes of similar difficulty and were compared at each stage based on their aggregate time across the two routes. Krasovskaia and Evgeniya Lapshina guaranteed a win for Russia by reaching the women's big final, and Lapshina saved one second to take the victory. Shikov again met Maimuratov in the big final, claiming his second gold medal and sixth for Russia after a fall from Maimuratov.

More results, news and video highlights can be found on the Moscow event page for the World Military Championships, and follow the link below to see more than 500 pictures of the event on IFSC Flickr.

Pictures

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Podium Lead Women

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Podium Speed Men

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Podium Speed Women

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Podium Speed Classic Men

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Podium Speed Classic Women

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Podium Bouldering Men

2018 CISM World Military Championship Moscow Russia Podium Bouldering Women

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IFSC Official Sport Equipment Catalogue: A call for Holds, Macros and Volumes

The IFSC is calling for holds, macros and volumes providers/brands to apply for the IFSC Official Sport Equipment Catalogue.

To create a fairer playing field, the IFSC plans to improve consistency across international competitions by creating a catalogue of IFSC official holds, macros and volumes to be used at each event.

What are the benefits?

• The IFSC will publish the Official Sport Equipment Catalogue – Category: Holds, Macros, Volumes
• Being part of the IFSC Official Sport Equipment will grant access to all IFSC events
• Brands listed in the IFSC Catalogue can state that they are “Authorized Hold, Macros, Volumes manufacturer/brand by the IFSC”
• The set of climbing holds, macros and volumes for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be selected from the IFSC Official Sport Equipment Catalogue 2019


For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or click here.

How to apply

Interested providers/brands should submit their applications to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 14th December 2018. Application forms can be found in the appendix here.

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Cesar Grosso Impresses with Training Regime

Ever wonder what it takes to train like an Olympian?

In an all new season of Hitting the Wall, fitness experts challenge themselves to the training regimens of Olympic athletes in 12 different sports. The original series premiered worldwide on Tuesday, 27th November on the Olympic Channel at olympicchannel.com and its mobile apps.

In Episode 7, Cesar Grosso of Brazil shows what it takes to train for one of the newest Olympic sports: Sport Climbing. The full episode can be watched below, and visit the Olympic Channel for more Sport Climbing videos.

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USA, Ecuador, Canada Win in PanAmerican Championship Return

The United States won six gold medals, Canada's Zach Richardson stood atop the men's Bouldering podium and Danny Valencia of Ecuador clinched the men's Combined title in front of his home crowd at the 2018 PanAmerican Championship. Ecuador placed multiple athletes on the podiums during five days of high-level Bouldering, Lead, Speed and Combined climbing in Guayaquil. Argentina, Chile and Venezuela also claimed medals at the return of the PanAmerican Championship, previously held in 2012 in San Juan de los Morros, Venezuela.

The competition took place from November 22nd-26th, and Americans John Brosler and Piper Kelly opened the climbing on Thursday with unrivaled Speed. Six hundredths of a second separated Kelly and Andrea Rojas of Ecuador in the women's big final. Kelly recorded the fastest time of the day to take the victory, and Leslie Romero (VEN) joined them on the Speed podium. After falling in the opening round of the men's final, Brosler rebounded in subsequent races to surpass Ecuadorian medalists Valencia and Carlos Granja and recorded the fastest time among the men in the big final against Granja. Youth Olympians Alejandra Contreras (CHI) and Nickolaie Rivadeneira (ECU) just missed out on medals in Guayaquil.

2018 PanAmerican Championship Guayaquil Ecuador Speed Piper Kelly

Granja led the way in Bouldering qualifications the following day, the only athlete to top all five problems. In the spotlight at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires last month, Valentina Aguado of Argentina continues to perform well at elite Sport Climbing events. Aguado and Kyra Condie (USA) were the sole women to top three problems on Friday and entered the 10-athlete Bouldering finals on Saturday as frontrunners.

Compatriots Sierra Blair-Coyle and Ashima Shiraishi (USA) started strong in the women's final, needing one attempt to top the first problem. Blair-Coyle kept the perfection across the second and third problems to earn a slim lead over Shiraishi by one top attempt. When no finalist topped the challenging fourth problem, Blair-Coyle sealed the victory by scoring a last zone point. Aguado edged Contreras for the bronze medal, requiring one less attempt to complete two tops. In the men's final, Richardson didn't back down after missing out on the first top. The 17-year-old was the only finalist to find a solution to the second problem and one of two athletes to complete the fourth problem, ending his round with a flash for the win. American teammates Palmer Larsen, Joseph Diaz and Rudolph Ruana took the next three places in the Bouldering results, scoring two tops and four zone points apiece.

2018 PanAmerican Championship Guayaquil Ecuador Bouldering Sierr Blair Coyle

Also 17 years old, Shiraishi was unstoppable in Lead qualifications and the 10-athlete finals on Sunday, topping every route she faced for the decisive victory. Ignacia Mellado Quinteros of Chile made her presence on the international stage known last week, climbing high on every route and falling just shy of the top in finals. Aguado also performed well in Lead finals to claim a second bronze medal. Kai Lightner (USA) added to his team's gold medal tally by topping both qualification routes and matching Valencia's high point in finals to place first. Ruana overcame an early fall on the first qualification route by topping the second route and climbing high in finals for the bronze medal.

2018 PanAmerican Championship Guayaquil Ecuador Lead Kai Lightner

The top six athletes competing in Bouldering, Lead and Speed qualified to compete in the Combined finals on Monday: Lightner, Ruana, Granja, Valencia, Brosler and Cesar Grosso (BRA) for the men; Aguado, Contreras, Rojas, Mellado Quinteros, Condie and Romero for the women. Speed played a decisive factor in the grand finale. Brosler and Rojas gained an early advantage by winning every race, including the big final against Granja and Romero which earned them third place on the Combined podium in the end. The small final played a decisive factor in first and second place as well. Lightner flashed all four Bouldering problems, but Valencia's quicker top on the Lead wall and victory in the small final against Lightner crowned him PanAmerican Champion in the Combined. Aguado topped quickest on the women's Lead route, but Condie's top of the final Bouldering problem and victory in the small final against Aguado handed her the women's Combined title and the United States a 6th gold medal.

Full results can be found on the dedicated Guayaquil event page, and click here to view pictures from the competition on IFSC Flickr.

2018 PanAmerican Championship Guayaquil Ecuador Combined Danny Valencia

2018 PanAmerican Championship Guayaquil Ecuador Combined Podium Men

2018 PanAmerican Championship Guayaquil Ecuador Group Photo

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IFSC President and Directors meet Olympic Broadcasters at the 2018 China Open

In an opportunity to meet the Sport Climbing broadcasters for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris, Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer and Marketing & Communications Director Anne Fuynel attended the China Open, Guangzhou, on November 16-18th.

The China Open, an International Climbing Series event and the final international IFSC competition of the 2018 season, was broadcast live by China Central Television (CCTV). Selected by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), a crew from CCTV will produce the Sport Climbing television broadcast on behalf of OBS in the sport's 2020 Olympic debut. As Sport Climbing is a new sport for both OBS (who produce the live television, radio and digital coverage of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) and CCTV, the two will collaborate with the IFSC in preparing for the Tokyo 2020 broadcasting of our sport. OBS Coordinating Producer Haiwei Bobby Wang, Project Manager for Tokyo 2020 Sport Climbing events, was therefore also present in Guangzhou, as well as IFSC Consultant Steven Morris (Director Europe of Broadreach Media).

IFSC directors discussed the characteristics of Sport Climbing with CCTV and OBS, also exchanging over technical aspects and developing innovative ways to showcase our sport, ensuring that the 2020 Olympic footage displays our sport in its finest light.

“I was delighted to meet the CCTV crew responsible for producing our Olympic events,” declared IFSC Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer. “They put on a great production at the China Open with minimal guidance, demonstrating their professionalism and promising a fantastic show for the Tokyo Games. From now until 2020, we’ll be working closely with CCTV and OBS to develop new and exciting ways to broadcast our sport to the world.”

CCTV1

IFSC President Marco Scolaris and IFSC Consultant & Director Europe of Broadreach Media Steven Morris with members of the CCTV crew.

CCTV2

Inside the CCTV broadcast cabin at the China Open.

CCTV were accredited to film at the 2018 IFSC World Cups in both Wujiang and Xiamen, allowing the team to gain experience in filming Sport Climbing ahead of the China Open. The broadcasters plan to further their knowledge of shooting our sport by getting involved with a number of IFSC events in the run up to 2020. The IFSC will work alongside CCTV and OBS in 2019 to educate the broadcasters in both the competition rules and best practises in broadcasting our sport.

Whilst in Guangzhou, President Scolaris and the aforementioned IFSC directors met with IFSC partner KAILAS, where a strong bond between the climbing brand and the IFSC was further established. KAILAS is widely recognised across China as the most innovative and technical outdoor company, and is one of the IFSC’s main partners (apparel, ropes and safety gear). Since forming a partnership in 2013, the IFSC has noted multiple common values with KAILAS including accessible, healthy and educational activity for the younger generation and equality for men and women in Sport Climbing.

“KAILAS shares the IFSC’s desire to develop our sport amongst a youthful and ‘urban’ audience. Meeting with our partner at their Guangzhou headquarters demonstrated that they are the perfect companion to join Sport Climbing on its journey to Tokyo 2020,” stated President Scolaris.

IFSC Marketing & Communications Director Anne Fuynel and Director Europe of Broadreach Media Steven Morris also spent a day in Beijing, taking the opportunity to meet with broadcasters CCTV, Tencent and Beijing TV to discuss future broadcasting opportunities for Sport Climbing in China. Connecting with Chinese broadcasters will support the IFSC and Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA) in introducing our sport to a wider network in China.

“With only a small percentage of the Chinese population participating in Sport Climbing, there is a great potential for developing the sport in China,” said Marketing & Communications Director Anne Fuynel. “There’s a vast market that we and the CMA are yet to tap in to, though we’re thrilled to see that the interest in our sport is beginning to increase.”

IFSC President Marco Scolaris met with CMA President M. Li Zhixin and Li Guowei, responsible for Sport Climbing within the CMA, to review the progression of the sport in China. The federations agreed to collaborate on a strategic plan to benefit Sport Climbing in China over the coming years, raising awareness and educating the Chinese population about the sport. Both the CMA and IFSC identified the 2020 Olympic broadcasting by CCTV as a huge advantage for Sport Climbing in China, creating a greater level of exposure for our sport than is currently seen within the country.

“The IFSC and CMA share a mutual goal of ensuring that Chinese athletes are presented with the greatest opportunities to progress in Sport Climbing,” reported President Scolaris. “By working together, we can and we will achieve this goal. The future of Sport Climbing in China is bright.”

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Job Opening: IFSC Climbing Market Consultant

The IFSC is looking for a consultant to conduct a global assessment of the climbing market.

Reporting to the IFSC President, the candidate will work remotely and have both experience and knowledge of Sport Climbing. After analysing the development of Sport Climbing, the consultant will then deliver recommendations to help the IFSC and the Climbing Community to address the interest of several non-endemic stakeholders for Sport Climbing. Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “Consulting service – Climbing market global assessment Application” in the subject line by December 1st 2018.

For the full job description, please click here.

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Zhong, 2018 Leaders Victorious in Guangzhou

The 2nd edition of the China Open, now an International Climbing Series event, took place from November 16th to 18th in the familiar setting of Guangzhou, China. The unique event, designed by the CMA and IFSC, added some variations to the IFSC World Cup format and attracted season champions and world champions from around the globe. Three rounds of Bouldering, Lead and Speed were showcased – the 2nd round in Speed determined seeding among the 16 men and women finalists based on time – and top-ranked athletes and top Chinese athletes received a bye into the 2nd round (Full Rules).

Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 (YOG) medalist Vita Lukan (SLO) excelled in qualifications on Friday, joining Youth Olympians Keita Dohi (JPN) and YuFei Pan (CHN) in Bouldering semi-finals the following day. Pre-qualified athletes Janja Garnbret (SLO) and Jessica Pilz (AUT) stood out among a strong women’s field, the only athletes to top all four semi-final problems and two of the final problems. Pilz bested the Bouldering world champion by zone points, and 18-year-old Nanako Kura (JPN) joined them on the podium. Pan competed against multiple IFSC World Cup winners in the men’s final who scored two tops and four zone points. In the end, Yoshiyuki Ogata (JPN) earned the victory over Aleksei Rubtsov (RUS) by zone point attempts, and 2018 season champion Jernej Kruder (SLO) followed with one more top attempt.

China’s own QiXin Zhong (CHN) impressed on Saturday evening, edging Aspar Jaelolo (INA) on the Speed climbing wall by one tenth of a second in the big final. Dmitrii Timofeev registered the fastest time of the competition in the seeding round and capitalized on a fall from world champion Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) in the small final. Aleksandra Rudzinska (POL) won every Speed competition in which she competed in 2018, including the China Open. The world champion frequently stopped the timer in under eight seconds and beat Mariia Krasavina (RUS) in the big final for her third victory this year. Iuliia Kaplina (RUS) registered the fastest time in the small final against Puji Lestari (INA) for 3rd place.

Lead climbing concluded the Sport Climbing action in Guangzhou on Sunday. Lead world champion Pilz rose highest in semi-finals and finals, closing the women’s competition with a final top and her second victory of the weekend. Slovenia also excelled on the Lead wall. Season champion Garnbret and Mina Markovic fell just short of Pilz’s high point for 2nd and 3rd place, and Domen Skofic ended the men’s competition with a top of his own to keep Hyunbin Min (KOR) and Hiroto Shimizu (JPN) at bay. Pilz and Skofic’s victories in Lead come three weeks after they finished the IFSC World Cup season on top in Xiamen, China.

Full results can be found on the Guangzhou event page, and full replays of Bouldering, Lead and Speed finals and pictures can be viewed at the links below.

Bouldering Finals

Lead Finals

Speed Final

Pictures

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IFSC Executive Board Teleconference November 2018

The IFSC Executive Board held its monthly teleconference today, 14th November, discussing developments within the IFSC and the journey towards the Olympic Games.

New IFSC member federations were first proposed to the board, before the topic turned to the IFSC Governance Working Group which formed in April this year. Updates from the Marketing & Communications department included the appointment of its latest Communications Assistant, Tamaris Higham, as well as key changes to marketing contracts. The IFSC office put forward a series of steps to be taken in a restructure of the IFSC.

A number of upcoming projects were outlined by the IFSC Sport department, with news from the Events Working Group and discussions around next year’s World Championship and Olympic Qualifying events. Olympic talk continued with Tokyo 2020 updates and a review of the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires last month.

The Executive Board will meet in Torino, Italy, on December 3rd-4th 2018 for the annual EB meeting.

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IFSC and Event Organisers Prepare the 2019 Season Together

IFSC World Cup Event Organisers from across the globe gathered at the IFSC headquarters in Torino, Italy, on November 12th-14th to prepare for the 2019 season. IFSC and host nation representatives converged under one roof to support the growth of sport climbing and standardise the quality of future events.

The annual meeting kicked-off on Monday morning with a welcome from IFSC President Marco Scolaris, followed by presentations from IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru on event vision and direction, urban event format and the event observation program, and IFSC Sport Director Silvia Verdolini on the official sport equipment project. IFSC Calendar Coordinator Alessandro Di Cato gave an overview of the 2019 season in the afternoon, before IFSC Consultant Steven Morris offered insight into expanding TV and media exposure.

“Sport climbing is entering a new stage, so it's important for all Event Organisers to meet together, to share their knowledge and discuss the direction in which we want to take our sport. Thanks to this meeting, I think we will see an improvement in IFSC events in 2019,” says Vice-President Toru.

Following the group discussions, each team of Event Organisers met individually with IFSC staff to review their respective events. These dedicated sessions continued throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, giving all organisers the chance to address their unique event challenges and opportunities.

“This meeting is beneficial for National Federations organising an IFSC event in 2019 or future years,” says President Scolaris. “Maintaining clear communication and sturdy relationships is fundamental to producing events which can better support the sport climbing movement worldwide. Together, we are stronger and everybody feels the responsibility to contribute to the growth of the sport”.

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Indonesia, Japan on Podiums at Asian Championships

The annual Asian Championships took place this year on November 7th-11th in Kurayoshi, Japan, and athletes from Indonesia and Japan climbed to all but four spots on the Bouldering, Lead, Speed and Combined podiums.

Youth stars dominated in Bouldering finals on Friday. Five of the top six athletes were under 20 years old, including winners Futaba Ito and Meichi Narasaki of Japan. Ito edged compatriot Nanako Kura by top attempts and bested a stacked field of Japanese finalists which included Saki Kikuchi in 3rd place, IFSC World Cup Bouldering season champion Miho Nonaka and Akiyo Noguchi. Narasaki, the only finalist who completed four tops, also prevailed among IFSC World Cup standouts and joined teammate Keita Watabe and recent Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 finalist YuFei Pan of China on the men’s podium. Click here to watch highlights of Bouldering finals on OlympicChannel.com, which featured Ito in the Olympic Channel original series Going Olympic: Tokyo 2020.

2018 Asian Championship Kurayoshi Japan Bouldering Japan

Indonesian athletes equally impressed on the Speed wall the following day, occupying five of the top six spots like Japan did in Bouldering. The men’s big final was nearly too close to call, with Alfian Muhammad and Sabri Sabri slapping the finishing pad atop the 15-metre Speed climbing wall at the same moment. Muhammad gained the victory by three thousandths of a second on the fastest time of the round (5.833 seconds), and Aspar Jaelolo raced past Veddriq Leonardo in a close small final. Sari Agustina kept a steady pace throughout the women’s Speed final and beat YiLing Song of China in the final race. Aries Susanti Rahayu scored the fastest time of the round (7.816 seconds) but settled for 3rd place after committing a false start in the semi-final, and Iqomah Nurul placed 4th.

2018 Asian Championship Kurayoshi Japan Speed Indonesia

On the Lead wall, Jain Kim topped four routes in Kurayoshi and earned a victory for Korea. Noguchi fell just shy of the top in finals and completed tops in every other round, and Mei Kotake joined them on the women’s podium. Countback to semi-finals separated a three-way tie in the men’s Lead final. Kokoro Fujii’s top in semi-finals handed him the win, followed by Hidemasa Nishida and Tomoaki Takata. Click here to watch Kim rise to the top and the thrilling Speed finish in the Olympic Channel video highlights.

2018 Asian Championship Kurayoshi Japan Lead Jain Kim Korea

In the Combined finals on Sunday, Japan concluded the Asian Championships by placing five more athletes on the podium as in Lead and Bouldering. After nonstop Bouldering, Lead and Speed climbing between the six top men and women, Noguchi and Narasaki stood tallest and joined arms with Nonaka and Rei Sugimoto, Ito and Pan.

Complete results can be found on the Kurayoshi event page, and links to full replays and pictures provided by the event organisers are listed below.

Bouldering Semi-Finals

Lead Semi-Finals

Bouldering Finals

Speed Finals

Lead Final (Men)

Lead Final (Women)

Pictures

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IFSC welcomes new Communications Assistant

TamarisThe IFSC is pleased to welcome Tamaris Higham to the Communications Team, who will be taking on the role of Communications Assistant in the exciting run up to the 2020 Olympics.


Fresh from a marketing position at the British Mountaineering Council and with a BSc in Marketing with Public Relations under her harness, Tamaris is set to tackle a multitude of changes to the IFSC’s communications over the next year. To do this, she will be working closely with Communications Director Anne Fuynel.

Tamaris is a self-confessed climbing addict, spending her free time climbing, bouldering, watching competitions and keeping up with the climbing community on Instagram.

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Mawem Soars to Season Title, Skofic, Susanti Rahayu Rise to Season Podiums at Final Event

Bassa Mawem soared to France’s 2nd Speed season title of 2018 at the last IFSC World Cup of the year in Xiamen, China, and Aries Susanti Rahayu (INA) rose to 2nd place on the season podium. In Lead, Domen Skofic (SLO) executed to stand on the season podium and Jessica Pilz (AUT) also won gold in Xiamen.

High stakes and low margins for error made the 8th and final Speed event of the 2018 season the most thrilling yet. After qualifications, four athletes were in the hunt for the men’s Speed season title. China’s own JinXin Li eliminated frontrunner Danyil Boldyrev (UKR) in the opening round, making the most of his quick start and capitalising on Boldyrev’s stumble midway. With Boldyrev out, runner-up Dmitrii Timofeev (RUS) could have become Speed season champion by reaching the big final. Timofeev knocked off Speed legend QiXin Zhong of China in the quarterfinal but slipped in the semi-final and the Speed season title slipped from his grasp when Mawem stopped the clock three seconds sooner. Ranked 3rd and 4th before Xiamen, a final win from Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) or Mawem would be enough to clinch their first season title. Winner last weekend Aspar Jaelolo (INA) ended the dream for Alipourshenazandifar in the semi-final on the fastest time of the day (5.560 seconds), and Alipourshenazandifar settled for bronze in the small final. Under 6 seconds on every run this weekend, Mawem bested Jaelolo by two hundredths of a second in the big final to become Speed season champion in the last race of the season, France’s second Speed season title after Anouck Jaubert secured the honour for the second consecutive season last weekend. Boldyrev and Timofeev joined Mawem on the season podium after impressive seasons from both athletes.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Speed Bassa Mawem

The women’s Speed season podium came down to exciting final races in Xiamen as well. Elena Remizova (RUS) recorded multiple times under 8 seconds and eliminated season runner-up Mariia Krasavina (RUS) early in the quarterfinal, and previous Speed winner Susanti Rahayu hung on by one hundredth of a second in the quarterfinal against Elena Timofeeva (RUS). Iuliia Kaplina (RUS) recorded the fastest time of the day (7.400 seconds) to edge Remizova in the semi-final and secure a spot on the Speed season podium, and Susanti Rahayu advanced over Jaubert to meet Kaplina in the big final. Needing nothing short of a victory to bump Krasavina off the season podium, Susanti Rahayu did exactly that in Xiamen, keeping a steady pace as Kaplina slipped high on the wall for her third win in 2018 and 2nd place in the season ranking. Speed season champion Jaubert beat Remizova in the small final for bronze and Kaplina joined her on the season podium.

In the team Speed ranking, Russia extended their winning streak, the only team to top the ranking since the inception of the IFSC in 2007. With their strong performances in China at the end of the season, France and Indonesia placed 2nd and 3rd in the team ranking.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Speed Aries Susanti Rahayu

As the sun set behind the skyscrapers of Xiamen, the 7th and last Lead finals concluded the 2018 season. Jakob Schubert (AUT) and Stefano Ghisolfi (ITA) had already secured 1st and 2nd place on the men’s Lead season podium, but Skofic could unseat Romain Desgranges (FRA) with a final victory if Desgranges placed worse than 5th. Hope remained when Desgranges and four other athletes fell near the first crux of the men’s final route, littered with tiny crimps and foot jibs. Hyunbin Min (KOR) was first to find alternative beta around the less positive holds and won the bronze medal, and Ghisolfi set a new high point in falling at the top hold. Last to climb, Skofic needed to rise to the same height to tie Desgranges for 3rd place in the Lead season rankings and share the last remaining spot on the Lead season podium. Skofic responded under pressure and duly matched Ghisolfi’s high point to take the victory in Xiamen on countback to their semi-final scores and join Desgranges on the third rung of the season podium.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Lead Domen Skofic

Janja Garnbret (SLO), Pilz and Jain Kim (KOR) had already secured 1st, 2nd and 3rd place on the women’s Lead season podium in Wujiang, but that didn’t stop them from climbing hard in Xiamen. Kim just missed the finals cut and the chance to try the powerful and technical last route of the 2018 season. A complex crossover tired a few finalists at the first crux but not Garnbret and Pilz. Garnbret cut feet at the sequence and held on for the first top of finals. Pilz concluded a spectacular IFSC World Cup season with a top of her own and took the victory on countback to semi-finals in which she scored the sole top. Akiyo Noguchi (JPN) also fought hard and fell just short of the top for bronze.

Despite the high climbing of Garnbret and Skofic, Japan moved into 2nd place above Slovenia in the team Lead ranking after sending six athletes to finals in Xiamen and all their athletes to semi-finals. Austria stayed in 1st place, an unrelenting force all season long.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Lead Jessica Pilz

This year, the Overall season titles were decided by a new calculation. Athletes competing in two or more Bouldering, Lead and Speed events were given ranking points based on their relative ranking against one another at counting events. Their top two events per discipline were counted, and the six ranking points were multiplied. In the end, Garnbret defended her Overall season title for the 3rd straight season and Schubert became Overall season champion for the 4th time thanks to their Bouldering and Lead prowess.

Full results, replays, photos and highlights can be found on the Xiamen event page, and click here to view all the 2018 season rankings.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Lead Podium Women

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Lead Podium Men

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Lead Season Podium Women

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Lead Season Podium Men

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Speed Podium Women

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Speed Podium Men

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Speed Season Podium Women

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8th Women’s Climbing Symposium Connects, Develops and Inspires

Now in its 8th year, the annual Women’s Climbing Symposium (WCS) continues to grow and inspire action.

Organised by Bouldering star Shauna Coxsey (GBR) and most recently held on October 6th at HarroWall in London, the biggest edition yet included several IFSC athletes and former athletes as key speakers and guests. Aiming to connect, develop and inspire with stories from their outdoor and competition experiences, Anna Stöhr (AUT), Caroline Ciavaldini (FRA), and Beth Rodden (USA) headlined the event. A further eight focus talks were held by women, including current Paraclimbing athlete Isabella Walsh (GBR) and former competitor Nina Williams (USA).

Participants also had the opportunity to get involved and participate in several hands-on workshops. These workshops focused on a variety of climbing-related topics, from Bouldering technique to training and yoga. Coaches included seasoned competitors Leah Crane (GBR), Petra Klingler (SUI), Gracie Martin (GBR) and Coxsey.

More information can be found on the WCS website and in Red Bull's review of the event.

2018 Women Climbing Symposium Instagram 1

2018 Women Climbing Symposium Instagram 2

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IFSC October Executive Board Conference

On October 24th, the IFSC Executive Board met to discuss ongoing projects and developments in the IFSC at its monthly teleconference.

With the Youth Olympic Games just happened in Buenos Aires, President Scolaris took the occasion to quickly sum up reporting the extremely positive feedback received after the first Olympics.
Vice President Kobinata Toru and Calendar Coordinator Alessandro Di Cato reported about the 2019 events updates and provide further information about the World Cup Calendar. In addition, Marketing and Communication Director Anne Fuynel introduced to the Board the new Communication Assistant Tamaris Higham and provide updates on the ongoing project. To conclude, Daniel Torchia, recently appointed as Paraclimbing Development Officer, presented the first report

The next IFSC Executive Board conference will be held on November 14th, 2018.

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Stage Set for 2018 Season Finale in Xiamen

After months of elite Sport Climbing, the IFSC World Cup season concludes next weekend in Xiamen, China, the 7th Lead and 8th Speed events.

Janja Garnbret (SLO) and Jakob Schubert (AUT) clinched* the Lead season titles at IFSC World Cup Wujiang last weekend and Stefano Ghisolfi (ITA) and Jessica Pilz (AUT) secured the next steps of the Lead season podium. Jain Kim (KOR) will join Garnbret and Pilz on the women's Lead podium at season's end, but the final spot on the men's Lead season podium has yet to be decided. After enduring longest on the semi-final route in Wujiang, Romain Desgranges (FRA) soared in the men's Lead season ranking. Even if Domen Skofic (SLO) takes the victory in Xiamen, two-time Lead season medalist Desgranges can remain on the Lead season podium for a third consecutive season by winning a medal in Xiamen. Austria, Slovenia and Japan hold the advantage in the team ranking for Lead, and strong performances at the last event could change the current ordering.

In Speed, Anouck Jaubert (FRA) was consistently quick in Wujiang and clinched the women's Speed season title, but the remaing spots on the men and women's Speed season podiums are up for grabs. Danyil Boldyrev (UKR) leads among the men, but Dmitrii Timofeev (RUS), Reza Alipourshenzandifar (IRI), Bassa Mawem (FRA) and Aleksandr Shilov (RUS) can all mathemetically overtake Boldyrev for the men's Speed season title. Russian teammates Iuliia Kaplina and Mariia Krasavina currently rank 3rd and 2nd among the women, but a surging Aries Susanti Rahayu (INA) could disrupt their plans. Russia has yet to lose the team ranking in Speed and is poised to continue their winning streak after dominating all season long, followed by France and Indonesia.

This year, the Overall season titles are decided by a new calculation. Athletes competing in two or more Bouldering, Lead and Speed events are given ranking points based on their relative ranking against one another at counting events. Their top two events per discipline are counted, and the six ranking points are multiplied. Garnbret and Schubert displaced Japanese teammates Tomoa Narasaki and Miho Nonaka from provisional 1st place in Wujiang, and both Overall season podiums will be decided in Xiamen.

The schedule, starters, 2017 highlights and more can be found on the Xiamen event page, and tune-in for the LIVE streaming of semi-final and final rounds on October 28th at ifsc-climbing.org.

*Note: As per Rule 11.7.4.ii, the worst score is dropped in the season ranking for athletes competing in all IFSC World Cup events of that disciplne.

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Garnbret, Jaubert, Schubert Clinch Titles, 2 Wins for Indonesia

Janja Garnbret (SLO), Anouck Jaubert (FRA) and Jakob Schubert (AUT) clinched season titles at the penultimate IFSC World Cup of 2018 in Wujiang, China, and Aspar Jaelolo and Aries Susanti Rahayu won Indonesia two gold medals. Romain Desgranges (FRA) and Jain Kim (KOR) also excelled in Wujiang.

The path wasn’t easy, but Jaubert found a way to secure* a second consecutive Speed season title at the penultimate event in Wujiang today. She bested teammate Aurelia Sarisson in the opening race of Speed finals, outpaced a fast Sari Agustina (INA) in the quarterfinal with a time under 8 seconds and slapped the finishing pad less than one second before Mariia Krasavina (RUS) to guarantee at least 2nd place in Wujiang, enough to remain Speed season champion. Susanti Rahayu recorded multiple times under 8 seconds in Wujiang, including the second fastest time of the day in the big final against Jaubert for her second victory this year. Only Iuliia Kaplina (RUS) was faster among the finalists (7.650 seconds), edging teammate Krasavina for bronze. MingWei Ni (CHN) performed well in front of her home crowd and finished in 7th place.

Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) and Ludovico Fossali (ITA) advanced past the opening round of the men’s Speed final in exciting races decided by hundredths of a second. Aleksandr Shilov (RUS) caught up to Danyil Boldyrev (UKR) in the quarterfinal to end his winning streak at two, and Jaelolo recorded the fastest time of the day in the quarterfinal (5.710 seconds). Jaelolo duplicated the feat against Alipourshenazandifar in the semi-final and held on in the big final against Fossali for Indonesia’s second gold medal in Wujiang. In the close small final against Shilov, Alipourshenazandifar stayed under 6 seconds for the fourth time today in as many races for bronze. JinXin Li of China finished in 6th place.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang Podium Speed Men

Heavy rain forced a cancellation of the Lead finals, and instead the results of semi-finals decided the Lead winners in Wujiang and Lead season champions. The women’s semi-final route centred on a challenging crux move to a distant pocket which only a handful of finalists mastered. Katharina Posch (AUT) was first to latch the hold and finished in 5th place. Akiyo Noguchi (JPN) set a new high point at the headwall shortly after, a mark bested only by top-ranked Lead athletes Garnbret, Kim and Jessica Pilz (AUT). Pilz lasted one move more for third place and came up just short of the decisive positive movement to the next hold which Garnbret and Kim showed. Tied across semi-finals and qualifications, Garnbret and Kim tied for 1st place. The shared victory was enough for Garnbret to clinch a third consecutive Lead season title. Kim’s performance secured a spot on her 10th Lead season podium behind Garnbret and Pilz.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang Podium Lead Women

Most semi-finalists completed the jump on the sustained men’s semi-final route, a battle of endurance on the steepest section of the Lead wall. Hidemasa Nishida (JPN) was first to reach the headwall, and Hyunbin Min (KOR) fought the pump to collect one more hold and the bronze medal. In the end, Desgranges held on longest to take the victory and improved his positioning in the Lead season ranking, and Jakob Schubert (AUT) placed 2nd to secure the third Lead season title of his career. 5th in Wujiang, Stefano Ghisolfi (ITA) clinched 2nd place in the Lead season ranking. Full results can be found on the Wujiang event page, and click here to view current season rankings.

*Note: As per Rule 11.7.4.ii, the worst score is dropped in the season ranking for athletes competing in all IFSC World Cup events of that disciplne.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang Podium Lead Men

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Wujiang Lead Finals Cancelled

Due to severe weather, the Lead finals at IFSC World Cup Wujiang were cancelled today when unexpected heavy rain created an uneven playing field during the round.

The results of the previous round (semi-finals) counted as the ranking of the cancelled round, as per Rule 6.1.2. Janja Garnbret and Jain Kim, tied after semi-finals, were both declared winners and earned 90 points each in the Lead season ranking, as per Rule 6.10.4, and Jessica Pilz placed 3rd. For the men, semi-final leaders Romain Desgranges, Jakob Schubert and Hyunbin Min placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

The full results and recap can be found on the Wujiang event page, and the world's best Lead and Speed climbing athletes will be back in action next weekend for the 2018 season finale at IFSC World Cup Xiamen.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang Lead Garnbret Kim

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Speed Climbing to Feature in REEL ROCK

REEL ROCK 13 debuts in Boulder, Colorado (USA), on November 1st, and Up to Speed is among the climbing films to be featured. Up to Speed dives into Speed climbing, one of three Sport Climbing disciplines comprising the Combined format of the recent Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 and upcoming Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

REEL ROCK correspondent Zachary Barr looks into the the role Speed climbing will play in shaping climbing's future while journeying from the US to France (the birthplace of modern Speed climbing) to South Asia (where Speed climbing is popular) and finally to Russia (where the first Speed climbing competitions were held). Men's Speed world record holder Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI), Speed legend Stanislav Kokorin (RUS), former youth world champions Claire Buhrfeind and Margo Hayes (USA), and John Brosler and Max Hammer (USA) make appearances along the way.

More information can be found at reelrocktour.com, and get a sneak peek of the action to come by watching the trailer below.

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Truly the YOG of the New Era

The 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games closed yesterday evening at the Youth Olympic Village in Buenos Aires, capping off 12 days of competition with 4,000 athletes and 8,000 volunteers and what IOC President Thomas Bach referred to as "truly the Youth Olympic Games of the new era."

Between 200,000 to 215,000 people attended the first Opening Ceremony of any Olympic Games to be held outside a stadium, in a city centre and open the public, the highest attendance in the modern history of the Olympic Games. Record attendance of the local population was also reached during the event, with 600,000 Youth Olympic Passes distributed and full crowds attending the men and women Combined finals of Sport Climbing.

"The mega trend in this world is that more and more people are moving into urban centres, so to reach these people, the sport has to go to the city centres," said Bach at the press conference preceding the Closing Ceremony.

The Youth Olympic Games featured an urban park concept, and competitions took place at multiple parks throughout the city of Buenos Aires. Sport Climbing, the only vertical sport on the programme, took place at the Urban Park where new sports competitions, street culture and new artistic expressions came together.

"The park concept, making the Games more urban, has been a massive success in Buenos Aires, bringing sport to the people. Sport nowadays is in competition with so many other options for leisure activities that we cannot only go to the stadiums and make the people (come) to us," said Bach.

Finally, the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires was the first Olympic event with full gender equality. At the Sport Climbing event, 21 male and 21 female youth stars climbed for the sport's first Youth Olympic medals.

"These Youth Olympic Games were more urban, more female, more inclusive than any edition of any Olympic Games before. They were extremely innovative from the beginning to the end," said Bach.

Visit olympicchannel.com  to watch the Closing Ceremony, and links to all replays and recaps can be found on the Buenos Aires event page. For Bach's complete remarks at the press conference, please click here.

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Lead, Speed, Overall Season Champions to be Crowned in China

After months of world-class climbing at IFSC World Cups all around the globe, the Lead, Speed and Overall season podiums will soon be decided at the final events in Wujiang and Xiamen, China.

Three leaders in the IFSC World Cup season rankings can clinch season titles with one more victory this month. After five Lead events, two-time Lead season champion Janja Garnbret (SLO) again stands atop the Lead season rankings. The Lead world champion has yet to place below 2nd this year and doing so again will secure a third consecutive title. Both Garnbret and runner-up Jessica Pilz (AUT) have already guaranteed spots on the Lead season podium, and only Pilz can unseat Garnbret. Whatever the outcome, it will have been a memorable year for Pilz, who already became Lead world champion last month and has placed 1st or 2nd at all but one Lead event so far. Three-time Lead season champion Jain Kim (KOR) improved her chances at joining them on the Lead season podium by climbing highest at the most recent event in Kranj.

Pilz’s teammate Jakob Schubert (AUT) leads the season rankings among male athletes. One more victory this weekend or the following weekend would seal a third Lead season title for Schubert, but the men’s Lead world champion will have to best Stefano Ghisolfi (ITA) to do so. Qualifying for another final will land Ghisolfi on the Lead season podium, but the Kranj winner will have his sights set on the season title. Multiple athletes are competing for the last spot on the Lead season podium, including 2017 season champion Romain Desgranges (FRA) and Domen Skofic (SLO).

In Speed, last year’s season champion Anouck Jaubert (FRA) is on pace to defend her Speed season title. After six Speed events, Jaubert is the only female athlete to claim multiple victories, and she can stand atop a second consecutive season podium with another victory in China. Fast teams from Indonesia and Russia could change those plans. Mariia Krasavina (RUS) can secure a spot on the Speed season podium by placing 1st or 2nd at either event, and Iuliia Kaplina (RUS) is a strong contender to join them on the podium at season’s end. Aries Susanti Rahayu (INA), absent from the three previous Speed events, showed near record-breaking speed last time in China.

For the men, keep an eye on Speed leader Danyil Boldyrev (UKR). The former Speed season champion won the previous two Speed events and can clinch a spot on the season podium with one more victory. Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI), Bassa Mawem (FRA), Aleksandr Shikov (RUS) and Dmitrii Timofeev (RUS) have also raced to Speed victories this season. The full list of starting athletes and more information can be found on the Wujiang and Xiamen event pages.

This year, the Overall season titles are decided by a new calculation. Athletes competing in two or more Bouldering, Lead and Speed events are given rankings points based on their relative ranking against one another at counting events. Their top two events per discipline are counted, and the six ranking points are multiplied. Currently, teammates Tomoa Narasaki and Miho Nonaka (JPN) lead the Overall season ranking, but more athletes could enter the ranks in China.

Tune-in to the IFSC homepage on October 21st and 28th to watch the live streaming of semi-finals and finals, and join the chat on Twitter during the shows at #IFSCwc!

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YOG a Gold Medal for Sport Climbing

Six Youth Olympians were awarded the first medals for Sport Climbing in an Olympic context last week, a historic victory for Sport Climbing and the climax of multiple memorable moments in Buenos Aires.

Keita Dohi and Vita Lukan’s power and poise in Bouldering, Sandra Lettner and Shuta Tanaka’s gravity-defying ascents in Lead and Sam Avezou and Laura Lammer’s tight finishes in Speed; none of the magical climbing would have been possible without the behind-the-scenes teams and structural foundation. Focusing on strict quality standards and teamwork with route setters, long-time IFSC partner ENTRE-PRISES (EP) provided all three of the Bouldering, Lead and Speed climbing walls used at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, the focal points of the Urban Park venue which immediately caught the eye as they towered beside skyscrapers and surrounding greenery. The first Olympic climbing walls will continue to be a stage for the development of Sport Climbing in Argentina and South America, extending the legacy of the sport’s first Youth Olympic Games beyond 2018.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Climbing Wall Bouldering

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Climbing Wall Lead Speed

“We are proud to be an Official Provider of Buenos Aires 2018, to have made possible the fantastic performances of the very best youth Sport Climbing athletes in the world and to have embodied the urban, youthful atmosphere of these Youth Olympic Games and shared values of our sport with our climbing walls. The Olympic journey doesn’t stop here, and we are excited to keep bringing over 30 years of experience on the climb together,” says EP CEO Eric Surdej.

In an Olympic first, an even number of men and women athletes competed in Buenos Aires, including 21 men and 21 women Sport Climbing athletes from 25 countries and 5 continents, already game changers. Athlete Role Models Charlotte Durif and Josh Levin also represented Sport Climbing throughout the event, and Durif presented during the 1st Olympism in Action Forum, which focused on using sport for good.

"Modern trends and challenges were discussed in my working zone with athletes and researchers from around the world of different sport backgrounds, and I was delighted to contribute the unique perspective of Sport Climbing as a young, urban, accessible sport with sustainability in its roots,” says Durif.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Athlete Role Model Charlotte Durif Josh Levin

Before the last climber returned to the ground, IOC President Thomas Bach watched the final round alongside IFSC President Marco Scolaris, IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru, IFSC Secretary General Debra Gawrych, Durif and Levin and Argentina’s own Valentina Aguado, who placed 9th.

“It’s a gold medal for the athletes, but it’s also a gold medal for Sport Climbing and the IFSC family,” says Scolaris. “We have long been working towards the Olympic Dream, and this end is just the beginning. The climb to Tokyo and a permanent Olympic bid is on.”

The Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires concludes with the Closing Ceremony today, October 18th, LIVE at ifsc-climbing.org at 19:30 GMT-3 (local time). Links to all the Olympic Channel replays can be found here.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires IOC President Thomas Bach IFSC Marco Scolaris

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Death of Patrick BAUMANN, IOC Member

It was with a heavy heart that the IOC announced the death of Mr Patrick BAUMANN, IOC Member in Switzerland, in Buenos Aires, this Sunday.

"Patrick Baumann was one of us: he loved our sport. He loved the youth appeal and freshness, the friendship and the good spirt that animate our community, all aspects which belong to his personality. And he was with us, at the climbing wall, a few minutes before he passed away, making jokes and laughing, as he was always doing. In the last two years we have worked very hard together in Tokyo, since we are sharing the venue with basketball 3x3, one of his creatures. The sport world loses a great leader, we lose a great friend. Wordless in front of this tragedy, our thoughts are with his wife, his kids and his family… Ciao Patrick!", Marco SCOLARIS, IFSC President.

Patrick Baumann was a central figure in the Olympic Movement. He was 51.

A former player, coach and referee, Patrick Baumann dedicated his life to basketball and to the sports community. He was Deputy Secretary General (1995-2002) of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and then unanimously appointed as Secretary General by the FIBA Central Board in 2002, a role he had held since. He was greatly instrumental in the transformation and growth of the sport in the international basketball community, successfully supporting the popularisation of 3x3 basketball, for instance.

An IOC Member since 2007, he had been recently appointed as a member (2016-2017) then Chair (2017) of the Evaluation Commission for the Games of XXXIII Olympiad in 2024, then Vice-Chair of the Coordination Commission for the Games of XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024 after the French capital won the right to host the Olympic Games 2024. He was also Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission Los Angeles 2028, helping the two host cities to work closely with each other.

A Swiss national, Patrick Baumann was also President of the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee.

Patrick Baumann had continuously and actively participated in the IOC’s development throughout his mandate, as a member in the following IOC Commissions: Evaluation for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008 (as an IF representative) (2000-2001), Coordination for the Games of the XXX Olympiad London 2012 (2007-2012), International Relations (2008-2014), Sport and Law (2010-2014), Evaluation for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in 2020 (2013), Entourage (2014-2015), Marketing (2014-), Athletes' Entourage (2015-2018) and Legal Affairs (2017-2018).

Able to speak five languages, Patrick Baumann had a remarkable academic record: an MBA from the Business School of the University of Chicago, a Master’s in Sports Administration Management (MEMOS) from the University of Lyon in France and a law degree from the University of Lausanne.

A man of numerous talents, as a lawyer he always demonstrated a great sense of responsibility: he was appointed to the International Advisory Board of the World Academy of Sport in 2009, had been a member of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) since 2010, and was also a member of the Executive Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Patrick Baumann was elected as a Council member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) in 2011 and re-elected in 2015; he was elected as President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) in 2016; and as President of SportAccord in 2017.

All the IFSC team expresses its deepest sympathies to Mr Baumann’s family.

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Men's Combined Final: Last YOG Climbing

Keita Dohi of Japan became Sport Climbing’s first Youth Olympic Games gold medalist among male athletes in Buenos Aires today, and fellow Youth Olympians Shuta Tanaka of Japan and Sam Avezou of France were awarded the silver and bronze medals.

A new day, a new set of game changers set their eyes on Youth Olympic medals in the men’s final on Wednesday. Avezou, fastest among losing athletes in the qualification races, rebounded in the next race against YuFei Pan (CHN) and didn’t slip once. Exciting races for 1st and 3rd place concluded the Speed final. Pan held on to slap the pad less than two tenths of a second before Filip Schenk (ITA). Dohi scored only times below 8 seconds in the round but Avezou, behind at the start of the race, caught up just in time to place 1st in Speed by four hundredths of a second.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Men Combined Final Speed

All six finalists topped the first two Bouldering problems in the late morning sun, and Pan and Schenk took an early lead by doing so on their first attempts. Their streak of tops ended on the slab problem, and Dohi took advantage of the opportunity by inching his way to the top hold on his first try. Petar Ivanov (BUL) and Tanaka stuck the big opening swing of the final problem which bested Avezou, but only Dohi and Schenk connected all the power moves. The sole athlete with four tops, Dohi took the lead in the Combined ranking with one discipline remaining.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Men Combined Final Bouldering

The finalists put on a show of endurance on the men’s Lead route, which culminated in a powerful traverse at the top just as foot holds disappeared. Pan executed well-placed heel-hooks to hang on for the first top but missed out on a medal in Buenos Aires. Tanaka repeated the feat immediately after Pan in quicker time, putting him in good standing for a medal. Avezou and Schenk were in contention for gold until they fell at the concluding crux sequence. Dohi, already the first ever men’s gold medallist in Sport Climbing at the Youth Olympic Games, rose to the penultimate hold in front of the cheering crowd for good measure. Silver medallist Tanaka made it two Japanese athletes on the podium with his quick ascent, two years before the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and Avezou won France the bronze medal.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Men Combined Final Lead

Replays, results, highlights, photos, news and more can be found on the Buenos Aires event page, and stay tuned for more from the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires!

2018 Youth Olympic Games Men Combined Final Group

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Women's Combined Final: First Ever YOG Medalists

Sandra Lettner of Austria became Sport Climbing’s first Youth Olympic Games gold medalist in Buenos Aires today, and fellow Youth Olympians Vita Lukan of Slovenia and Austrian Laura Lammer were awarded the silver and bronze medals.

Quick steps in Speed, last second efforts in Bouldering and short rests in Lead, the smallest of movements made the difference in the women’s Combined final today. Lammer gained an early advantage in the morning by placing 1st in the Speed discipline. She raced smoothly on the 15-metre Speed climbing wall in the quarterfinal and edged teammate Lettner in a close semi-final, both athletes racing to times under 10 seconds. Elena Krasovskaia (RUS) eliminated Hannah Meul (GER) in the semi-final – who advanced with the best time among quarterfinal losing athletes – on the fastest time of the entire round. Two early slips proved costly for Krasovskaia in the 1st place race, and Lammer regained her footing after slipping high up the wall to seal 1st place in Speed. In the 3rd place race, Lettner got off to a quick start against Meul and never gave up the lead.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Combined Final Women Speed

Blank volumes with only tiny foot holds and sparse hand holds screwed on challenged the six finalists on the short Bouldering wall – where the finalists had 4 minutes to top 4 individual problems. Vita Lukan (SLO) stretched her body to the limit in catching a dynamic toe hook to stay on W1 and continued upward for the first top of the round. Mao Nakamura (JPN) flashed the problem to take an early lead, and Lammer and Lettner also topped. The finalists leapt from the starting hold of W2, and five athletes connected all the big moves. Lettner, Lukan and Nakamura continued to find solutions on the W3 slab, displaying a combination of balance and technique. Lettner stayed in the hunt for the best result in Bouldering by creeping her hands to the top hold with five seconds left on the clock. Ahead by top attempts – the second tie-breaker after zone points – Lukan sealed 1st place in Bouldering and improved her positioning in the Combined ranking by flashing the concluding power problem. Every athlete topped W4, including Nakamura who flashed to place 2nd behind Lukan by one top attempt, followed just as closely by Lettner. Lammer maintained her spot atop the Combined ranking by topping three problems.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Combined Final Women Bouldering

Speed made the difference on the forearm-pumping Lead route – where the goal is to reach the top hold and time breaks ties. Multiple athletes showed incredible endurance by rising to the top hold of the towering Lead climbing wall. Meul completed the first top of the round, followed by Krasovskaia who didn’t let go until the very last draw was clipped. Lettner and Lukan completed tops as well, leaving Lammer to decide the medals as the Combined leader and last climber of the day. Lammer endured until the last moves and fell two holds shy of the top hold, and Meul placed 1st in Lead with the fastest top. Six seconds faster on the Lead route, Lettner tied Lukan in the Combined ranking and won the first gold medal for Sport Climbing at the Youth Olympic Games by placing better than Lukan in two of the three disciplines – the Combined tie-breaker. Bouldering winner Lukan won the silver medal, scoring well in Bouldering and Lead. Lammer and Muel tied in the Combined ranking as well, and Lammer claimed Austria’s second medal in Buenos Aires by scoring better than Meul in Bouldering and Speed.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Combined Final Women Lead

Replays and results can be found on the Buenos Aires event page, and tune-in for the next LIVE streaming tomorrow, October 10th, at ifsc-climbing.org starting from 9:00 GMT-3 (local time). More Sport Climbing medalists at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires will be decided with the men’s Combined final!

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Combined Final Scenic

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Men's Combined Qualification: YOG Finals Set

Combined qualifications at the first Youth Olympic Games for Sport Climbing in Buenos Aires continued today with 21 male athletes from 16 countries, all vying for a spot in the 6-man final.

Blink too many times and you would have missed the beginning of the round, which opened with blistering fast climbing on the Speed wall. Ecuadorian speedster Nickolaie Rivadeneira scored the first quick time (7.056 seconds), matched immediately by Yaroslav Tkach of Ukraine in the following race. Seongmin Eom (KOR) and DiChong Huang (CHN) also excelled in their first run to place among the leaders (7.16 seconds; 7.15 seconds). Multiple athletes improved on their second run, including India’s Bharath Pereira (7.17 seconds), but Donghyun Jang of Korea and Tkach stood out as the only athletes to stop the timer with less than 7 seconds remaining on the clock to place 1st and 2nd in Speed. Before the racing was over, Sam Avezou of France soared to 3rd place in the last race (7.055), a crucial advantage for the Bouldering and Lead standout.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Combined Qualification Men Bouldering

The Bouldering kicked-off with several tops of M1. The athletes balanced on teardrop volumes before jumping to thin finger rails and pulling up with only their arms to the final hold. Pereira, the first climber, worked out the solution in 5 attempts, followed shortly by David Naude of South Africa, Galo Hernandez of Ecuador and other game changers of Sport Climbing. Lukas Franckaert (BEL) was the first athlete to top two problems, finishing with a top of the W4 slab which six other athletes mastered, including Petar Ivanov of Bulgaria and Keita Dohi of Japan. Dohi impressed by piecing together the first tops of a dynamic M3 and M2, keeping the tension on powerful moves across sleek volumes while holding on to nearly flat screw-on crimps. Dohi solidified his 1st place in Bouldering with a final top, the only athlete to complete all four problems. Ivanov placed 2nd with three tops, fighting to the top of M3 and just missing out on a top of M2.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Combined Qualification Men Lead

Hernandez set the first formidable high point on the steep Lead route, pushing past the previous climbers’ marks and slapping one hand on the headwall before falling. Nicolai Uznik (AUT) rose to an even greater height, swinging into the sky just a few moves from the top hold. YuFei Pan of China completed the first top in Lead at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, fighting the pump to reach the top of the wall and leaping for the top hold before clipping the final draw. Shuta Tanaka of Japan gave the crowd more to cheer for with a top of his one and moved ahead of Pan by taking less time to top. Avezou and Ivanov came up just shy of the top, but their 5th and 4th place still earned them spots in the Combined final. Finally, Filip Schenk (ITA) secured the third top of the day with a time between Pan and Tanaka’s to join them in the final.

Finalists Dohi, Avezou, Tanaka, Ivanov, Schenk, and Pan will climb again in the men’s Combined final on Wednesday, October 10th. Qualification replays and results can be found on the Buenos Aires event page, and tune-in for the next LIVE streaming tomorrow, October 9th, starting from 9:00 GMT-3 (local time) at ifsc-climbing.org. The first Sport Climbing winners of Youth Olympic medals will be decided with the women’s Combined final!

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 Combined Qualification Men Bouldering Pandi

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Women's Combined Qualification: First YOG Finalists

21 women athletes from 15 countries took to the climbing walls in the Urban Park venue today, beginning the Sport Climbing competition. Athletes climbed in the order of Speed, Bouldering and then Lead and were ranked by the combination of their results, with only the top 6 athletes advancing to finals.

The first Youth Olympians of Sport Climbing twice raced side-by-side on the two-lane, 15-metre Speed wall, their top time counting. Seven game changers clocked times under ten seconds, including twin sisters Aleksandra and Natalia Kalucka of Poland. After a fall on her first run, A. Kalucka found redemption on the second run by racing to the top of the scoreboard (8.10 seconds), and N. Kalucka placed just behind her (8.31 seconds), the only athletes to stop the timer in under nine seconds. South American athletes Alejandra Contreras (CHI) and Argentina’s Valentina Aguado performed well in Speed, finishing in under ten seconds too. Elena Krasovskaia (RUS) (the youngest Combined world champion ever) and Laura Lammer (AUT) placed ahead of them, and their teammates Luiza Emeleva (RUS) and Sandra Lettner (AUT) also posted fast times.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Sport Climbing Women Combined Qualification Speed

The pace changed on the Bouldering wall later in the morning, testing Sport Climbing’s game changers in a new fashion. Athletes worked through four sets of challenging moves (problems) to reach the top hold, ranked first by tops completed, then zone points completed (points assigned to a difficult-to-reach hold on each problem), followed by the number of attempts required to obtain the tops, and finally number of attempts to score the zone points. Balance and technique were required to complete the opening slab problem (W1) as athletes tip-toed across slippery volumes, with only tiny hand holds for support. Many of the first climbers struggled to transition from the zone point to the top hold but not Mao Nakamura of Japan, who completed the first problem and the three remaining ones to take an early lead. Smart and strong climbing carried the athletes across the heel-hook, barn-door swing and shoulder press on W2, and Emeleva and Meul also connected all the moves. More athletes joined the hunt with tops of the dynamic W3, including Vita Lukan of Slovenia and Aguado, cheered on by her home crowd. Several athletes excelled on W4, curling their fingers over tiny crimps screwed on to blank volumes, their only help to the top. With their triumphs in Bouldering and Speed, Nakamura and A. Kalucka led the way in the Combined ranking before the Lead climbing.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Sport Climbing Women Combined Qualification Bouldering

The women’s Combined qualification concluded on the towering Lead wall as the youth stars soared into the sky beside the skyscrapers of Buenos Aires. The goal in Lead is to climb as high as possible, with time breaking ties. A sustained route tested the athletes’ endurance and their ability to conserve energy through precise movements and well-executed rests. Nolwenn Arc of France kicked-off the high climbing, finding heel hooks to shake-out and fight the pump within a few holds from the top hold. Lukan later matched Arc’s mark and moved ahead with a faster time, a lead which stood until the last athlete. Lettner closed the round with a nearly flawless climb, grabbing one more hold than Arc and Lukan to top the results in Lead.

Lettner, Lukan, Krasovskaia, Nakamura, Meul and Lammer all advanced to the women’s Combined final on Tuesday, October 9th. Results and replays can be found on the Buenos Aires event page, and tune-in for the LIVE streaming of the men’s Combined qualification tomorrow on the IFSC homepage, starting at 9:00 GMT-3 (local time).

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Sport Climbing Women Combined Qualification Lead

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Opening Ceremony: Record Crowd Kicks-Off Buenos Aires 2018

The 3rd Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires got off to a great start yesterday. For the first time in the history of the modern Olympic Games, the Opening Ceremony was held in the street, with the celebration open to all, and over 200,000 people showed up for the party!

The final part of the Ceremony saw the Youth Olympic flame being passed between several young Argentinian athletes representing all the other athletes, the #GameChangers, who will be inspiring the public over the next 12 days of competition. The flame will now be moved to the Youth Olympic Park, where it will continue to burn until the end of the Games on 18 October.

Addressing the young athletes in his speech, IOC President Thomas Bach said:
“To get here, each of you trained and competed hard. You gave your best in the sport you love so much. This is why you deserve to be here, at your Games. Every athlete is different. We all come from different parts of the world and have different cultures. But we are all united by the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. Guided by these Olympic values, each one of you makes a difference in sport and in life. This experience will stay with you for all your life. We are all assembled here to celebrate you, as the real game-changers.”

Watch the full replay of the Opening Ceremony on olympicchannel.com here, and click here to read the complete news. The next LIVE streaming will take place Sunday, October 7th, at ifsc-climbing.org with the women's Combined qualification. The complete schedule and more information can be found on the Buenos Aires event page.

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YOG Opening Ceremony Live Streaming

Join us in welcoming Sport Climbing and its game changers to the Olympic stage!

Today, the Youth Olympic Games opens in Buenos Aires, and LIVE streaming of the Opening Ceremony will be shown at ifsc-climbing.org, provided by the Olympic Channel. Tune-in at 20:00 GMT-3 (local time) to watch the show, and get a sneak peak of the action to come by clicking on the link below to watch the preview.

Buenos Aires Event Page

2018 Youth  Olympic Games Buenos Aires Opening Ceremony Sneak Peak

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YOG Official Song "Alive" Released

The Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 has a song!

The lyrics of “Vamos Juntos (Alive)” reference the athletes’ ability to overcome all obstacles with passion, effort and dedication. The song also mentions the motto of Buenos Aires 2018, “Feel the Future”, which expresses the hope that union in diversity, as displayed by more than 4,000 athletes from 206 countries participating in the Games, will inspire youth of the world to embrace sports.

Visit the complete news at BuenosAires2018.com for the full lyrics, or watch the video below. “Alive” will also be performed on October 6th at the Opening Ceremony, to be held at the iconic Obelisk of Buenos Aires, the first Opening Ceremony in the history of the Olympic Games to take place outside a stadium and open to the public. Watch it LIVE at ifsc-climbing.org at 20:00 GMT-3 (local time), courtesy of the Olympic Channel.

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Youth Olympic Games Preview: Sport Climbing's Game Changers

This Saturday, the 3rd edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games opens in Buenos Aires, Argentina, welcoming to the Olympics the first ever Youth Olympians of Sport Climbing, game changers of the sport.

The Sport Climbing qualification events for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 gathered the best of the best Bouldering, Lead and Speed athletes – of the ages 16 and 17 in 2017 – at youth championships around the globe. Among hundreds of competitors, top athletes at the IFSC Youth World Championships in 2017 earned a spot in Buenos Aires, the first appearance of Sport Climbing in an Olympic context. The remaining athletes mastered their respective Youth Continental Championships in 2017 in Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and PanAmerica, where youth stars qualified to compete on their home continent with Argentina native Valentina Aguado, profiled on OlympicChannel.com as a hero of the future. Finally, in September the quota for Sport Climbing expanded.

Valentina Aguado2 640x367 OurTime

42 qualified athletes of Sport Climbing representing 25 countries, an even number of female and male athletes at the first Olympic competition with strict gender equality, have continued to be game changers on the world stage in 2018. In the IFSC World Cup series, Sandra Lettner (AUT) opened the 2018 season by solving multiple problems in Bouldering finals to place 4th in April behind IFSC World Cup season champions. Shuta Tanaka (JPN) endured among former IFSC World Cup season champions too on towering Lead walls to place 5th and 6th in July, and no female qualified athlete raced faster on the standard Speed wall than Aleksandra Kalucka (POL), who challenged Speed world record holders to place 4th and 5th. Sam Avezou (FRA), Natalia Kalucka (POL), Vita Lukan (SLO) and Laura Rogora (ITA) claimed victories at the IFSC Youth World Championships this year in August, and the Kalucka sisters and Rogora all climbed in finals among elite Sport Climbing athletes at the biannual IFSC World Championships last month. Photos of the qualified athletes competing on the climb to Buenos Aires can be found on IFSC Flickr.

FilipSchenk Speed 640x367r Sign Up

Buenos Aires 2018 will measure not only performance in a single discipline but all-around success across all three disciplines of Sport Climbing. Like the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, athletes will be required to compete in Speed, Bouldering and then Lead and will be ranked according to their Combined result. More information on the Olympic Format can be found here.

The full list of qualified athletes and provisional programme for Sport Climbing can be found on the dedicated Buenos Aires event page on the IFSC website. Tune-in to the IFSC homepage October 6th-10th to watch the live streaming of the Opening Ceremony and every Combined qualification and final round provided by OlympicChannel.com, streaming round-the-clock the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. Replays, results, highlights and photos will be shared on the Buenos Aires event page, and join the chat on social media at #ClimbToBuenosAires #YOGjourney #GameChangers #YouthOlympics #BuenosAires2018

Buenos Aires Event Page

Full Preview Press Release

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YOG Streaming Round-the-Clock

The Opening Ceremony and every round of Sport Climbing at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 will be LIVE streamed on the IFSC homepage! The LIVE streaming is presented by the Olympic Channel, providing comprehensive round-the-clock coverage of the event.

The Olympic Channel’s multi-platform coverage starts on Saturday, October 6th at 8:00 GMT-3 (local time) with the Opening Ceremony, LIVE from Buenos Aires’ iconic Obelisco. Qualifications and Finals of the Combined competition in Sport Climbing will be LIVE from Sunday to Wednesday, October 7th to 10th. The full provisional programme can be found on the dedicated Buenos Aires event page of the IFSC website, where links to replays, results, highlights and photos will be shared throughout the event.

Buenos Aires 2018 programming on the Olympic Channel includes:

24/7 Coverage
Viewers can watch the 24/7 Youth Olympic Games Channel at any time from 6 to 18 October on the Olympic Channel and YouTube. The round-the-clock streaming channel features both live and tape-delayed event coverage and daily highlights shows.

Live Streaming
Event coverage across the YOG competition is available both live and on-demand on the Olympic Channel at olympicchannel.com and its mobile apps.

YOG Daily
The “YOG Daily” show will feature a lively look at the news, trending stores, highlights and interviews in a round-up of the day’s events in a fun and interactive format. Available live on Facebook and Twitter daily at 1 p.m. local time.

Olympic Channel Podcast
Featuring insightful interviews across the Olympic world, the Olympic Channel will produce a daily podcast during the YOG for an in-depth look at the personalities, stories and competition in Buenos Aires.

Schedules and Results
To keep on top of the action in Buenos Aires, fans can find event and live streaming schedules, results and medal standings on olympicchannel.com.

Social Media
Fans can also follow the Olympic Channel’s coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to learn more about the sports featured at the YOG as well as take part of the fun by interacting with athletes and for behind-the-scenes action.

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Janja Garnbret Athlete of the Month

Janja Garnbret (SLO) was awarded Athlete of September 2018 by The World Games Association!

Garnbret, 19 years old, is The World Games 2017 silver medallist in Lead, and at the most recent IFSC World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, she took gold in Bouldering, silver in Lead and gold in the Combined event, featuring the Combined format of the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Combined and Lead season champion in 2016 and 2017, Garnbret placed 1st or 2nd in all but eight Bouldering and Lead IFSC World Cup events in which she competed since the beginning of the 2016 season. In 2016, the Slovenian star also won gold in Lead at the biannual IFSC World Championships and topped the Bouldering and Lead results at the IFSC Youth World Championships.

Garnbret started competing when she was 14 years old:
"Through the years I started training harder and harder, and I realised that I could become the best climber in the world. I love it when adrenaline goes through your veins, when you are on your own on the wall and you try to give your best and utilise everything from your training. Everyone is watching and cheering for you," says Garnbret.

Besides school and climbing, she does not have time for much else:
"And even if I had time for anything else, I would still go climbing," she laughs.

As a piece of advice for young athletes, Garnbret says:
"Focus on your goals, work hard for them and never give up."

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Ghisolfi, Kim Rise to Top in Kranj

Stefano Ghisolfi of Italy and Jain Kim of Korea returned to the top of the IFSC World Cup podium at the 5th Lead event of 2018 in Kranj, Slovenia.

Italy and Japan excelled in the men’s semi-final, each team sending three athletes to finals in Kranj, hosting Lead World Cup events since 1996. Big moves and an early nerve-testing jump opened the men’s final route, followed by a bat-hang at the route’s most over-hanging section as it curved across the short but challenging Lead wall. Marcello Bombardi of Italy began the final by setting a formidable high point just over a handful of moves from the top hold, but Japan’s Masahiro Higuchi efficiently solved the first crux move at the bat-hang to match Bombardi’s high point for his first IFSC World Cup medal on countback to their semi-final scores. Ghisolfi cruised through the first crux as well and fought the pump on the concluding moves to complete the first top in finals and secure a medal in Kranj. That medal turned to gold when Lead world champion Jakob Schubert (AUT), powering his way to the top hold, peeled off the last move to place 2nd. It was the 2nd victory for Ghisolfi this year, who improved to 29 points behind Schubert in the Lead season rankings with only two events remaining. Veteran Sean McColl (CAN), competing in his first Lead final this season, wowed the crowd with an eye-popping one-handed grab at the dyno and finished in 5th place. Yuki Hada and Kokoro Fujii of Japan and Italy’s Francesco Vettorata also competed in finals and climbed well this weekend.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Stefano Ghisolfi Italy

Three Austrian and two Slovenian athletes advanced to the women’s final in Kranj. Big moves started the women’s final route too, with another risky jump early on the wall followed by technical positioning to conserve energy and maintain friction on the overhanging sections of the route. Austrian Katharina Posch started strong by sticking the jump and continuing onward for an early lead. The next three finalists dropped at the dyno: veteran Mina Markovic of Slovenia, competing in her 15th Lead World Cup in Kranj, and Katherine Choong (SUI) and 16-year-old Natsumi Hirano (JPN), IFSC World Cup finalists for the first time. Hannah Schubert stuck the jump and surpassed teammate Posch’s high point for her first IFSC World Cup medal, falling at the steepest section of the Lead wall where footholds disappear and handholds become even more slippery. Lead season frontrunner Janja Garnbret of Slovenia fell at the same upper crux move, moving ahead on countback to their semi-final scores but leaving the door open for Lead world champion Jessica Pilz of Austria and Kim. Only Garnbret and Pilz had won gold medals in Lead this season before Kranj, but that changed when Pilz struggled at the technical moves following the jump to finish between teammates Schubert and Posch. Last to climb in Kranj, Kim held the crux sloper and rose to the headwall for her 28th IFSC World Cup victory. Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athletes Vita Lukan and Lucka Rakovec of Slovenia placed 20th and 24th at home, one week before Buenos Aires. Visit the Kranj event page for full results and replays.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Jain Kim Korea

The IFSC World Cup season concludes with the 2nd stage of the 2018 China Tour in Wujiang and Xiamen, the final Lead and Speed events. Tune-in for the LIVE streaming of semi-final and final rounds on October 21st and 28th. The schedules, starters and 2017 highlights can be found on the Wujiang and Xiamen event pages.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Podium Women

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Sport Climbing YOG Quota Expands

The IOC informed the IFSC shortly before the deadline for entries in September that another quota, 1 female athlete and 1 male athlete, is given to the Sport Climbing event at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. The additional quota raises the number of qualified athletes to 21 female athletes and 21 male athletes.

This increase was decided in order to ensure the largest engagement possible of the local audience in front of their national athletes and the largest participation of athletes and countries in Buenos Aires, while staying inside the overall number of participating athletes at the 3rd edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games.

"We welcome with pleasure the arrival of two new athletes and new countries. This will be the first Olympic event ever for Sport Climbing and the larger the participation, the stronger the legacy and excitement on the road to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020," says Jérôme Meyer, IFSC Head of Olympic Coordination.

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Welcome to Our New Staff

The IFSC is pleased to welcome Daniel Torchia, who is joining the team as Paraclimbing Development Officer.

daniel torchia


Daniel will be based at the IFSC Headquarters in Torino. He received his doctorate in Business and Management in January 2017 from the University of Manchester, UK, with a thesis on alternative forms of organizations in football. As part of his fieldwork, he worked for over a year as Community and Development Assistant for FC United of Manchester, a fan-owned football club in Manchester that puts community, inclusion and democracy at the heart of their project. This experience was seminal for Daniel to conceive sport as a social development tool, and this desire translated in the current project at IFSC, contributing to the growth of Paraclimbing at a worldwide level. Daniel has also held research and lecturing post at Staffordshire University, the University of Manchester and at the University of Turin, as well as internship experiences at Alenia Aeronautica and NASA.

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World Champions Head to Kranj

Two weeks after the conclusion of the IFSC World Championships, Lead world champions Jessica Pilz and Jakob Schubert (AUT), Combined world champions Janja Garnbret of Slovenia and Schubert and Bouldering world champion Kai Harada (JPN) head to Kranj, Slovenia, for the 5th Lead event of the 2018 IFSC World Cup season.

Kranj, hosting Lead World Cup events since 1996, again plays a pivotal role in the Lead season this year. Lead athletes are competing for positioning in the season rankings before the two concluding events in October, and performances in Kranj could decide final podiums.

Garnbret and Pilz have dominated all season long, occupying 1st and 2nd place among women athletes at the first four Lead events of 2018 in July. Pilz gained momentum on the biggest stage this month, arriving at the top hold quicker in finals to best Garnbret at the biannual IFSC World Championships. Garnbret ranks 1st in the IFSC World Cup season rankings for Lead after connecting back-to-back wins, and the reigning Lead season champion will be climbing at home where she won gold in 2017. Another medal for Garnbret and 1st place for Pilz would clinch spots on the Lead season podium for both athletes. Multiple athletes are strong contenders to join them on the Lead season podium, including Manon Hily of France and 2017 medallists Jain Kim (KOR) and Anak Verhoeven (BEL). Also keep an eye on Slovenia’s own Tjasa Kalan and veteran Mina Markovic, both ranked in the top ten and set to climb alongside Garnbret in front of their home crowd.

Schubert is the only athlete to win multiple gold medals this year in Lead for the men, having won the most recent IFSC World Cup in Lead and the first Lead event of the season. Fresh off his victories at the IFSC World Championships 2018, another triumph this weekend in Kranj would make it even more difficult to unseat Schubert from the Lead season podium. Reigning Lead season champion Romain Desgranges (FRA) and Stefano Ghisolfi (ITA) will try to end his winning streak, and Domen Skofic of Slovenia is also on the start list.

Qualified athletes for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 have been game changers in the IFSC World Cup series this year, and three of them are registered to compete in Kranj before the debut of Sport Climbing on the Olympic stage in October. Vita Lukan and Lucka Rakovec are set to represent Slovenia at home. Since the previous IFSC World Cup in Lead, Lukan became Lead youth world champion at the IFSC Youth World Championships in the Juniors category, and Rakovec competed in Lead semi-finals at the IFSC World Championships. Nolwenn Arc (FRA), runner-up behind Lukan at IFSC Youth World Championships 2018, will join them in Kranj. Click here for the full list of starters.

Tune-in to the IFSC homepage this weekend, September 29th-30th, to watch the LIVE streaming of semi-final and final rounds. The schedule, 2016 highlights and photos and more can be found on the official Kranj event page, where results and replays will also be shared, and join the chat on Twitter during the show at #IFSCwc.

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Digital Window into #BuenosAires2018

Even if you can’t make it to the Olympic parks and venues, you can get involved with the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 by following the torch relay and using the official app.

Follow the Torch to "the end of the world"

Using the Torch map, you can follow the Olympic torch as it makes its way across south America on its final leg of the torch relay. On September 30, the torch mark the southernmost point that the “sacred fire” has ever been, travelling through the streets of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. On August 5 the torch started its journey through Argentina to promote the Olympic values of respect, friendship and excellence, and has covered more than 14,000 kilometres.

The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, will be the guest of honour at the relay in Ushuaia that will also have the presence of the head of the Organising Committee for the third Summer Youth Olympic Games, Gerardo Werthein. From Ushuaia, the flame for Buenos Aires 2018 will begin its return journey to Buenos Aires for the big event on October 6: the first opening ceremony in modern Olympic history that’s open to all public and outside stadiums with the city as the backdrop.

A digital window for historical Games
The official app of the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 is available for IOS and Android platforms. It will show the schedule and results for the 32 sports in the Buenos Aires 2018 programme and provide information about the athletes, along with their biographies.
In addition, it presents an ample variety of new features in the Olympic world, designed to allow the users to personalise their experience and participate in educational challenges.
The News section will keep the sports fans around the world well informed, featuring content in Spanish and English, while it will also have special sections with photos and videos from the Games.
Finally, the Sports menu will explain in detail the rules of the 36 disciplines at Buenos Aires 2018, making it easier for the public to understand sports they might not be too familiar with.

Download the Buenos Aires 2018 app for Android

Download the Buenos Aires 2018 app for IOS

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Heroes of the Future

With the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 just around the corner, Olympic Channel invites viewers on a journey around the world in search of the Olympic champions of tomorrow in Heroes of the Future. The twelve-episode original series premiered worldwide on Monday, September 24th on the Olympic Channel global digital platform, and is available on-demand at olympicchannel.com and its mobile apps.

The all new season of Heroes of the Future features 12 young athletes from 10 different countries who are already considered amongst the best in their respective sports. These young game changers represent Olympic hopefuls in 12 different sports including football, boxing, gymnastics and athletics, as well as sports on the Youth Olympic Games programme including sport climbing, breaking and roller speed skating.

Episodes include the story of Valentina Aguado, the sport climber from Argentina who started climbing when she was nine-years-old. Now 16, she dreams to become the first medallist for her country in sport climbing. Valentina will be representing Argentina at the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, where she will have her first opportunity to make her dream come true.

“When we start thinking about dreams and goals we always strive for the best, and my dream is to one day be able to stand on an Olympic podium,” said Aguado. “Sport climbing is growing in popularity and I would like to grow with it and be able to reach my fullest potential and represent my country in the best way I can.”

Video Embedded from olympicchannel.com:

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Charlotte Durif Presents Sport Climbing

Athlete Role Model Charlotte Durif of France did a takeover of the @YouthOlympics Instagram account yesterday, presenting the only vertical sport at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 to a fresh audience.

Durif showcased game changers of Sport Climbing qualified to compete in Buenos Aires and explained the Bouldering, Lead and Speed discplines of Sport Climbing to feature in the Combined format. Paraclimbing was also introduced to Youth Olympic Games followers, as well as elite athletes and venues of IFSC events.

Visit @YouthOlympics on Instagram to see all her posts!

2018 IFSC Sport Climbing Lead Charlotte Durif France 2

2018 IFSC Sport Climbing Bouldering Valentina Aguado Argentina

2018 IFSC Sport Climbing Bouldering YuFei Pan China

2018 IFSC Sport Climbing Paraclimbing

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IFSC September Executive Board Conference

On September 19th, the IFSC Executive Board met to discuss ongoing projects and developments in the IFSC at its monthly teleconference.


Following the Youth Olympic Games preparation, the Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer reported that the venue dedicated to Sport Climbing is about to be completed. In addition updates on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were provided.
The Sport Department reported on the World Championships which just took place in Innsbruck and the upcoming events for the 2019 season. The Communication Department focused its attention on the 2019 marketing strategy and the important goals reached at the World Championships in terms of TV exposure.

The next IFSC Executive Board conference will be held on October 24st, 2018.

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Innsbruck Broadcast Like Never Before

IFSC World Championships Innsbruck 2018 reached audiences as never before due to numerous broadcasting deals secured by the IFSC.

In addition to the worldwide live streaming on IFSC YouTube  and OlympicChannel.com, the signature IFSC event of the 2018 season was broadcast across the world. In Europe, Austrian national public service broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk  (ORF) host broadcasted the event and televised for Austrian viewers Climbing and Paraclimbing action in Innsbruck, the longest IFSC World Championships ever, including the victories of Austrians Jessica Pilz and Jakob Schubert. Eurosport also provided LIVE coverage, bringing the exciting final rounds to televisions across Europe. French broadcaster La chaine l'Équipe aired delayed action last Monday and Tuesday, and Janja Garnbret's tops and others were broadcast LIVE in Slovenia on Sport TV.

In the United States, final rounds were broadcast as live on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, a partnership between the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and NBCUniversal. Sport Climbing has already aired twice on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA this past June and August with action from IFSC World Cup Vail  and IFSC World Cup Munich

Fans in Brazil were able to watch the competition LIVE by tuning in to Globosat.

In Asia, the highly anticipated event was broadcast on NHK, national public broadcasting organisation of Japan. NHK showcased LIVE the first Combined finals ever at the IFSC World Championships, and NHK broadcast delayed highlights of Lead finals and Bouldering finals, in which 19-year-old Kai Harada won his first gold medal at the senior level on the biggest stage. Sky A also used key moments Bouldering, Lead and Combined finals in its Sport Climbing highlights program available to Japanese audiences. Nippon TV and Tokyo Broadcasting Systems (TBS) covered the event too, with a strong focus on the Japanese athletes fighting for top spots across the disciplines.

News coverage of the event also increased, as footage from Innsbruck was used heavily by members of Eurovision, Servus TV  in Austria, and channels including Canal+, the BBC, SRG and SWR.

IFSC Marketing and Communication Director Anne Fuynel was very pleased at the exposure the event received. “After a fast increase in interest in Japan, it is fantastic to see our TV exposure growing across the world. These images help to share our values and spread knowledge of the sport to new audiences, and the exciting action in Innsbruck will surely have inspired new and familiar viewers alike.”

Visit the Innsbruck event pages for Climbing  and  Paraclimbing for all the replays and recaps of the competition. Viewers will also be able to watch 26 minute highlights on the event in November on channels across the globe.

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Innsbruck 2018: Day 11 - Combined Finals

Austria’s Jakob Schubert, Lead world champion, and Bouldering world champion Janja Garnbret (SLO) claimed the Combined world titles too on Sunday in closing IFSC World Championships Innsbruck 2018.

Ten days of nearly nonstop, top-level Sport Climbing in Innsbruck culminated on Sunday with the Combined finals, the first of its kind at the IFSC World Championships. The six top-scoring men and women athletes competing in Bouldering, Lead and Speed in Innsbruck qualified to climb in all three disciplines on the final day, a showdown of the best all-around competitors for the coveted Combined world title.

COMBINED RESULTS

MEN  /  WOMEN

The women and men’s Combined finals went in the order of Speed, Bouldering, Lead. Athletes were ranked in each discipline, and places were multiplied for the Combined finals results. Six women finalists faced-off in head-to-head bracket-style elimination as they did in Speed on Thursday, starting at the quarterfinal, only this time the athlete with the fastest losing time (lucky loser) advanced to the semi-final as well. Miho Nonaka (JPN) bested Jessica Pilz of Austria in the first race, but Pilz’s quick time sent her to the semi-final alongside winners Petra Klingler (SUI) and Sol Sa (KOR), who eliminated Garnbret from contention. Nonaka miscued early in the next race and Pilz capitalised to advance by one half second, and Sa executed to best Klingler. Klingler placed 3rd after a false start from Nonaka in the small final, and Sa took an early lead by racing past Pilz in the big final with the fastest time of the round (9.273 seconds).

The finalists were given four minutes to attempt four problems in Bouldering, with scores being decided by tops, then zone points, top attempts and zone point attempts. Multiple athletes scored zone points and continued upward for tops on the technical first problem (W1), but Garnbret did so in fewer attempts. A dynamic second problem opened with a double-dyno, and Garnbret flashed for a sizable advantage. W3 required balance to connect multiple slab walks, and Garnbret again topped in the fewest attempts to maintain the lead over Klingler, Akiyo Noguchi (JPN) and Nonaka who completed two tops. Needing only to score the zone point on the fourth and last problem to clinch 1st place in the Bouldering, Garnbret still connected all the powerful moves for four unrivalled tops, but Sa stayed ahead by topping the last problem in the last moments to soar from 5th to 2nd place.

The Combined world title came down to endurance on the towering Lead wall where finalists had six minutes to climb as high as possible, with time breaking ties. Powerful moves led to a jump into the steepest middle section with hard to place feet, ending with dynamic moves and a leap to the top hold. Pilz stuck the exciting move to the finishing hold with one minute to go to put the pressure on Garnbret and Sa. Garnbret stayed composed and completed a quicker top to become Combined world champion in addition to Bouldering world champion (won on Friday). Sa reached the middle section to place 2nd in the Combined, and Pilz finished 3rd at home in Innsbruck.

2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck Austria Combined Janja Garnbret Slovenia

The biannual IFSC World Championships, the signature IFSC event of the 2018 season, concluded with the men’s Combined final on Sunday. Schubert advanced to the final round in Speed, knocking out Tomoa Narasaki (JPN) on a false start and racing past “lucky loser” Kai Harada in the semi-final at the last move. Only Jan Hojer (GER) bested the Austrian, eliminating Adam Ondra (CZE) in the first round as well and Kokoro Fujii (JPN) in the second on the fastest time of the day (7.146 seconds). Hojer raced to another quick time in the big final against Schubert to begin the men’s Combined final in 1st place, and Fujii outpaced teammate Harada in the small final.

In Bouldering, Fujii, Harada and Schubert flashed the strength-based first problem (M1), but Ondra stayed in the hunt with a top on his third attempt. Precise footwork made the power moves ending M2 easier, and both Ondra and Schubert topped on their first attempts. The dynamic M3 slab proved challenging but multiple finalists topped before time expired, including Schubert who stuck the hop and matched on the finishing hold with less than 30 seconds remaining. The Bouldering results stayed the same when every finalist flashed M4, keeping Schubert in the lead in the Combined results and Hojer and Ondra trailing not far behind.

Powerful moves led to a jump on the men’s Lead route as well, followed by a 360 spin and upside down climbing into the middle section where campusing skills on crimps were tested. Ondra rose past previous marks to set the high point near the top hold, and Hojer fell in the middle section to place 3rd in the Combined final. Needing to surpass Hojer’s mark in Lead to oust Ondra from 1st place, Schubert duly did so with the Innsbruck crowd cheering behind him. The Lead world champion fell at the final section to also become Combined world champion, at home in Austria, by excelling in all three disciplines of Sport Climbing.

2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck Austria Combined Jakob Schubert Austria

With Schubert’s victory in the Combined final on Sunday and Schubert and Pilz’s earlier victories, Austria won the most gold medals at IFSC World Championships 2018 and matched Slovenia for the most medals in total (4). Slovenia placed 2nd in the medal table, led by Garnbret’s two victories, and Japan, Poland and Iran also claimed world titles in Innsbruck. The complete Climbing medal table can be found on the web page for World Championships on the IFSC website, and links to full results of men and women Combined finals, replays, highlights, photos and more can be found on the Innsbruck event page.

USA viewers click on the links here for the full replay of the women and men's Combined finals on OlympicChannel.com.

2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck Austria Combined Podium Men

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Innsbruck 2018: Day 10 - Bouldering Finals

Slovenian Janja Garnbret, runner-up in Lead last week in Innsbruck, and Kai Harada of Japan stormed to the top of the Bouldering podiums on Thursday and Friday at the 2018 IFSC World Championships.

After topping every route the week prior in Lead but placing 2nd on time in finals, Garnbret left no doubt in Bouldering. She was the only athlete in semi-finals on Thursday morning to flash three problems. Bouldering season champion in the IFSC World Cup series Miho Nonaka (JPN), previous Bouldering world champion Petra Klingler (SUI) and newly crowned Lead world champion Jessica Pilz (AUT) were among the athletes handling the pressure on the last problem to advance.

Four more challenging problems awaited the six finalists in the evening, requiring maximum effort to score tops as well as zone points. A zone point is marked on every problem at a difficult to reach hold and breaks ties when the same number of tops are completed (number of attempts to tops and then number of attempts to zone points would break remaining ties). Stasa Gejo (SRB) was first to solve the multi-move jump start to score the zone point on the first problem (W1), but Garnbret took the lead by securing the jump and sticking the dyno to the finishing hold for the top. Technical moves on a steep section of the Bouldering wall forced the finalists into contorted positions on W2, and Garnbret gained another advantage by scoring the zone point. Gejo and Akiyo Noguchi (JPN) topped the W3 slab, but Garnbret sealed the world title in Bouldering and a second medal in Innsbruck with another top and zone point. Noguchi kept the body tension on the strength-based final problem to overtake Gejo for 2nd place, and Gejo won the first medal for Serbia at the IFSC World Championships.

2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck Austria Bouldering Women Janja Garnbret Slovenia

Obtaining four tops in the men’s semi-final on Friday was the ticket to advancing to finals. Bouldering season champion Jernej Kruder (SLO) and previous world champion Tomoa Narasaki (JPN), leaders after qualifications, missed one top and did not advance.

All six finalists topped the first problem of the men’s Bouldering final on Friday evening, but Jongwon Chon (KOR) took an early lead by completing the triple dyno and continuing for the top on his first attempt. On the M2 slab, Harada scored a flash of his own to gain a lead he would never give up. He was the first athlete to connect the technical moves on M3, solving the palm press at the zone point and seamlessly switching into the barn-door swing before topping. Chon and Kokoro Fujii (JPN) also completed the problem, and Gregor Vezonik (SLO) secured the zone point in the final seconds of his turn to stay in the medal hunt. Harada showed precision under pressure on the last problem. He latched the tiny thumb catch at the zone point and kept his composure on the next moves for the flash, securing his first gold medal at a senior IFSC event on the biggest stage. Chon placed 2nd with one less top, and Vezonik placed 3rd behind Chon by zone point attempts after scoring the only other top of M4.

2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck Austria Bouldering Women Kai Harada Japan

After 10 days of world-class Sport Climbing, the action in Innsbruck concludes on Sunday with the first Combined finals at the IFSC World Championships. To see how the top 6 men and women competing in Bouldering, Lead and Speed disciplines in Innsbruck qualified for the Combined finals, check the results on the Innsbruck event page for Climbing, where links to the results of Combined finals will also be shown. Tune-in to the IFSC homepage to watch the LIVE streaming, and USA viewers can watch the women and men’s Combined finals LIVE on the IFSC website here. Join the chat on Twitter at #IFSCwch during the shows!

USA viewers click on the links here for the full replay of the men's Bouldering semi-final and final on OlympicChannel.com.

2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck Austria Bouldering Women Podium

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Innsbruck 2018: Day 9 - Paraclimbing Finals

Paraclimbing athletes from France, Great Britain and Japan won 9 out of 12 categories at IFSC World Championships Innsbruck 2018. Italy, Iran and the United States also won gold medals in Paraclimbing.

Multiple winners of IFSC World Championships 2016 in Paris defended their world titles on Thursday in Innsbruck, including France’s own Lucie Jarrige and Romain Pagnoux. Pagnoux was the only athlete to top both qualification routes in men’s RP3 (limited range, power or stability), and the only athlete in the category to reach the headwall in finals. In the evening, Jarrige also fought her way onto the headwall of the 15-metre climbing wall in Olympiaworld Innsbruck to repeat as Paraclimbing world champion in women’s AL-2 (leg amputee). Before the evening was over, Koichiro Kobayashi of Japan surpassed all previous marks set in men’s B1 (visually impaired). Paraclimbing athletes in the visually impaired category receive direction throughout the route from their coaches on the ground while the crowd stays silent out of respect for this communication, but the crowd erupted afterwards when Kobayashi had set the high point to remain a Paraclimbing world champion.

Abigail Robinson of Great Britain continues to impress in her first IFSC season. Robinson soared to 1st place at the Paraclimbing Cup in Briançon in July, and the newly crowned Paraclimbing world champion opened finals on Thursday by claiming another gold medal in women’s B2. 2018 is the first IFSC season for Thierry Delarue, too, who likewise wore gold medals in Briançon and in Innsbruck at the biannual IFSC World Championships, overcoming a strong and experienced men’s AL-2 field to do so. His compatriot Solenne Piret is also competing in her first IFSC season this year and overtook all three medallists in 2016 to win women’s AU-2 (forearm amputee). American Justin Salas, who first competed in IFSC events last year, ended the Paraclimbing finals on Thursday in style, cutting feet at the decisive moves for the victory in men’s B2. Aika Yoshida (JPN), 3rd in Paris at the only other IFSC event in which she competed, upgraded to gold in women’s RP3.

2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck Austria Paraclimbing Solenne Piret France FRA

Great Britain’s Hannah Baldwin excelled in the Paraclimbing Cup series last year, and that experience showed in Innsbruck. The 2017 women’s RP2 season champion added a world title to her collection this week, falling only at the lunge to the concluding hold in finals. Alessio Cornamusini of Italy, runner-up in 2016 and competing at IFSC events since 2012, added a world title to his scorecard in men’s RP1.

Two Paraclimbing athletes topped every route they climbed in qualifications and finals. Men’s AU2 world champion Matthew Phillips of Great Britain put on a show on Friday afternoon by leaping to the finishing hold and catching it with his amputated arm for the top. Iranian Behnam Khalaji never fell in Innsbruck as well, climbing to a perfect three tops in men’s RP2.

The women’s Bouldering final followed the Paraclimbing finals Friday evening, and the men’s Bouldering medallists will be decided on Saturday. Tune-in to the IFSC homepage to watch the LIVE streaming, and USA viewers can watch the men’s Bouldering semi-finals and finals LIVE on the IFSC website here. The schedule, links to replays, results and photos can be found on the Innsbruck event pages for Climbing and Paraclimbing, and both medal tables are shown here. Join the chat on Twitter at #IFSCwch!

USA viewers click on the links here for the full replay of the women's Bouldering semi-final and final on OlympicChannel.com.

Paraclimbing AL2 Men Leg Amputee 2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck 

Paraclimbing AL2 Women Leg Amputee 2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck

Paraclimbing AU2 Men Forearm Amputee 2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck

Paraclimbing AU2 Women Forearm Amputee 2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck

Paraclimbing B1 Men Visually Impaired 2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck

Paraclimbing B2 Men Visually Impaired 2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck

Paraclimbing B2 Women Visually Impaired 2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck

Paraclimbing RP1 Men Range Power Stability 2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck

Paraclimbing RP2 Women Range Power Stability 2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck

Paraclimbing RP3 Men Range Power Stability 2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck

Paraclimbing RP3 Women Range Power Stability 2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck

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Innsbruck 2018: Day 8 - Speed Finals

Iranian Reza Alipourshenazandifar and Aleksandra Rudzinska of Poland donned the gold medals in Speed climbing on Thursday in Innsbruck, Austria, host of the 2018 IFSC World Championships.

Following the first and second stages of Paraclimbing finals at IFSC World Championships Innsbruck 2018, 32 of the fastest men and women Speed climbing athletes on the planet went head-to-head in the bracket-style finals on the 15-metre Speed wall.

Poland topped the scoreboard in the women’s Speed final, sending four athletes to the quarterfinal and three athletes to the medal races. Rudzinska faced only Polish teammates on the way to the top of the podium after the first round. She edged Patrycja Chudziak in the quarterfinal by five hundredths of a second and capitalised on a slip from Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athlete Aleksandra Kalucka in the semi-final. After falling just shy of a medal in 2016, Rudzinska found redemption in Innsbruck, racing to the fastest time of the women’s Speed final (7.560 seconds) to best Anna Brozek for gold. Brozek recorded only times under eight seconds in placing 2nd. In the small final, Mariia Krasavina (RUS) won the bronze medal after a false start from Kalucka. Previous world champion Anna Tsyganova (RUS) placed 8th in Innsbruck, and Speed world record holders Anouck Jaubert (FRA) and Iuliia Kaplina (RUS) were both knocked out of finals in the first round.

2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck Austria Speed Aleksandra Rudzinska Poland

Limiting errors and maintaining consistency across races proved critical to success in the men’s Speed final, and Alipourshenazandifar did exactly that. The men’s Speed world record holder compiled three times under 6 seconds in the men’s Speed final, with his lowest time coming in the big final against Bassa Mawem (FRA). Both athletes sped to the finishing pad, but a slip from Mawem at the very last move was all it took for Alipourshenazandifar to claim the victory in Innsbruck and become Speed world champion after placing 3rd in 2014 and 2nd in 2016. Stanislav Kokorin, the only other athlete to record three times under 6 seconds in the men’s Speed final, continued the form in the small final against QiXin Zhong (CHN) for bronze. Zhong, a former world champion, recorded the best time of the men’s Speed final (5.609 seconds) in placing 4th. Previous world champion Marcin Dzienski placed 10th in Innsbruck. To see how all the nations compare in medals, find the provisional medal table on the IFSC web page for World Championships.

2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck Austria Speed Reza Alipourshena Iran

The final medals in Paraclimbing will be distributed on Friday, and the 2018 women’s Bouldering world champion and medallists will be known by evening’s end. Tune-in to the IFSC homepage to watch the LIVE streaming, and USA viewers can watch the women’s Bouldering semi-finals and finals LIVE on the IFSC website here. The schedule, links to replays, results and photos can be found on the Innsbruck event pages for Climbing and Paraclimbing, and don’t forget you can join the chat on Twitter at #IFSCwch.

USA viewers click here for the full replay of Speed finals on OlympicChannel.com.

2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck Austria Speed Podium Men 

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#IFSCwch SPEED Finals to air on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

The SPEED finals of the upcoming IFSC World Championships in Innsbruck will be televised on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, several times throughout September.

Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA is a partnership between the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and NBCUniversal. Sport Climbing has already been aired twice on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA this past June and August with action from IFSC World Cup Vail and IFSC World Cup Munich for American fans, and last week LEAD finals in Innsbruck were aired as well.

Viewers and fans can also watch the Olympic Channel LIVE streaming which is available to a worldwide audience at olympicchannel.com, on its mobile apps, and on the IFSC website here.

Semi-finals and finals will continue to be provided on IFSC YouTube as well, for viewers outside the United States. Tune-in at ifsc-climbing.org tonight at 20:00 (GMT+2 - local time).

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Innsbruck 2018: Day 7

Bouldering semi-finals and Paraclimbing finals were set today in the massive Kletterzentrum Innsbruck, the venue for qualification rounds of IFSC World Championships 2018.

Over a dozen elite European athletes advanced to Bouldering semi-finals, including Lead world champion Jakob Schubert (AUT), 2018 IFSC Bouldering World Cup season champion Jernej Kruder (SLO) and 2016 runner-up Adam Ondra (CZE). 5 Japanese athletes will join them on Saturday, led by reigning Bouldering world champion Tomoa Narasaki. Lead bronze medalist Alexander Megos (GER) just missed the semi-finals cut by top attempts.

As the sun set over the surrounding mountains, the second round of Paraclimbing qualifications took place in Innsbruck. Paraclimbing Cup winners this season Matthew Phillips and Abigail Robinson of Great Britain stood out as the only athletes to top both their qualification routes. Also a Paraclimbing winner this season, Thierry Delarue (FRA) continued to excel in his first IFSC season by leading the men's leg amputee category. Justin Salas (USA) also qualified for Paraclimbing finals tomorrow in first place, and reigning world champion Koichiro Kobayashi (JPN) and Francisco Javier Aguilar Amoedo (ESP) will be there too.

The results, schedule, replay of the men's Bouldering qualification and Day 7 highlights can be found on the Innsbruck event pages for Climbing and Paraclimbing. The next medals will be decided in Paraclimbing and Speed climbing tomorrow at the Olympiaworld Innsbruck arena. Tune-in for the live streaming at ifsc-climbing.org, and American viewers can watch the Speed finals here.

2018 IFSC World Championship Innsbruck Paraclimbing Qualification 5

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Innsbruck 2018: Day 6

After a quick rest day, the IFSC World Championships continued in Innsbruck today with the start of Bouldering and Paraclimbing qualification rounds.

The women's boulders challenged in the first half of the day, and many of the world's strongest athletes topped only one or two problems. 2nd in Lead, Janja Garnbret (SLO) continued to excel on the mats, the sole woman to top all five problems in her qualification group. Reigning Bouldering world champion Petra Klingler (SUI) was also among the 20 athletes advancing to semi-finals and topped two problems, like Lead winner Jessica Pilz of Austria. Japanese standouts Akiyo Noguchi and 2018 season champion Miho Nonaka will join them in bidding for finals on Friday.

In the evening, top athletes in 7 of the 12 Paraclimbing categories qualified for finals. RP competitors Hannah Baldwin (GBR), Alessio Cornamusini (ITA), Behnam Khalaji (IRI), and France's Marlene Prat and 2016 world champion Romain Pagnoux completed perfect double tops. Fellow French teammate and reigning world champion Lucie Jarrige also topped her category (AL-2), as well as Solenne Piret of France and Aika Yoshida (JPN).

Results, the replay of the women's Bouldering qualification and Day 6 highlights can be found on the Innsbruck event pages for Climbing and Paraclimbing.

2018 IFSC World Championships Innsbruck Paraclimbing Qualification 3

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Innsbruck 2018: Day 4 - Lead Men Final

On September 10th, Olympia World was welcoming the second Finals of those 2018 World Championships: Lead Men Finals.

Starting with the correct sequence was key on the men’s overhanging final route, as well as conserving enough energy on the steepest section of the wall to manage the finger strength and balance needed on the last moves. 2017 Lead world champion Adam Ondra set a new high point midway through the men ’s final Sunday evening, just missing the sweet spot on the next crimp which would have won him a third consecutive Lead world title. Instead, Jakob Schubert seized the opportunity by finding rests and withstanding the pump to match Ondra’s high point and become 2018 Lead world champion on countback to semi -finals. It was Schubert’s 2nd world title in Lead, coming in style six years later. Alexander Megos (GER) placed 3rd , hitting a strong iron cross just below their high point .

After a rest day on Monday, the world ’s best Sport Climbing athletes return to action at IFS C World Championships 2018 with Bouldering and Paraclimbing qualifications on Tuesday -Wednesday, and the next medals will be distributed in Speed climbing on Thursday. 

Find all the informations and REPLAY (both YouTube and Olympic Channel) about the current event.

2018 Wch NewDay4 podium

 

 

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Innsbruck 2018: Day 3 - Lead Women Final

It's been two years since the last IFSC World Championships Final and it was worth waiting as the best women climbers offered us a breathtaking show tonight in Innsbruck.

It all began with Semi-Finals where 4 athletes reached the Top: Janja Garnbret, Jain Kim, Jessica Pilz and Anak Verhoeven. Young Ashima Shiraishi and Mia Krampl fought there with tremendous energy. Let us note that the latter was winning the Junior Bouldering European Youth Championships only one week ago in Brussels. Behind her, 4 athletes reached the same hold (44+): Mei Kotake, Akiyo Noguchi, Laura Rogora and Hannah Schubert. This led to an unusual situation where 10 athletes were given access to the Lead Final in Olympia World.

The atmosphere herein was incredible as each of those 10 athletes climbed in front of an expert crowd. And it became obviously even more remarkable when the two locals of the event made their attemps. Hannah Schubert ranked 9th, improving her already promising 19th place in Paris 2016. The now silent Olympia World still resounds with the thunderous applause that pushed Jessica Pilz to the top. When she reached it, only one climber was left: Janja Garnbret. The reigning World Champion cruised to the Top and the time was then the only factor deciding who will be the new one. Being the fastest, Jessica Pilz became the new World Champion. As for the third place, Kim Jain took it, 4 years after her Title in Gijon (Spain).

Find all the informations and REPLAY (both YouTube and Olympic Channel) about the current event.

2018 Wch Day3Pilz

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Innsbruck 2018: Day 2

On Friday 7th, the day after the Women did, Men IFSC Lead athletes officially entered the 2018 Innsbruck World Championships.

 The Lead Qualifications required more than 6 hours to figure out which 26 athletes will qualify for the Semis as more than a hundreth competitors took their chance.

Domen Skofic and Adam Ondra took control of those qualifications and will compete in Sunday's Semi-Finals (LIVE at 01:00pm GMT+2) along with three locals: Georg Parma, Jakob Schubert and Max Rudigier.

2018 Wch News 2 a       2018 Wch News 2

Watch Day 2 Highlights below, check the pictures and find all the informations about the current event.

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#IFSCwch LEAD Semi-Finals and Finals to air on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

The LEAD semi-finals and finals of the upcoming IFSC World Championships in Innsbruck will be televised on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, several times throughout September:

WOMEN LEAD Finals will be televised for the first time on Saturday 15th at 06:00PM and repeated on Sunday 16th at 06:30AM, Friday 21st at 07:00AM and Wednesday 26th at 06:00AM.
MEN LEAD Finals will be first broadcasted on Sunday 16th at 06:00PM and repeated on Monday 17th at 07:30AM, Friday 21st at 09:00AM and finally Thursday 27th at 06:00AM.

Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA is a partnership between the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and NBCUniversal. Sport Climbing has already been aired twice on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA this past June and August with action from IFSC World Cup Vail and IFSC World Cup Munich for American fans.


Viewers and fans can also LIVE stream the semi-finals and finals of the IFSC World Championships Innsbruck 2018 on the Olympic Channel digital platform which is available to a worldwide audience at olympicchannel.com, on its mobile apps, or directly here under.

Semi-Finals and Finals will continue to be provided on IFSC YouTube as well, for viewers outside the United States.

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Innsbruck 2018: Day 1

2 years after Paris, the best IFSC athletes are currently gathering in Innsbruck for the 2018 IFSC World Championships. 

 The event began on September 6th with the Lead Women Qualifications officially launching this climbing festival and which took place under a beautiful Austrian blue sky. The event will last until September 16th

 

2018 IFSC Wch Photo Photo news day1 sandra

26 athletes qualified themselves for the upcoming Semi-Finals (September 8th, 01:00pm, GMT+2) regarding their climb during this first day at "Innsbruck Kletterzentrum". Janja Garnbret topped her two qualifying routes. The young Slovenian will compete in Semi-Finals along with 4 Austrians climbers. Sandra Lettner, Christine Schranz, Hannah Schubert and Jessica Pilz will try to qualify to Finals in front of their home crowd.

2018 IFSC Wch Photo news Day1 janja

Watch the highlights of that first day below, check the pictures and find all the informations about the current event.

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ORF Sport, ORF One to Televise Innsbruck Climbing, Paraclimbing

Starting on September 8th, Austrian national public service broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) will televise for Austrian viewers climbing and paraclimbing action in Innsbruck, the longest IFSC World Championships ever.

ORF brings an experienced team and advanced technical plan to the signature IFSC event of the 2018 season. Norbert Belina will comment during the production alongside Anna Stöhr for the women's rounds and Kilian Fischhuber for the men's rounds, with Johannes Hahn moderating.

"Climbing is at home in Austria, and the commitment of the Austrian National Television, ORF, is proof of this. Having ORF as the host broadcaster means that TV production for this event will be top notch. ORF has a wealth of experience and know-how when it comes to sports productions. While cooperating on the broadcasting, it is obvious how motivated and well-prepared they are to raise the bar. We are very much looking forward to presenting some great innovations," says Michael Schöpf, CEO of IFSC World Championships Innsbruck 2018.

Viewers outside Austria can tune-in to the IFSC homepage to follow the live streaming, and links to replays will be shared on the official Innsbruck event pages for Climbing and Paraclimbing where the competition schedule is listed.

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2018 European Youth Boulder Championships

The European Youth Boulder Championships were held in Brussels the past weekend, August 31st to September 2nd.


CMBEL (Climbing & Mountaineering Belgium) hosted the 2018 European Youth Boulder Championships in the historical frame of the “Parc du Cinquantenaire”. The competition saw the best Bouldering athletes in the European landscape competing in the Youth A, B and Juniors categories.
Following the Imst Lead and Speed Championships, this was also the occasion to award the European Overall Champions.

Finals were also live on YouTube. In addition you can find all the pictures or the event clicking here.

The complete results, can be found on the event page.

EYCH2© Xavier Lüthi

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Climb, come together, celebrate

This week, Sport Climbing fans and 531 registered athletes from 57 nations and 5 continents will “climb, come together, celebrate” at IFSC Climbing & Paraclimbing World Championships Innsbruck 2018.


173 athletes are registered to compete in all three Bouldering, Lead and Speed climbing disciplines this year at the biannual, signature event. The six top-scoring men and women will qualify for the Combined finals on the last day, the first of its kind at the IFSC World Championships. All eyes are on Janja Garnbret, 2017 Combined season champion in the IFSC World Cup series who won gold medals at the most recent Bouldering and Lead events in Munich and Arco. Visit Innsbruck2018.com for an in-depth interview with the Slovenian star athlete.

The IFSC World Championships this year will feature 139 Paraclimbing athletes across 12 categories. Leg amputee Lucie Jarrige, a reigning Paraclimbing world champion (AL2), soared to 1st place in front of her home crowd at the most recent Paraclimbing Cup in Briançon, France. Her compatriot Thierry Delarue, absent from the IFSC World Championships in 2016, could shake-up the men’s leg amputee category after setting an unmatched high point in Briançon finals. Great Britain and Italy also claimed multiple gold medals in Briançon. Gold medallist Matthew Phillips of Great Britain is one to watch in the forearm amputee category (AU2), as well as visually impaired teammate (B2) Abigail Robinson, victor at her first Paraclimbing Cup. Matteo Stefani and Giulio Cevenini of Italy will aim to perform as they did in Briançon and take the world titles held by visually impaired athletes Koichiro Kobayashi and Sho Aita of Japan. In the RP categories (limited range, power, stability), look for Paraclimbing world champions Elodie Orbaen (BEL) and Korbinian Franck (GER) near the top of the results.

Slovenia excelled at the final Bouldering event in the IFSC World Cup series this year in Munich. They won both gold medals and Jernej Kruder held-off Tomoa Narasaki of Japan to secure the season title. Kruder will face-off against the reigning Bouldering world champion again in Innsbruck. Japan dominated throughout much of the 2018 season, occupying two of the top three spots in both the men and women’s Bouldering season rankings. New season champion Miho Nonaka and veteran Akiyo Noguchi concluded the season with a thrilling grand finale in Munich. Both athletes will try to take the crown from reigning Bouldering world champion Petra Klingler (SUI). Click here for another interview with Noguchi and Narasaki.

Garnbret and climbing superstar Adam Ondra (CZE) closed the IFSC World Championships in 2016 with unforgettable tops in finals. If Ondra performs similarly under the spotlight in Innsbruck, he will become the first athlete in recent IFSC World Championships history to win three consecutive Lead world titles. A strong field could stop him which includes Austria’s own Jakob Schubert, a former Lead world champion and current frontrunner in the IFSC World Cup series in Lead, Stefano Ghisolfi (ITA) and Alexander Megos (GER). Click here to watch a video interview with Schubert on the IFSC YouTube channel. Only Schubert’s compatriot Jessica Pilz has beaten Garnbret this Lead season, and she must contest with former Lead world champion Jain Kim (KOR) and 2016 runner-up Anak Verhoeven (BEL) to do it again.

Long-time rivals Anouck Jaubert of France and Iuliia Kaplina of Russia continue to score low times on the 15-metre Speed climbing wall in the IFSC World Cup series. Kaplina returned to the top of the podium at the most recent event in Arco, and 2017 season champion and current season leader Jaubert matched Kaplina’s Speed world record in April. To watch Jaubert’s record-tying run, please click here. Arco winner and current season leader Danyil Boldyrev of Ukraine scored the fastest time of the season in Arco (5.58 seconds), but men’s Speed world record holder Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) may find the consistency needed to overtake the former Speed world record holder in Innsbruck. Reigning Speed world champions Marcin Dzienski (POL) and Anna Tsyganova of Russia, regularly team season champion in Speed climbing, are also registered to compete.

Finals and semi-finals in all disciplines at Innsbruck Olympiaworld will be LIVE streamed on IFSC YouTube and on the IFSC homepage and, for the first time this year, Bouldering and Lead qualifications will be LIVE streamed, taking place at Kletterzentrum Innsbruck. Fans in the United States can watch the Olympic Channel LIVE streaming on the IFSC website here and at OlympicChannel.com here when LIVE, and all replays will be available following the rounds on the official Innsbruck event pages for Climbing and Paraclimbing. Chat with us during the show at #IFSCwch, the hashtag for IFSC championship events, and click on the image below to watch the event slogan “climb, come together, celebrate” come alive.

Representatives of the media are invited to speak with medal winners the day after final rounds at 11:00 GMT+2 (local time) in the Press Centre of Innsbruck Olympiaworld and after the closing ceremony the final day at 18:30. For the full schedule, please click here

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IFSC Attends Asian Games

The 18th Asian Games is taking place in Jakarta, Indonesia from August 18th to September 2nd 2018. 

This multi-sport event that enables athletes from all over Asia to meet is considered as the biggest multi-sport event, just behind the Olympic Games. Sport Climbing was part of it as competitions in Combined, Speed and Speed relay took place August 23th-27th.
After a highly successful speed world cup season, Indonesia excelled at the event claiming medals in Speed and speed relay. Aspar Aspar took the bronze medal in the individual men’s event and Susanti Rahayu Aries and Lestari Puji claimed both Gold and Silver in the women’s speed competition. The podiums were rounded out by Reza Alipourshenazandi with a Gold for Iran, Qixin Zhong with silver, and for the women, Cuilian He from China with the Bronze.
As for speed relay, both Indonesian teams claimed Gold and Silver on the men’s side (China grabbing Bronze). Regarding the women speed relay, Indonesia also took Gold while China’s two teams completed the podium.

Japan and Korea claimed all of the podiums spot in the combined, with experienced World Cup Competitors demonstrating their experience. Jongwon Chon (Korea) claimed Gold, Kokoro Fujii (Japan) and Tomoa Narasaki (Japan) placed second and third respectively. Akiyo Noguchi (Japan) toped the podium for the women’s combined, with Sa Sol (Korea) and Kim Ja In (Korea) claimng second and third place.

The 2022 Asian Games will take place in Hangzhou (China) from September 10 to 25.

Click here to see all the results.

 

 

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August Executive Board Teleconference

On August 21st, the IFSC Executive Board met to discuss ongoing developments in the IFSC at its monthly teleconference. Topics included reports on the upcoming Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.


In addition, the Sport Department gave a report on the current season, an overview of the upcoming one and presented the 2019 calendar. The Communication Department reported on ongoing projects, with a particular focus on the communication plan for Buenos Aires 2018 and current discussions with international broadcasters.

The next IFSC teleconference will be held on September 19st, 2018.

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The Torch Dash Video Game

The Torch Tour kicked-off on August 5th, taking the Olympic spirit all over the country. Participate in the video game designed by OlympicChannel.com to feel part of the relay!

The video game, playable in the menu of Torch Tour or at https://interactive.olympicchannel.com/torchdashYOG/, provides the option to play as a man or a woman on the way to the first Youth Olympic Games with gender equality. "Torch Dash" allows players to follow the flame to all 17 cities that are part of the relay, and enlist the help of official Buenos Aires 2018 mascot #Pandi along the way.

For the complete news at BuenosAires2018.com, please click here.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Torch Dash 2

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#UnitedByTheFlame

The #UnitedBytheFlame campaign was launched by the Buenos Aires 2018 Organising Committee on August 3rd and enables social media users worldwide to join the 60-day Torch Tour. The Torch Tour will cover 14,000 kilometres, stopping in at 17 cities where the flame will be passed between a group of relay runners whose life stories are reflected in the Olympic values of respect, friendship and excellence.

The innovative digital campaign invites social media users to share their stories on Instagram using the hashtag #UnitedByTheFlame with a GIF bearing the Youth Olympic flame logo designed by Buenos Aires 2018 and a message for the image that relates to Olympic values.

For the full news on BuenosAires2018.com, please click here.

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Boulder Season Conclusion Broadcast around the World

The Munich World Cup reached audiences as never before due to numerous broadcasting deals secured by the IFSC. In addition to the IFSC Live stream and the Olympic Channel, the season finale of the 2018 Bouldering World Cup was broadcast by numerous broadcasters across three continents.

In the United States, the event was broadcast as live on Home of Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA is a partnership between the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and NBCUniversal.

In addition, the highly anticipated event was broadcast on the Japanese National Channel NHK. NHK provided audiences with the opportunity to watch the action LIVE, as well as catch a highlights program after the event. SkyA also used the event in its Sport Climbing highlights program available to Japanese audiences. Fuji TV covered the event with a strong focus on the Japanese athletes fighting for season titles.

More locally, the Bayerischer Rundfunk provided LIVE coverage of the event on their online platform.  In addition, the French Sport Channel L’Equipe aired the competition Delayed as Live. The competition was further mentioned in news and sports news features on Sat1, MuenchenTV, and TV Bayern Live.

“We are delighted to see that sport climbing competitions are now reaching new audiences all around the world. From Japan to USA, France, Germany and others, sport climbing pursues its growth with the support of broadcasters attracted by this young and breath taking sport. Our athletes deliver impressive performances, promoting the Olympic values and bringing a vertical dimension never seen before. We are proud to offer them an international exposure they fully deserve”, Anne Fuynel, IFSC Marketing & Communication Director.

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Kruder, Nonaka Bouldering Season Champions; Slovenia Shines in Munich

Jernej Kruder (SLO) and Miho Nonaka (JPN) became Bouldering season champions today at the Munich Olympic Stadium, host of the 7th and last IFSC Bouldering World Cup of 2018, and Kruder’s Slovenian teammates Janja Garnbret and Gregor Vezonik won the final gold medals.

The women’s final featured a nail-biting head-to-head contest between season leader Nonaka and 4-time season champion Akiyo Noguchi (JPN), with Noguchi needing to place 1st or 2nd and ahead of Japanese compatriot Nonaka to take the 2018 season title. She started strong by solving the dynamic start of F1 and completing the problem with 45 seconds remaining, but Nonaka and reigning Combined season champion Garnbret succeeded in fewer attempts. All three athletes flashed F2, and Nonaka maintained an edge over Noguchi on F3 by sticking the opening dyno and latching the dual-texture finishing hold on her first attempt. Noguchi kept the pressure on Nonaka on the fourth and last problem, showing her experience by making a quick flash. After five months of competition, the Bouldering season title came down to one final moment. Nonaka kept her composure and flashed the final problem to beat Noguchi on top attempts, her first season title after finishing among the top five athletes for five years. Noguchi placed 2nd in the season rankings, winning more gold medals (3) than any other athlete, and Fanny Gibert (FRA) placed 3rd. Scoring a perfect four flashes in finals, Garnbret claimed the final gold medal of the season in Munich.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Munich Germany Bouldering Podium Women

Slovenia exceled in semi-finals and the men’s final as well. Kruder needed to finish ahead of Tomoa Narasaki (JPN) in semi-finals if Narasaki placed 9th or better, and Kruder accomplished exactly that earlier today. The IFSC World Cup competitor since 2007 set himself up to qualify for finals and surpass Narasaki (9th) by completing the first top of M2. Narasaki matched Kruder with the most Bouldering medals in 2018 (4) and stood alongside Japanese teammate Rei Sugimoto on the men’s Bouldering season podium. In the final, Kruder’s teammate Vezonik achieved a lead he would never give up, flashing the technical first problem which prevented every other finalist from scoring four zone points. Kruder, Munich bronze medallist Jakob Schubert (AUT) and Yoshiyuki Ogata (JPN) found different solutions to the dynamic start of M2 and Yuji Fujiwaki (JPN) executed with precision for the sole top of M3, but none could stop Vezonik. He promptly flashed the concluding power problem for his first IFSC World Cup victory. Already season champion, Kruder flashed the final problem with the crowd cheering behind him for the silver medal in Munich, and Schubert flashed to earn the bronze by zone attempts.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Munich Germany Bouldering Podium Men

Thanks to three medals and a double victory in Munich, Slovenia secured 2nd place in the team Bouldering season ranking with 1344 points. Japan, dominant all season, topped the team ranking for the fifth straight season with 2269 points. France advanced two athletes to finals in Munich to hold off Austria for 3rd place. For the complete Bouldering rankings, please click here.

The complete results, replays, highlights and photos can be found on the Moscow event page, including links to replays for USA viewers on OlympicChannel.com.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Munich Germany Bouldering Podium Season Men

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Stage Set for Bouldering Showdown

Bouldering season leaders Jernej Kruder (SLO) and Miho Nonaka (JPN) will contest with Tomoa Narasaki (JPN) and Akiyo Noguchi (JPN) for the men and women’s Bouldering season titles August 17th-18th in Munich, Germany, the 7th and final IFSC Bouldering World Cup of the 2018 season.

Munich is a fixture in the Bouldering series, regularly hosting the final event of the season. This year, 231 athletes from 37 countries are registered to compete for their final chance to gain ground in the Bouldering season rankings. The stage is set for a showdown between the best Bouldering athletes in the world.

Nonaka finished within the top five Bouldering athletes in the women’s season ranking the past five years, and this year her first title is as close as ever. Nonaka has already matched her best finish ever, but one athlete could bump her down to 2nd place and take the title away. Bouldering legend and 4-time season champion Noguchi has won three times in 2018, and she needs to place 2nd or 1st in Munich and ahead of Nonaka to overtake her compatriot since the worst score is dropped in the final calculation for athletes competing in all seven events. Slovenian Janja Garnbret could make that result more difficult to achieve, since she has yet to finish worse than 2nd this season. Fanny Gibert of France is also on the start list and will clinch 3rd place by making the podium in Munich or if Stasa Gejo (SRB) doesn’t win. Be sure to keep an eye on Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 (YOG) qualified athlete Hannah Meul as well, who placed 10th in Vail and will be climbing in front of her home crowd.

The face-off for the men’s title is equally tight. Kruder won his first IFSC World Cup to start the season in Meiringen and has made three podiums, scoring within the top eight athletes at every event. Only 2016 Bouldering season and world champion Narasaki has stood on more Bouldering podiums in 2018 (4), and he bested Kruder for the final podium spot in Vail. Narasaki will need to place 9th or better and ahead of Kruder in Munich to retake the title. The final spot on the Bouldering season podium is less decided for the men. Rei Sugimoto (JPN), winner in Vail, can clinch 3rd place by finishing 1st or 2nd in Munich. Reigning season champion Jongwon Chon (KOR) and ‘16-‘17 bronze medallist Aleksei Rubtsov (RUS) will try to stop him.

Winners of the Bouldering team ranking since 2014, Japanese athletes have amassed 2269 points this season and are poised for another title. Slovenia, 3rd last year, has already increased their total in 2018 (1107) and will look to hold off France in Munich for 2nd place. Currently ranked 7th, 25 registered German athletes could improve their positioning in the final ranking.

Semi-finals and finals of IFSC World Cup Munich 2018 will be live streamed on the IFSC homepage Saturday 18th August at 12:00 and 18:20 GMT+2, respectively. Fans in the United States can watch the Olympic Channel live streaming on the IFSC website here and at OlympicChannel.com here. The schedule, starters, 2017 highlights and more can be found on the Munich event page, and chat on Twitter during the show at #IFSCwc.

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Day 8: Magical Finish in Moscow

Colin Duffy of the United States and Natsuki Tanii of Japan closed out the 2018 IFSC Youth World Championships in Moscow with applause, topping the final routes of Youth B Lead finals.

Speed youth world champion Jimin Jeong of Korea took a provisional lead among female finalists by falling at the first volume of the headwall. Runner-up Nika Potapova was first to catch the screw-on and continue a few crimps further for Ukraine’s first medal in Moscow. YueTong Zhang also completed the move and dropped just shy of Potapova’s high point for China’s first medal. Last to climb, Bouldering youth world champion Tanii concluded the climbing for female youth stars in Moscow by jumping for the top hold and latching it with one hand to become Lead youth world champion too.

Tanii’s compatriot Kentaro Maeda excelled on the final route for male Youth B athletes, balancing across the slopers on the headwall for the bronze medal. 2nd in Bouldering, Thomas Podolan of Austria matched the performance in Lead, hugging the penultimate feature and leaping out right for the first top. Champion in 2017 after a crowd-pleasing dynamic finish, Duffy replicated the feat in Moscow. Under pressure as the last climber of the eight-day competition, he stuck the concluding dyno for another magical finish, defending the Lead title on countback to semi-finals where he achieved the sole top. Duffy and Youth A champion Hidemasa Nishida were the only athletes in Moscow to never fall on the Lead wall.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Lead Youth B Colin Duffy USA

Thanks to Duffy’s final top, the United States rose from 6th place to 3rd in the team medal table with two victories and six medals. As in 2017, Japan, Russia and the United States occupied the top three places in 2018. After dominating in Speed the first half of the competition, the host nation of Russia maintained an edge by one bronze medal for 2nd place. Champions in 2017, Japan defended first place in Moscow, bringing home a leading six gold medals and 14 medals in total.

The complete results, replays and highlights can be found on the Moscow event page, and click here for the complete medal table.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Lead Youth B Podium Female

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Bouldering Finale to air on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

The final IFSC Bouldering World Cup of the 2018 season in Munich will be televised on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, on Saturday August 18th at 6:00pm Eastern Time. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA is a partnership between the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and NBCUniversal. Sport Climbing first aired on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA this past June with action from IFSC World Cup Vail for American fans.

Viewers and fans can also LIVE stream the semi-finals and finals of IFSC World Cup Munich on August 17th-18th on the Olympic Channel digital platform which is available to a worldwide audience at olympicchannel.com and on its mobile apps. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA is a partnership between the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and NBCUniversal.

Coverage will continue to be provided on IFSC YouTube as well, for viewers outside the United States.

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Day 7: 5 More Medals for Japan in Lead, 1st Gold for Slovenia, USA

Leader in the medal table after Bouldering, Japan continued to excel in Youth A and Juniors Lead finals in Moscow and Slovenia and the United States won their first gold medal of the 2018 IFSC Youth World Championships.

Camille Pouget (FRA) kicked-off the traditional resistance climbing on the progressively overhanging Lead wall, reaching the headwall where the angle eases for 5th place. Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athlete Sandra Lettner (AUT) made one more move to take the bronze medal over Eliska Adamovska (CZE) on countback to semi-finals. Runner-up in 2017, American Brooke Raboutou followed their performances by setting a high point none could equal. She fought past the tiny screw-ons and slippery pinches curling to the top hold, falling just short of the chains for the United States’ first victory. Bouldering medalist Futaba Ito reached the screw-on holds for 2nd place and Japan’s 8th medal.

On the final route for male athletes, Bouldering youth world champion and YOG qualified athlete Sam Avezou set a new high point at the tricky elongated volume before the final hold. French teammate Alistair Duval stuck the move to place 4th, and Katsura Konishi of Japan made positive movement to match on the volume for 3rd place. Two finalists mastered all the Bouldering-style moves, completing the first tops of the day. Runner-up Luka Potocar of Slovenia found the sweet spot of the volume to continued onward and clip the chains. Hidemasa Nishida fought the pump to join him atop the route and stand atop the podium on countback to semi-finals, increasing Japan’s medal count to 10. YOG qualified athlete Peter Kuric (SVK) finished in 7th place.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Lead Youth A Podium Male

In the Juniors Lead finals, France and Japan added two medals and Bouldering youth world champion Meichi Narasaki (JPN) and YOG qualified athlete Vita Lukan (SLO) won their second medals in Moscow. Bronze medalist Nina Arthaud of France started the high climbing, reaching the series of pinches on the headwall before falling. YOG qualified athlete Elena Krasovskaia (RUS) fell lower on the route, leaving only YOG qualified athletes Nolwenn Arc of France and Lukan left to test their endurance. Arc secured the penultimate hold for France’s 2nd medal of the day and 5th total. Last to climb, Lukan obtained her 2nd medal in Moscow after placing 3rd in Bouldering by falling at the very last hold for gold, Slovenia’s first of the competition.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Lead Junior Podium Female

Among male finalists, YOG qualified athletes Pietro Biagini and Filip Schenk of Italy fell just after reaching the headwall to place 8th and 6th. On the Bouldering podium, Kai Harada (JPN) earned another bronze medal in Lead by battling to the final volume before the top. Runner-up Jakub Konecny refused to fall on the route, clipping the chains to enter the Czech Republic in the medal table. Narasaki matched Konecny with a top of his own and won on countback to semi-finals, becoming the Bouldering and Lead youth world champion of 2018 and claiming Japan’s 12th medal.

The full results, replays and highlights can be found on the Moscow event page, and click here for the updated medal table.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Lead Junior Podium Male

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Munich finals on la chaine L’Équipe

The French television channel la chaine L’Équipe will broadcast in near live on August 18th finals of IFSC World Cup Munich 2018.

French viewers can tune-in at 20:15 CET to watch the programming, to be streamed simultaneously at lachainelequipe.fr, and get ready for the action by watching the trailer below.

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Day 6: Japan Concludes Bouldering with Double Victory

Japan concluded the Bouldering at IFSC Youth World Championships Moscow 2018 with a double victory and the provisional lead in the medal table. 2017 winner Rei Kawamata defended the title and last year’s runner-up Natsuki Tanii climbed to first place.

Five of the six female finalists solved the technical climbing on the volume cluster of F1, including Tanii and compatriot Hana Kudo who both flashed. Tanii and Naile Meignan (FRA) took the lead on the second problem, successfully working through the jump start and miniscule screw-ons defending the top hold. Canadian Indiana Chapman showed finesse on F3, capturing the lone top of the problem to place 4th with one top. On the finishing power problem, Kudo surpassed the large features for the bronze medal. Meignan put the pressure on Tanii with a top of her own, forcing her to top in two attempts or less to exchange the silver medal in 2017 for gold. Tanii stayed composed and needed only one attempt to reach the top hold and the top of the podium for the Youth B Bouldering title.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Bouldering Youth Natsuki Tanii Japan

2017 Youth B medalists Kawamata and Ryoei Nukui began the final for male athletes with tops and the early lead. Every finalist completed the run start and overhanging traverse to the final hold on M2, but only Thomas Podolan of Austria flashed the problem. The pace slowed on the M3 slab, but the delicate walk to the zone point proved no problem for Kawamata, Podolan and Paul Jenft (FRA), who placed 4th. Podolan used smart body positioning to scale the series of volumes on the last problem for Austria’s first medal in Moscow, requiring a top from Kawamata to win. The now two-time Bouldering youth world champion did just that, the only finalist to top all four problems in finals. Already on the podium, Nukui ended his round with a top for good measure, maintaining his bronze medal and making it four medals for Japan in Youth B.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Bouldering Youth B Rei Kawamata Japan

The full results, replay and highlights can be found on the Moscow event page, and click here for the updated medal table.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Bouldering Youth B Podium Female

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IFSC Youth World Championships Schedule Update

On Monday, August 13th, the Youth B Boulder Semi-finals ath the 2018 Youth World Championships Moscow will be delayed. Previously scheduled to start at 12:00 local time, the event will now begin half an hour later, at 12:30.

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Day 4: YOG Qualified Athletes Soar in Moscow

Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 (YOG) qualified athletes Sam Avezou of France and Italian Laura Rogora soared to 1st place on the last problems of Youth A Bouldering finals in Moscow. YOG qualified athletes Nathan Martin (FRA) and Lucka Rakovec (SLO) also won medals in Bouldering at the 2018 IFSC Youth World Championships.

A crowd-facing start kicked off the final for the 6 female athletes. Rogora solved the crux and showed her strength by leaping to the top hold for the flash and an early lead. Rakovec used alternative beta by dynoing straightaway, and Saki Kikuchi dangled by one hand at the move for a top as well. Every athlete struggled to cross the volumes of F2 and big reach to the small finishing hold of F3, leaving F4 to decide the podium. Rogora showed no signs of fatigue on the concluding static climbing, stepping up the ladder of volumes and onto the top of the Youth A Bouldering podium with a flash for the Bouldering title. Rakovec scored the zone point for second place and Slovenia’s third medal, and Futaba Ito of Japan topped with just over 30 seconds remaining to knock teammate Kikuchi off the podium.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Bouldering Youth A Laura Rogora Italy

M1 tested the composure of the 6 male finalists, requiring a flash to be among the leaders. Avezou and Eneko Carretero Crux of Spain separated from the field on M2, the only athletes to surpass the crimp crux of the slab problem on their first attempt. A two-hand dyno followed by big moves changed the pace on M3, but Avezou and Carretero Crux stayed perfect with three tops in three attempts and Martin also completed his third top to stay in the hunt for gold. On the last problem, Carretero Crux cruised through the opening power moves but peeled off at the technical finishing press on his first attempt, giving Avezou an opportunity to take the victory by topping in one or two attempts. After dropping to the mats on hist first attempt, Avezou regained composure and duly topped on his second attempt to take the victory on countback to semi-finals. Martin joined him on the podium with a top of his own, making it two medals for France in Youth A Bouldering finals and four among YOG qualified athletes.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Bouldering Youth A Sam Avezou France

Ekaterina Barashchuk and Gian Luca Zodda, former Speed youth world champions, capped off the Speed climbing at IFSC Youth World Championships Moscow by regaining the title in their last year of Juniors. Five Russian athletes advanced to the medal races on Sunday in front of their home crowd, including Barashchuk who bested teammate Elena Remizova in the semi-final and Elizaveta Ivanova who guaranteed another gold medal for Russia. In a tight final race, Barashchuk scored the fastest time of the round (8.12 seconds) and slapped the finishing pad four hundredths of a second before Ivanova. It was her second Speed title since she competed at the IFSC Youth World Championships in 2014 in Noumea, New Caledonia. In the small final, Remizova capitalised on a fall from Elisabetta Dalla Brida (ITA) to join her compatriots on the all-Russian podium. YOG qualified athlete and Combined world champion Elena Krasovskaia also climbed in finals, placing 6th.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Speed Juniors Barashchuk

Zodda raced past Demyan Zaytsev of Russia in the semi-final and overcame a slip in the big final to hand Italy a gold medal in Speed climbing. Zodda was last crowned with the Speed title in 2016 in Guangzhou, China. American Noah Bratschi eliminated 2017 Youth A champion Sergei Rukin (RUS), the fastest male athlete of the round (6.21 seconds), from contention in the semi-final and placed 2nd. In the small final, Rukin slipped early and Zaytsev continued upward for Russia’s 4th medal in Juniors and 7th in Moscow so far.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Speed Juniors Zodda Italy

The full results, replays and highlights can be found on the Moscow event page, and click here for the updated medal table.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Speed Juniors Podium Male

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Speed Juniors Podium Female

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Bouldering Youth A Podium Male

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Day 3: Narasaki, Slaney End Youth Careers on Top

Second-year Juniors Meichi Narasaki (JPN) and Hannah Slaney (GBR) rose to the top of the first Bouldering podium in Moscow at their last IFSC Youth World Championships.

A dynamic start and physical moves greeted the six female finalists on the first problem. Combined world champion and Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 (YOG) qualified athlete Elena Krasovskaia began with a flash in front of her home crowd, matched by Urska Repusic of Slovenia. Precision was required to conserve energy on the tiny screw-ons of F2, and Slaney flashed to take the lead. YOG qualified athletes Vita Lukan (SLO) and Mao Nakamura (JPN) also topped the second problem. All five athletes kept the friction across volumes and slopers and a tricky swing for the zone point on F3, leaving the final problem to decide the podium. Repusic found a static solution to maintain her balance through the challenging traverse of F4 for 2nd place, and Slaney scored the zone point to become the first Bouldering youth world champion of Great Britain. Lukan joined teammate Repusic on the podium, edging Nakamura by completing her three tops in less attempts.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Bouldering Juniors Hannah Slaney Great Britain

Kai Harada of Japan started strong among male finalists, hanging by one hand to secure the opening dyno and continuing onward for the sole top of M1. Narasaki and Yannick Flohé (GER) rebounded with tops of their own on M2, solving the technical rollover to do so. Every athlete topped M3, leaving the final moments to again decide the Bouldering winners. Narasaki flashed the powerful fourth problem to exchange his silver medal last year for gold, and Flohé earned Germany’s first medal in Moscow with a top of his own. Harada scored the zone point for 3rd place in a dramatic last effort, and Matteo Manzoni (ITA) topped M4 but just missed the podium.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Bouldering Juniors Meichi Narasaki Japan

The full results, replay and highlights can be found on the Moscow event page, and click here for the updated medal table.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Bouldering Juniors Podium Female

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Day 2: Korea, Italy Enter Medal Race

Haram Jeon and Jimin Jeong became the first Speed youth world champions for Korea on day two of the 2018 IFSC Youth World Championships. Italy and the United States also won two medals in Youth B Speed finals to improve their odds in the medal race in Moscow.

Anna Calanca of Italy bested Kiara Pellicane-Hart in the semi-final with the fastest time among Youth B female athletes (8.67 seconds), securing the first medal for Italy in Moscow. A small slip in the final race was all Jeong needed to surpass Calanca and take the first title for Korea in Speed climbing at the IFSC Youth World Championships. Pellicane-Hart gained the lead in the small final, but a late fall handed the Bronze medal to American teammate Emma Hunt, who added a bronze medal to the team’s tally.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Speed Female Final

Jeon soared in the final race of Speed finals for male Youth B athletes. He was the only competitor to climb the 15-metre Speed wall in under 7 seconds (6.95 seconds), giving Korea the provisional lead in the medal table and its second gold medal by beating Italian Andrea Zappini.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Korea Coach

Zappini was quick all day, ousting 2017 bronze medalist Evgeny Kuzin in the quarterfinal and making it two silver medals for Italy. Maksim Ryzhov, the sole Russian athlete in the Youth B medal races, grabbed the lead early in the small final but slipped towards the top, allowing enough time for Ellis Ernsberger to claim the second bronze medal for the United States today and third medal in Moscow.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Speed Male Final

The full results, replay and highlights can be found on the Moscow event page, and click here for the updated medal table.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Speed Podium Youth B Male

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IFSC Signs Convention of Collaboration with CISM

The partnership between the IFSC and the International Military Sports Council (CISM) was formally agreed yesterday morning at the IFSC Youth World Championships in Moscow.

IFSC President Marco Scolaris and Colonel Dorah Mamby Koita, Secretary General of CISM, signed the Convention of Collaboration on the first day of competition alongside Dmitry Bychkov, President of the Climbing Federation of Russia, IFSC Honorary Member Alexander Piratinskiy and Colonel Artem Gromov, CISM responsible officer of Sport Climbing.

This document aims to develop training and competition of Climbing by all military sportsmen either professional or amateurs; encourages the implementation of women’s military sport; establishes true synergies in the sports field between both institutions; identifies shared goals and objectives between CISM and IFSC; sets up joint educational initiatives to protect Climbing against the dangers of doping; establishes collaboration in the area of International Technical Officials; and promotes the values of the sport.

IFSC athletes showed their strength, stamina and speed at the 3rd CISM World Winter Games last year in Sochi, Russia, and the first CISM World Military Championship of Sport Climbing will take place in Moscow this year from November 27th to December 3rd.

"We have been collaborating with CISM for nearly a decade, and we are proud to further recognise our military athletes and continue working alongside CISM to fulfill the shared objectives and values of this agreement ," says President Scolaris.

More information about the signing can be found in the full news on the CISM website.

2018 CISM Signing Group Photo

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Day 1: Kalucka, Nagaev First to Gold in Moscow

Natalia Kalucka of Poland and Russia’s own Almaz Nagaev raced to the first gold medals of the 2018 IFSC Youth World Championships in Moscow today.

N. Kalucka capitalized on an early slip from teammate and 2017 champion Aleksandra Kalucka in the semi-final, the fastest female athlete in Youth A today (7.93 seconds). Kamilla Kushaeva of Russia, bronze medalist in Youth B last year, joined her in the big final after slapping the finishing pad three hundredths of a second before teammate Daria Potapova, 2017 runner-up in Youth B. Both flawless in the final race, N. Kalucka earned the first victory this week in Moscow in another tight race over Kushaeva, who secured the first medal for Russia. In the small final, Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 (YOG) qualified athlete A. Kalucka held on for bronze over Potapova.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Speed Kalucka

Nagaev and Russian teammate Eduard Daukaev each scored only one time above 7 seconds in the Speed finals, and Nagaev advanced in the semi-final by less than one tenth of a second. American Jordan Fishman climbed against him in the big final, the fastest male Youth A athlete in Moscow (6.40 seconds). When Fishman slipped in the last race, Nagaev seized the opportunity in front of his home crowd to become the first youth world champion for Russia this year. In the small final, Daukaev outpaced YOG qualified athlete and Ecuadorian speedster Nickolaie Rivadeneira for Russia’s third medal of the competition.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Speed Nagaev

Visit the official event page for the full results, Youth A Speed finals replay and day one highlights in Moscow, and click here for the current medal table.

2018 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Moscow Russia Speed Podium Youth A Female

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Updated: YWCH Moscow Schedule

Officials, coaches and athletes at the IFSC Youth World Championships in Moscow are advised that the technical meeting on Wednesday 8th August has been moved to 19:30, the location remains the same.

In addition, please note the changes to the schedule of the competition. Click here for the new schedule of IFSC Youth World Championships Moscow 2018.

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Youth Stars Aim for World Titles

699 youth athletes from 5 continents and 43 countries take the spotlight at the IFSC Youth World Championships on August 9th-16th in Moscow, Russia. The young Sport Climbing stars will compete over eight days to be crowned Bouldering, Lead and Speed youth world champions of 2018.

Separated by age into three categories, the IFSC Youth World Championships annually gather Juniors (18-19), Youth A (16-17) and Youth B (14-15) standouts from nations around the globe for nearly nonstop competition climbing in the three Sport Climbing disciplines. This year, multiple qualified athletes for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 (YOG) test their preparations while aiming for the world titles. Click here for the provisional list of qualified athletes.

American Ashima Shiraishi has dominated at the IFSC Youth World Championships in Bouldering and Lead, placing first for three consecutive years. This year, she will have to contest with Youth B Bouldering champion Futaba Ito (JPN) in Youth A. With the graduation of Bouldering youth world champion Yoshiyuki Ogata from Juniors, 2017 runner-up Meichi Narasaki (JPN) is poised to claim the title in 2018. YOG qualified athlete and Youth A Bouldering champion Filip Schenk (ITA) will try to stop him, also moving up to the next category this year. In Youth B, runner-up Semen Ovchinnikov climbs at home this year, and champion Rei Kawamata will look to continue Japan’s Bouldering legacy.

Japan also performed well in Lead to accumulate more medals at the IFSC Youth World Championships in 2017 (24) than any other nation. YOG qualified athlete and Youth A Lead champion Shuta Tanaka should set the bar high again in 2018, and Lead youth world champion Ai Mori and runner-up Natsuki Tanii will aim for more Tops in Moscow. The United States also soared in Lead and Bouldering in 2017 to place second in gold medals (5). Runner-up Brooke Raboutou matched Shiraishi’s top score in Lead finals last year, and both athletes climb in Youth A in Moscow. Their teammate Colin Duffy will look to recreate his inspiring top in 2017 in Youth B, and Kai Lightner returns for his final year of Juniors.

Russia earned the most medals in a single discipline last year, tallying 11 medals in Speed. The home of Speed climbing and host of this year’s IFSC Youth World Championships is set to impress again in the discipline this year. YOG qualified athlete Georgii Morozov and Speed champion Sergei Rukin advance to Juniors this year and posted competitive times for the category last year. 2017 runner-up Elizaveta Ivanova and YOG qualified athlete Elena Krasovskaia are strong candidates to impress in front of their home crowd as well. Also keep an eye on 2017 medallist Evgeny Kuzin in Youth B. Finally, don’t miss any of Aleksandra Kalucka’s races. The YOG qualified athlete and Youth A Speed champion from Poland has recorded fast times in 2018 near the women’s Speed world record (7.32 seconds), and she could end up with another title and a record.

Every semi-final and final round in Moscow will be live streamed on the IFSC homepage, and follow scores from your phone by downloading the “YWCH 2018” results application. Full results, starters, schedule and trailer can be found on the official Moscow event page.

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GDPR Compliance

The IFSC Administration and Sport Directors Francesca Jengo and Silvia Verdolini attended a series of workshops held by GAISF in Lausanne dedicated to the latest General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).


In addition, the IFSC has acquired the services of an international Sport lawyer to provide specific advice.
This IFSC aims to provide the most comprehensive data protection for our Athletes and National Federations in accordance with the latest update of the regulations.

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New Registration Deadline for IFSC World Cup Kranj

National Federations, please take note of a change to the registration deadline for IFSC World Cup Kranj 2018.

After an analysis made by the Event Organiser, a very high number of participants is expected this year in Kranj. In order to properly plan the event, the deadline for all National Federations to register for IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj 2018 has been changed to Wednesday, the 19th of September, at 23.59 CEST.

Please note that further analysis will be made following this date, in respect to the number of competitors and in order to make the event sustainable for the Athletes, the Event Organisers and the IFSC.

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IFSC Attends OutDoor Retailer Conference

IFSC Secretary General Debra Gawrych and IFSC Calendar Coordinator Alessandro Di Cato attended the OutDoor Retailer Conference on July 23rd-26th in Denver, Colorado, a leading business-to-business outdoor sports show where industry brands, retailers, suppliers and leaders gather.

During the conference, they met with USA Climbing CEO Marc Norman and COO John Muse, as well as representatives of the Vail Valley Foundation. The discussion centred on developments of IFSC World Cup Vail, among other Sport Climbing topics.

“We are happy to work with our member Federations and Event Organizers to put on fantastic events that benefit all stakeholders. USA Climbing and The Vail Valley Foundation (Go Pro Mountain Games Event) have been good partners and we are working together to make the event even better.” says Secretary General Gawrych.

In addition, meetings also took place with attendees of the Climbing Wall Summit, where IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru and IFSC Sport Director Silvia Verdolini launched the IFSC Official Sport Equipment.

 

"The OutDoor Retailer Conference in Denver was a great opportunity to connect with industry professionals and share ideas about increasing the visibility of Sport Climbing, in the USA and worldwide". Says Secretary General Gawrych.

2018 Outdoor Retailer Denver Colorado

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Boldyrev Defends Gold, Russia Claims 3 Medals, Garnbret, Schubert Victorious Again

Danyil Boldyrev (UKR) defended first place and 2017 season runner-up Iuliia Kaplina (RUS) returned to the top of the podium at the 6th Speed event of 2018 in Arco, Italy. In Lead, Janja Garnbret (SLO) won for the third time this year and Jakob Schubert (AUT) earned his second victory at the 4th Lead event.

The popular climber’s town of Arco and long-time IFSC World Cup host welcomed another group of elite Sport Climbers to its towering competition walls for the final Lead and Speed events of July. Finals took place on Saturday evening, beginning with the world’s fastest athletes. Russian Speed stars Kaplina and Mariia Krasavina hung on in tight semi-final races to surpass 2018 leader Anouck Jaubert (FRA) and Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athlete Aleksandra Kalucka (POL). All athletes recorded times under 8 seconds in the medal races. 2017 season runner-up Kaplina returned to the top of the podium by climbing within 1 hundredth of a second of her own Speed world record. Jaubert joined Krasavina on the podium, beating Kalucka by just one thousandth of a second.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Arco Italy Speed Iuliia Kaplina Russia

For the men, Chamonix winner Boldyrev and Aleksandr Shilov of Russia advanced to the big final after small slips from Villars winner Dmitrii Timofeev (RUS) and Speed world record holder Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) in the semi-final. Recording only times under 6 seconds in finals, Boldyrev bested Shilov in the last race with the fastest time of the day (5.58s) for back-to-back victories and the lead in the Speed season rankings, and Shilov made it three medals for Russia. In the small final against Timofeev, Alipourshenazandifar rebounded to return to the top of the Speed podium.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Arco Italy Speed Danyil Boldyrev Ukraine

Overhanging walls surrounding the Speed well set the stage for the finale in Lead. Anak Verhoeven (BEL) put forth another strong effort in finals but timed out again on the long route for 3rd place. Only two women have won Gold in Lead events this season, and they concluded the women’s final in Arco. Chamonix winner Jessica Pilz (AUT) fought the pump to reach the upper panel and fell a few moves short of the top hold for 2nd place and her fourth podium of the Lead season. Last to climb, 2017 season champion and 2018 season leader Garnbret again set the high point in finals for her third victory and fourth podium in Lead this year. The crowd held their breath when Garnbret held a swing where Pilz fell and reset her feet before latching the winning hold.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Arco Italy Lead Janja Garnbret Slovenia

The men’s final centred on a technical crux sequence high up on the wall. Chamonix winner Stefano Ghisolfi of Italy set a new high point for the home crowd in falling at the tenuous transition between two volumes. Climbing legend Adam Ondra (CZE) and Domen Skofic (SLO) looked in form but popped off the route just before his mark. Winner in Villars, 2018 season leader Schubert earned another spot atop the podium by keeping the friction with a high heel hook and powerful crossover to complete three more moves for the victory. Skofic placed third over Ondra on countback to semi-finals.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Arco Italy Lead Jakob Schubert Austria

5th in Chamonix, Kalucka continues to excel in the IFSC Speed World Cup. She challenged 2016 season champion Kaplina and 2017 season champion Jaubert in placing 4th in Arco, matching Sandra Lettner (AUT) and YiLing Song (CHN) for the best finish at an IFSC World Cup among Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athletes. In Lead, Chamonix finalist Shuta Tanaka (JPN) returned to finals and placed 5th.

Visit the Arco event page for the full results, replays, highlights, photos and more.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Arco Italy Podium Speed Men

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Arco Italy Podium Lead Women

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Arco Italy Podium Lead Men

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Timetable Changes for IFSC World Cup Arco

There is a new timetable for the IFSC Lead & Speed World Cup in Arco.

Please click here for the new timetable or on the Arco event page. In addition, there is a 30-minute delay to Lead semi-finals, now starting at 12:30 local time.

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Olympic Channel Features 5 New Sports

2018 Olympic Channel Sport Climbing Going Olympic Futaba Ito Japan

In 2020, the world will welcome five sports to the Olympic programme at the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo. In the new Olympic Channel original series, "Going Olympic: Tokyo 2020," viewers will be introduced to these sports while exploring Japan's vibrant sports scene and cultural traditions. The multi-part series premiered on the Olympic Channel global digital platform, which is available worldwide at olympicchannel.com and on its mobile apps.

Produced exclusively for the Olympic Channel by VICE Media Japan, "Going Olympic: Tokyo 2020" is the Olympic Channel's first original series filmed entirely in Japan and uses Japanese as the primary language (subtitling available in 11 languages). The Sport Climbing episode is called "How a Japanese climbing prodigy masters the Rock of Iwate" and chronicles the physical and spiritual journey to climbing of 16-year-old Futaba Ito, the reigning Youth B Bouldering and Combined world champion.

Watch the feature below, and a description of all the episodes can be found in the complete news here.

 

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2 Years to Go to Tokyo 2020

Yesterday officially marked two years to go until the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and a countdown ceremony was held in Tokyo to celebrate the milestone.

Based on a theme inspired by Japanese summer festivals, the ceremony was attended by a number of Olympic athletes and medallists as well as the new Tokyo 2020 Olympic mascot Miraitowa and Paralympic mascot Someity. They were joined by elementary school pupils from the local community in a lively celebration to mark the event.

2020 Olympic Games Tokyo 2 Two Years To Go Mascots credit Tokyo 2020© Tokyo 2020

731 commemorative lanterns representing the number of days remaining until the commencement of the Games were unveiled at the ceremony, containing messages from the children and other attendees recording their hopes and aspirations for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The Olympic athletes joining the ceremony included swimmer Rikako Ikee, gymnast Ryohei Kato and track and field sprinter Kenji Fujimitsu, as well as sport climber Miho Nonaka and three time Olympic judo gold medallist Tadahiro Nomura.

More information can be found in the complete news at the Tokyo 2020 website.

© Tokyo 2020
2020 Olympic Games Tokyo 2 Two Years To Go Athlete Miho Nonaka Japan credit Tokyo 2020

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IFSC developing a new result system, open to National Federations

Vertical-Life, a leading provider of business software for the climbing industry, has recently been commissioned by the IFSC to develop the new membership database and competition result software.

"It is our goal to provide a system that can enhance the experience of organizers, officials, athletes and spectators," says Matthias Polig, CEO of the Dolomites-based software house Vertical-Life. "Our team looks forward to contributing our experience in software development, user interface design and event organisation."

The new software will be used in all IFSC competitions, such as World Cups and World Championships. Key features for its design are user-friendliness and ease of data entry in support of judges for a smooth running of competitions. IFSC President, Marco Maria Scolaris comments: "We have been impressed by this young team of highly skilled individuals. We are confident their dynamism and fresh look into Sport Climbing will produce an incredible platform available to all our member federations."

The IFSC new partnership is part of a project intended to facilitate the growth of National Federations and the development of the sport globally. It will be possible to configured the software in order to satisfy requirements and needs of each federation. The new IFSC membership and result system is scheduled to be launched by the beginning of 2019.

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Buenos Aires Flame Lights Up the World

Olympic traditions and the energy of youth combined on Tuesday to give birth to the youth Olympic flame for Buenos Aires 2018 in an emotional ceremony at Athens’ historic Panathenaic Stadium. The flame’s journey will last two months and cover 14,000 kilometres. During its tour, it will spread the Olympic values of friendship, respect, and excellence while sending a message about the transformative power of sport to build a better society.

"I assure you that the flame’s glow doesn’t know distances. Its radiance is in the dreams of all athletes who are giving our best day by day to triumph at Buenos Aires 2018. And it’s also the dream of our families, who never stop helping us to be faster, to go further and become stronger," said Valentina Muñoz, one of the South American athletes carrying the flame.

The youth Olympic flame will arrive in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, July 25, and will be welcomed in an official act in the following days at the Youth Olympic Village. Visit the Buenos Aires 2018 website for the full news, and the Lighting Ceremony can be watched below.

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Job Opening: IFSC Communications Assistant

The IFSC is looking for a Communications Assistant to assist the Marketing & Communications Department. The job requires an efficient worker with strong organizational and writing skills who is comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment.

The full-time position is based at IFSC headquarters in Torino, Italy. Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “Communications Assistant Application” in the subject line by August 17th, 2018.

For the full job description, please click here.

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Media Accreditation Now Open for IFSC World Championships

Media may now request accreditation to the IFSC Climbing & Paraclimbing World Championships taking place from September 6th to 16th in Innsbruck, Austria, the signature IFSC event of the 2018 season.

Wednesday marked 50 days to go until the biannual gathering of the best Bouldering, Lead, Speed and Paraclimbing athletes worldwide. Representatives of the media are invited to request accreditation to attend the event by completing the online form at the Innsbruck 2018 website: Innsbruck2018.com/en/Media/Accreditation.

Media accreditation badges may be received at the registration centre in the famous Olympiaworld arena, where all final rounds will take place. The badges permit access to the press centre and all relevant events during the entire IFSC World Championships, which will be the longest ever. Climbing rounds will also take place at the popular Kletterzentrum Innsbruck, specially constructed for training and competing at the highest level. Last year, the brand-new site served as the major qualification event for Sport Climbing’s first Youth Olympic Games in October. Many qualified athletes on the climb to Buenos Aires will return to action, and they will be joined by hundreds of star athletes. 2016 Lead world champion Adam Ondra of the Czech Republic is already on the start list, as well as reigning Paraclimbing world champions across the visually impaired, amputee and RP categories. Click on the image below to watch the official trailer.

More information about accreditation guidelines and registration on-site can be found here. The deadline to submit accreditation requests is 1 week before the first day of the event for TV, 48 hours for other media.

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Golden Paraclimbing Debut for 3 Nations, Megos Wins 1st, Garnbret on Top Again

France, Great Britain, Italy claimed multiple gold medals at the first Paraclimbing Cup of 2018, Alexander Megos (GER) won his first IFSC World Cup and Janja Garnbret (SLO) finished on top again in Briançon.

As day turned to night on Wednesday and the sun set over “Parc des Sports,” the new competition venue in Briançon, France, elite Paraclimbing athletes competed for gold medals in 10 categories at the 2018 Paraclimbing Cup debut. Visually impaired athlete Abigail Robinson began the Paraclimbing finals with a quick top of the side wall. Forearm amputee Matthew Phillips wowed the crowd with a leaping effort to the final hold, missing the top but securing a second victory for Great Britain. 2017 season champion Hannah Baldwin made it three wins in a row for Great Britain, finding a top in the RP category (limited range, power or stability). France and Italy took charge during the climbing that followed on the overhanging wall. Matteo Stefani caught the crux which bested other finalists, and his Italian teammates Giulio Cevenini and Alessandro Neri also set high points. Leg amputee Thierry Delarue held on multiple times by only his hands to reach the top panel, and his French teammate Lucie Jarrige closed the round with a crowd-pleasing victory. RP athletes Behnam Khalaji of Iran and Korbinian Franck of Germany also won gold medals.

2018 Paraclimbing Cup Briancon Lucie Jarrige France Leg Amputee

2018 Paraclimbing Cup Briancon Matteo Stefani Italy Visually Impaired

Lead qualifications and semi-finals took place on Friday, followed by the final round of the third IFSC Lead World Cup in 2018 on Saturday. The traditional resistance route-setting in Briançon required smart and strong climbing to connect all the static, technical moves. Stefano Ghisolfi (ITA), winner last week, began the high climbing and showed his high level of fitness by resting and chalking up at the first crux moves on the upper panel, falling a few holds from the top in the concluding traverse. 2017 Briançon winner Romain Desgranges (FRA) held on two moves more to take the lead in front of his home crowd, and 2018 season leader Jakob Schubert (AUT) fell in between their marks to place 4th. First in qualifications with two tops and second in semi-finals, Megos conserved enough energy to solve the second crux traverse, falling at the final hold for his first IFSC World Cup victory. Domen Skofic of Slovenia matched Schubert’s score to win bronze on countback.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Briancon France Lead Alexander Megos Germany

Four Slovenian women competed in finals, the first time since 2007, including Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athlete Vita Lukan. Also on the climb to Buenos Aires, Nolwenn Arc kicked-off the women’s final by reaching the last section of the wall in front of her home crowd. Fresh off her victory last week, Jessica Pilz (AUT) again cruised to the top in finals, and Anak Verhoeven (BEL) fell lunging to the top hold for a spot on the podium. Last to climb, 2017 season champion Garnbret of Slovenia showed her power by launching for the finishing jug from a lower foothold for her second victory in 2018 and sole possession of first place in the season rankings. For more results, visit the Briançon event page on the IFSC website.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Briancon France Lead Janja Garnbret Slovenia

With her 6th place finish in finals, Lukan matched Shuta Tanaka (JPN) for the best finish at an IFSC Lead World Cup by a Youth Olympic Games qualified athlete. Reigning youth world champion Sam Avezou of France, Lukan’s teammate Lucka Rakovec and Laura Rogora of Italy also competed in semi-finals with Arc and Lukan.

Results, replays, highlights, photos and more can be found on the Briançon event page.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Briancon France Lead Podium Women

2018 Paraclimbing Cup Briancon Podium Men Forearm Amputee

2018 Paraclimbing Cup Briancon Podium Men Leg Amputee

2018 Paraclimbing Cup Briancon Podium Men RP1

2018 Paraclimbing Cup Briancon Podium Men RP2

2018 Paraclimbing Cup Briancon Podium Men RP3

2018 Paraclimbing Cup Briancon Podium Men Visually Impaired 1

2018 Paraclimbing Cup Briancon Podium Men Visually Impaired 2

2018 Paraclimbing Cup Briancon Podium Women Forearm Amputee

2018 Paraclimbing Cup Briancon Podium Women Visually Impaired

2018 Paraclimbing Cup Briancon Podium Women Visually Impaired B2

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IFSC World Cup Chamonix to Feature on La Chaine L’Équipe

The French television channel la chaine L’Équipe will broadcast delayed tomorrow finals of IFSC World Cup Chamonix 2018, the first time an IFSC World Cup event in France is broadcast by a French broadcasting company.

Tune-in at 15:00 GMT+2 to watch the programming, to be streamed simultaneously at la chaine L’Équipe's online platform, and get ready for the action by watching the trailer below.

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1st Inclusive Opening Ceremony in Olympic History

The Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, a celebration of sport, diversity and gender equality, will be the first edition of an Olympic competition with strict gender equality and this spirit will guide the Opening Ceremony and the lighting of the cauldron, which will be lit by both a woman and a man.

The ceremony, that will be held at the iconic Buenos Aires Obelisk on October 6th, will start at 20:00 (local time) and will be completely inclusive and open to all the public. The event will mark the beginning of the biggest multisport and cultural celebration in the world, that will last for 12 days while inspiring a whole generation with the examples of hard work and perseverance set by the 4000 athletes.

The full news and more information on the Opening Ceremony can be found on the Buenos Aires 2018 website.

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Meeting with IBSF

Ivo Ferriani, President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) and member of the IOC, visited IFSC headquarters in Torino on July 19th.

Among the topics discussed during the meeting, President Scolaris highlighted the importance of sharing among International Federations. Originally founded in 1923 (FIBT) and accepted as an Olympic sport the following year, the IBSF has almost a century of sport experience and Olympic history. The meeting took place with just over two months until the first appearance of Sport Climbing in an Olympic context at the Youth Olympic Games and two years before the first Olympic Games for Sport Climbing.

"We are very pleased to have met with Mr. Ferriani, especially in light of our new Olympic challenges. We are confident that exchanges with such experienced Federations can guide us on our path, towards a fulfilling future for Sport Climbing," says President Scolaris.

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Action-Packed Tokyo 2020 Schedule Approved

On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved the competition schedule for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The action-packed programme will feature a record 33 sports and 339 events and will run from July 24th to August 9the, 2020.

Qualifications for Sport Climbing will take place on August 4th-5th at 16:30-22:30 (local time), followed by the Finals on August 6-7 at 16:30-22:40. All rounds will be held at the Aomi Urban Sports Venue, where Basketball 3x3 will also take place on July 25th-29th.

Tokyo 2020 took a holistic approach when compiling the schedule, taking into account the technical rules and regulations of the various international federations, gender balance, the popularity of individual sports in Japan, operational considerations, athletes' experience & well-being, and the global TV audience.

The full news can be found on the Tokyo 2020 website, and click here for the Tokyo 2020 schedule.

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IFSC July EB Teleconference

In occasion of the July EB Teleconference, the IFSC appointed Silvia Verdolini, previously IFSC Sport Officer, to the position of IFSC Sport Director during its IFSC Executive Board meeting on Wednesday and Alessandro Di Cato, previously Event Officer, to the position of IFSC Calendar Coordinator. Since joining the team in 2017, Verdolini and Di Cato have coordinated and overseen projects of the Sport Department with a strong passion for Sport Climbing and valuable insight. The full list of IFSC staff can be found here.

Additional topics of the monthly teleconference included reports of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 preparations, which focused on the venues, schedules and Olympic Games Qualification System. The Sport Department also gave updates on the 2019 calendar, the criteria of event selection and coordination of Paraclimbing events, among other matters. The Marketing & Communications Department reported on ongoing projects which aim to continue increasing the visibility of Sport Climbing among new audiences in the immediate future.

The next IFSC Executive Board meeting will be held on August, 21st.

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Paraclimbing season opens, 31 nations to compete in Lead, Speed

The first Paraclimbing Cup of 2018 takes place on July 18th and over 200 athletes from 31 nations will compete in Briançon (FRA) and Arco (ITA) on July 20-21st and 27th-28th, the next IFSC World Cup events. 

Austrian Jessica Pilz matched reigning Lead season champion Janja Garnbret (SLO) in the standings by completing the final route in Chamonix. The star athletes swapped first and second place at the opening Lead events, and they will aim for gold again in Briançon and Arco. Like Pilz, compatriot and season leader Jakob Schubert has yet to miss the podium in Lead in 2018, but Italian Stefano Ghisolfi gained ground with a top in finals last week. Both men will have to contest with Alexander Megos (GER) in Briançon and both Megos and Lead world champion Adam Ondra (CZE) in Arco.

Since missing the opener in Moscow, former Speed world record holder Danyil Boldyrev raced to three medals and could take the lead in Arco. He must surpass frontrunner Dmitrii Timofeev to do so, who leads another strong Russian team alongside veteran Mariia Krasavina. 2017 Speed season champion Anouck Jaubert exited finals early in Chamonix, but the 2018 leader should rebound in Arco. Also keep an eye on Iuliia Kaplina (RUS) and Bassa Mawem (FRA), who have recorded several quick times in 2018. More starters can be found on the Briançon and Arco event pages.

13 qualified athletes for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 are currently registered to compete across Briançon and Arco. Meiringen Bouldering finalist Sandra Lettner of Austria is set to climb in her first IFSC Lead World Cup this week. Argentinian Valentina Aguado will join her in Briançon and compete in both Lead and Speed disciplines the following week. Shuta Tanaka of Japan is slated to travel to both events as well after qualifying for Lead finals last weekend. Keep an eye on Slovenian Vita Lukan too, who just missed the finals cut in Villars (9th) and Chamonix (11th).

9 months after Sheffield, Paraclimbing season champions return to action in Briançon. Visually impaired athletes Francisco Javier Aguilar Amoedo (ESP), John Churcher (GBR), Tanja Glusic (SLO) and Sabine Ladel (FRA), leg amputee Julien Gasc (FRA), forearm amputees Kevin Bartke (GER), Ismael Ewan Sanchez Mcilroy (ESP) and Melinda Vigh (HUN), and in the RP categories (limited range, power, stability) Hannah Baldwin (GBR), Mathieu Besnard (FRA) and Mor Michael Sapir (ISR) were all season champions last year and are back on the start list. Be sure to follow Briançon winner Urko Carmona Barandiaran (ESP) as well, who topped every problem last year for gold.

Special video programming will be provided for the Paraclimbing Cup debut in Briançon. Tune-in to the IFSC homepage on July 18th to watch the live streaming of finals, and watch the live streaming of semi-final and final rounds in Lead and Speed on July 20th-21st and 28th. Join the chat on Twitter during the shows at #IFSCwc.

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Ghisolfi, Pilz Top in Finals, Boldyrev, Rudzinska Win Again in Chamonix

Stefano Ghisolfi of Italy and Jessica Pilz of Austria completed the only tops in finals, Pilz’s first IFSC World Cup victory, and former Chamonix winners Danyil Boldyrev of Ukraine and Aleksandra Rudzinska of Poland were back in gold this week at the 5th Speed and 2nd Lead event of 2018 in Chamonix, France.

The 5th IFSC Speed World Cup finals brought many surprises, and in the end two long-time Speed stars donned gold medals again in the French commune of Chamonix. 2017 rivals and Speed world record holders Anouck Jaubert and Iuliia Kaplina were both eliminated in the first round of finals on Thursday. Rudzinska and Anna Tsyganova (RUS) advanced to the big final after edging ever-steady Mariia Krasavina (RUS) and home competitor Aurelie Sarisson in close semi-final races. Six years after topping the podium in Chamonix, Rudzinska returned to the spotlight, the sole athlete to record no times above 8 seconds on the Speed wall. In the small final, Krasavina defended her bronze medal.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chamonix France Speed Women

The surprises continued in the men’s final, with Speed world record holder Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) and Villars victor Aleksandr Shikov (RUS) ending their competition in the first round. Bassa Mawem (FRA) recorded the fastest time in Chamonix (5.63s) and no times above 6 seconds, but the crowd favourite slipped high up on the 15-metre Speed wall in the semi-final race against Boldyrev. In an exciting final matchup, Boldyrev slapped the finishing pad fractions of a second before season leader Dmitrii Timofeev for his second gold medal in four years in Chamonix. In the small final, Mawem steadily climbed to a bronze medal after an early fall from Speed legend Qixin Zhong (CHN).

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chamonix France Speed Men

Lead finals took place the following evening in front of another packed crowd in Chamonix. 8 women and 8 men attempted powerful last routes with dynamic moves at the beginning, a few good rests throughout the steepest section and technical sequences on the concluding panel of the tall Lead wall. Villars victor Janja Garnbret (SLO) surpassed the previous high point and slapped one hand on the final hold for her second podium in 2018 in as many events, but only one woman turned an attempt into a Top. Pilz, who earlier set the high point in semi-finals, creeped across the final holds to match on the top jug and clip the chains with 7 seconds remining, her first IFSC World Cup victory and second podium in a row. Jain Kim (KOR) also made full use of her 6 minutes to come within two moves from the top and remain on the podium as well.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chamonix France Lead Jessica Pilz Austria

The men’s final came down to the three semi-final leaders. Ghisolfi surpassed all previous marks and concluded his week in Chamonix with another crowd-pleasing top on Friday, his fourth IFSC World Cup win. Alexander Megos (GER) peeled off at the same powerful move on the headwall which stumped Domen Skofic (SLO) for bronze on countback. Villars winner Jakob Schubert ended the event by falling just shy of the top hold to stand on his second podium in 2018.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chamonix France Lead Stefano Ghisolfi Italy

Shuta Tanaka became the first Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athlete to compete in an IFSC Lead World Cup final this season in Chamonix, reaching the headwall in his first final to place 6th. French teammates Nolwenn Arc and youth world champion Sam Avezou performed in front of their home crowd in semi-finals, joined by Keita Dohi and Tanaka of Japan and  Vita Lukan (SLO). In Speed, YiLing Song of China returned to the finals, recording her personal best time of the season (8.19s) on the way to 9th place.

Results, replays, highlights, photos and more can be found on the Chamonix event page.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chamonix France Speed Podium Men

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chamonix France Speed Podium Women

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chamonix France Lead Podium Men

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LIVE Special: Paraclimbing Cup Briançon

On July 18th the IFSC will feature special programming straight from the Paraclimbing Cup 2018 debut in Briançon.

Video highlights of qualifications will be available on the Briançon event page for Paraclimbing shortly after the round finishes at 15:00 (GMT+2). Clear your evening schedule for the next round of action, the first live streaming of Paraclimbing this year. Finals of all categories will be shown at 20:00 (GMT+2) on the IFSC homepage, and the replay will be displayed on the event page afterwards.

Featuring world champions and season winners, the first Paraclimbing Cup of 2018 is set to be a great show. 2017 standouts Sapir, Besnard, Sanchez Mcilroy, Major, Gasc, Aguila, and Churcher on the men’s side, and Jarrige, Baldwin, Plank, Ladel, Glusic, Pellandra for the women are all on the start list. The event will be a test of preparations for the IFSC World Championships Innsbruck 2018 in September. Be sure to tune-in!

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Chamonix Schedule Update

The schedule for IFSC World Cup Chamonix has been updated.

Lead qualifications will now take place at 8:30 GMT+2 (local time).

The updated info sheet can be found here and on the Chamonix event page.

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IFSC Meets with KVÖ Prior to World Championships

In continuing preparations for the upcoming IFSC World Championships, IFSC Marketing and Communications Director Anne Fuynel, Administration Director Francesca Jengo, and Event Officer Alessandro Di Cato met Austria Climbing representatives in Innsbruck on June 28th.

Topping the list of meeting subjects was the host broadcast of the event on ORF TV. The IFSC World Championships  were discussed as an opportunity to provide more visibility and understanding to Sport Climbing - a goal which the IFSC and Austria Climbing are working closely to achieve - and different improvements were discussed with the aim of attracting a non-endemic audience. Logistics and general organisation of the event were also topics of the meeting.

“With the IFSC World Championships at our doorstep, we are delighted to see that we are on the right path and we are very confident in having high international exposure for this fantastic event,” said Anne Fuynel.

During the meeting, the IFSC delegation took time to visit KletterZentrum and Olympiaworld Arena, where the climbing will take place in Innsbruck.  Alessandro Di Cato commented on the venue locations:

It’s a pleasure to see the different facilities dedicated to our IFSC World Championships. Thanks to the effort of Austria Climbing, these venues are ideal structures for hosting major international Sport Climbing events.”

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La Chaine L’Equipe Broadcasts IFSC World Cup Vail

The French television channel la chaine L’Équipe, launched in 1998 and now the largest sports channel in France, now broadcasts multiple Sport Climbing events in 2018.

Most recently, Alex Puccio's thrilling conclusion to IFSC World Cup Vail and all the Bouldering finals was broadcast delayed on la chaine Equipe last week on July, 5th.  The final round of the opener to the IFSC World Cup season in Meiringen  was also broadcast delayed on la chaine L’Équipe, which aired the split finals on its online platform on April, 21st.

Following this success, la chaine L’Équipe has agreed to provide delayed coverage of additional  IFSC World Cup events this year, including both Lead and Speed finals in Chamonix and the Bouldering grand finale in Munich. Chamonix will be the first time an IFSC World Cup event in France is broadcast by a French broadcasting company.

“This development represents a major step forward for Sport Climbing in France and internationally. la chaine L’Équipe is watched by millions of viewers, which can be only positive when looking forward to future Olympic opportunities,”  says Pierre-Henri Paillasson, IFSC Vice-President Treasurer and Finances.

Stay tuned to the IFSC homepage for news about upcoming broadcasts from la chaine L’Équipe.

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Garnbret, Schubert First Lead Winners of 2018, Multiple Medals for France, Russia in Speed

Janja Garnbret and Jakob Schubert began the 2018 Lead season like they ended 2017, and Anouck Jaubert and Aleksandr Shikov improved their positioning in the Speed season rankings this weekend in Villars.

The 4th showdown of the 2018 Speed season took place under the lights on Friday in Villars, Switzerland. YiLing Song of China took advantage of a slip from Iuliia Kaplina (RUS) to enter the semi-final with Victoire Andrier, Jaubert and Mariia Krasavina of Russia. Jaubert bested the 17-year-old to face-off in the big final against French teammate Andrier, earning the best finish of her IFSC World Cup career. Holding the fastest time of the day (7.83s), Jaubert again stopped the clock in under 8 seconds to claim her second consecutive gold medal and third victory of the season. In the small final, Krasavina raced to her 26th podium.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Speed Andrier Jaubert France

In the men’s bracket, Russian teammates Shikov and Aleksandr Shilov also climbed side-by-side in the big final after knocking out former world record holder Danyil Boldyrev (UKR) and fastest man of the day (5.80s) Bassa Mawem of France. Shikov stumbled early, but he kept his composure and won the gold medal in an exciting big final after a misstep from Shilov. The victory improved Shikov’s positioning in the season rankings, now only 10 points behind Dmitrii Timofeev (RUS) who finished in 11th place in Villars. In the small final, Boldyrev held on for his 16th podium.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Speed Shikov Shilov Russia

Garnbret of Slovenia and Austria’s Schubert closed out the 2017 Lead season in Kranj with gold medals, and both star athletes picked up where they left off on Saturday night. The men’s final route curved across the steep Lead wall, and most athletes took advantage of a heel-hook rest before attacking large pinches defending the headwall. 2017 runner-up Stefano Ghisolfi (ITA) began the round by climbing into the first technical moves of the final section for a provisional lead. Reigning Combined season champion Tomoa Narasaki (JPN) matched the mark for a Bronze medal on countback to qualifications. The men neither finalist could catch were 2017 season champion Romain Desgranges (FRA) and Schubert. Desgranges dominated the static moves preceding the final lunge, and Schubert fell leaping to the same high point to win the Lead debut of 2018 on countback to semi-finals.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Lead Jakob Schubert Austria

The women’s Lead final featured dynamic moves halfway up the wall, followed by precise positioning on tiny crimps leading into the upper panel. Manon Hily (FRA) set the high point in her first IFSC World Cup final before three athletes improved the mark. Jain Kim (KOR) executed a figure four seen in her Bouldering to surpass the dynamic section and fall at the final crimp, controlled by Jessica Pilz (AUT) for Bronze. The final athlete to climb in Villars, Garnbret completed a 180-spin, dangling by one arm, followed by a pull-up without feet. The 2017 Lead and Combined season champion calmly chalked-up amidst the challenging crimps in the last section and fell at the Top for the victory.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Lead Janja Garnbret Slovenia

Song’s 4th place matches the best result at an IFSC World Cup this season by a Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athlete. Vita Lukan (SLO) and Shuta Tanaka (JPN) excelled in Lead, finishing just short of the finals cut in 9th and 12th place. Combined world champion Elena Krasovskaia (RUS) also climbed.

Results, replays, highlights, photos and more can be found on the Villars event page.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Speed Podium Women

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Lead Podium Men

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Lead Podium Women

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Lead Champions Return, Race to the Top Continues in Speed

Heights are back in the 2018 IFSC World Cup series! Champions in Lead climbing return to action and the race to the top of the rankings continues in Speed climbing on July 6th-7th in Villars, Switzerland, followed by a rematch in both Sport Climbing disciplines on July 11th-13th in Chamonix, France.

Reigning Lead season champions Romain Desgranges (FRA) and Janja Garnbret (SLO) began their campaigns for the title with victories in Villars last year. Both stars will aim for gold again this week in the season opener. Garnbret dominated the Combined rankings in 2017, claiming more victories (9) in a single IFSC World Cup season than any athlete before her. She showed similar signs of excellence in the beginning of the Bouldering season and should impress again on the towering Lead walls of Villars and Chamonix. Desgranges narrowly missed the top of the Lead podium in front of thousands of home fans last year in Chamonix, and the top-ranked Lead athlete will again be one to watch this year. Also on the Lead season podium in 2017, Stefano Ghisolfi (ITA), Jain Kim (KOR) and Anak Verhoeven (BEL) are all on the start list for Villars. Keep an eye on Ashima Shiraishi (USA), who soared to 8th place in the season rankings in half as many events, as well as Alexander Megos of Germany, who both ended 2017 with medals.

On the Speed wall, Bassa Mawem and Anouck Jaubert of France hold the fastest times in 2018 (5.61s; 7.32s), and Jaubert matched the women’s Speed world record at the season opener in Moscow. They will race against another formidable team from Russia, who has yet to lose the National Team ranking in Speed climbing. Dmitrii Timofeev of Russia moved to first place in the season rankings with two strong performances in China in May, and Elena Timofeeva has also already stood on two podiums this season. Speed legend QiXin Zhong of China will race in the IFSC World Cup series for the first time this season in Villars and Chamonix, and men’s Speed world record holder and 2017 Athlete of the Year Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) returns after missing the last event. The full list of starting athletes, schedules, 2017 replays and photos can be found on the Villars and Chamonix event pages on the IFSC website.

13 qualified athletes for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires are registered to compete in Villars and Chamonix, the most at an IFSC World Cup event. Nolwenn Arc (FRA), 11th in Villars and Chamonix last year, and 2017 Villars finalist Laura Rogora (ITA) climb for the first time this year in Villars. Arc will be joined by French teammates Sam Avezou and Nathan Martin in Chamonix, their first IFSC World Cup of 2018. Reigning Youth A Lead world champion Shuta Tanaka of Japan will make his IFSC World Cup debut on Friday in Lead and Speed, and Alejandra Contreras of Chile will test both Sport Climbing disciplines next week in Chamonix

Tune-in to the IFSC homepage on July 6-7 and 12-13 to watch the live streaming of semi-final and final rounds, and join the chat on Twitter during the show at #IFSCwc.

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New Registration Deadline for IFSC World Cup Munich

National Federations, please take note of a change to the registration deadline for IFSC World Cup Munich 2018.

After an analysis made by the Event Organisers, a very high number of participants is expected this year in Munich. In order to properly plan the event, the deadline for all National Federations to register for IFSC Climbing World Cup Munich 2018 has been changed to Wednesday, the 4th of July, at 23.59 CEST.

Please note that further analysis will be made following this date, in respect to the number of competitors and in order to make the event sustainable for the Athletes, the Event Organisers and the IFSC.

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100 Days to Go to Buenos Aires

In just 100 days, the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, will be alive with the first ever street-party style opening ceremony that will mark the start of the Youth Olympic Games - the first edition with gender equality - that takes place from 6-18 October this year.

To help count down the days to the YOG and spread the word nationwide, throughout August and September a Torch Tour will travel through five geographical regions in Argentina before arriving in the capital to light up the city on 6 October.

Four thousand athletes will be competing in 32 sports at the Games, which for the first time in Olympic history will have an equal number of men and women. Four new sports will make their debut at Buenos Aires 2018: Breaking, Karate, Roller Speed Skating and Sport Climbing.

Supporting the young athletes in their final journey to YOG are hundreds of inspiring Young Change Makers and Athlete Role Models. Hailing from various backgrounds in sport, including Olympic and World Champions, this group will encourage the young athletes throughout the next 100 days and act as mentors during Games-time.

The complete news can be found on the Buenos Aires 2018 website here.

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University Students on Top of the World

Studies and sport, the 2nd edition of the World University Sport Climbing Championships, which took place this year in Bratislava (SVK), was a celebration of both aspects of the life of University student athletes. After four days of Bouldering, Lead and Speed climbing last week, the winners shared their triumphs with the organising team.

"I am very satisfied as I was struggling with injuries the past two years," said Jan Kriz (CZE), who raced to some of the lowest times in Speed qualifications and finals (6.14s) on Friday. "This is the second month since I was competing at the World Cup in Moscow, where I achieved fifth place. At that time, I started to feel that my shape is improving and I am finally healthy. Now, I just confirmed it. Already on Tuesday, I will do the state exams at my university in Brno where I study coaching of swimming. That was also the reason why I decided to focus only on Speed climbing this year. But I will try all events in some time. I have the next three World Cups in my schedule - Switzerland, France, Italy. I hope my shape will be OK like here in Bratislava."

2018 FISU World University Sport Climbing Championship Bratislava Slovakia Jan Krij Czech

Speed season champion Anouck Jaubert (FRA) competed in Bratislava last week as well, taking the victory on the women's side after racing to under 8 seconds (7.99s) in the semi-final: “The competition was really tough for me as the wall was a bit different than those at the other competitions. I did not do well at the training but step by step, I learned it. I got used to it and I am very glad I managed to win. Speed is my main event and I started the others only this year."

2018 FISU World University Sport Climbing Championship Bratislava Slovakia Anouck Jaubert France

In Bouldering finals in the evening, victor Elias Weiler of Austria - who also placed 2nd in the Combined - was the sole student athlete to top every problem: "In this moment, I am very happy I managed it. The last boulder was very difficult and I am glad I managed it as the only climber. I think the weather helped me today because it was not as hot as yesterday and the climbing was less complicated in such weather. This is my first victory on the international level and I am over the moon."

2018 FISU World University Sport Climbing Championship Bratislava Slovakia Elias Weiler Austria

American Megan Lynch also topped the Bouldering results, maintaining an edge over a strong group of finalists by scoring every zone point and using few attempts to complete three out of four problems: "I am living my dream. It is my first world title ever. Bouldering in my favourite event and I am glad it went so well. Bratislava was amazing, I felt so well here and the fans were cheering for us. The support of my teammates also helped me a lot. They are my inspiration and I am glad I can celebrate this victory with them. I feel on top of the world and I cannot even describe the feelings well.“

2018 FISU World University Sport Climbing Championship Bratislava Slovakia Megan Lynch USA

On the final day of the competition, Mei Kotake (JPN) rose to the highest point on the women's route of the Lead wall, and 2nd place in the Combined results: "It was pretty difficult but now I feel relieved and happy. I wanted to get the Top but I am happy for this result. Yesterday, I focused on my climbing in Bouldering but my body condition was not very good because of the cold weather. Now we stay in Austria before another World Cup. I already graduated last March. I studied nutrition in Tokyo. Now, I will only focus on climbing thanks to the support of my team and sponsors."

2018 FISU World University Sport Climbing Championship Bratislava Slovakia Mei Kotake Japan

Fedir Samoilov gave the fans one last exciting performance by reaching the top of the tall climbing wall before time expired to secure both the Combined and Lead title: "I think the route was really perfect. It was quite hard but I like it like this. Everything was perfect. I really like the routes of the rout-setter Martin Zbranek. I am mostly a Lead climber so I enjoyed it the most of all three events,” said Samoilov, who studies at the National University of Sports in Kiev, Ukraine.

2018 FISU World University Sport Climbing Championship Bratislava Slovakia Fedir Samoilov Ukraine

Julia Chanourdie also brought home a gold medal in the Combined on Saturday after consistently competing well in all three disciplines of Sport Climbing.

Full results, replays of final rounds, photos, interviews and more can be found on the Bratislava event page.

2018 FISU World University Sport Climbing Championship Bratislava Slovakia Julia Chanourdie France

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Globe United by Sport for 70th Olympic Day

Happy Olympic Day!

Olympic Day has been marked on June 23rd every year since 1948, making this year’s anniversary the 70th Olympic Day. It recognises the foundation of the International Olympic Committee, formed in Paris on June 23rd, 1894. Local events aim to raise awareness of the role sport and physical activity play in day-to-day life.

This year’s theme was United by, and how Olympism and the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect can unite the world.

One thing everyone can be united by is movement and sport. The Olympic Channel also invited athletes and fans to celebrate Olympic Day by adding on to the viral move "flossin" by The Backpack Kid to create an original Olympic Dance.

2018 IOC Olympic Channel Dance The Backpack Kid Flossin

The IFSC encouraged National Federations and their Sport Climbing athletes to join the celebration. Additional events were held across the word, from Paris to Tokyo. The Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade (FFME) opened a climbing wall in downtown Paris to commemorate the occasion and introduce Sport Climbing to the public. Tokyo 2020 held a competition for its partner universities, with students taking part in sports events, including Sport Climbing and Basketball 3x3 which will both make their Olympic debuts in the Japanese capital.

2018 IOC Olympic Day Tokyo 2020 Shugo TAKEMIA University student takes on the Bouldering wall at Tokyo 2020's Olympic Day celebration. © Tokyo 2020 / Shugo TAKEMI 

More information can be found in the news on the websites of the IOC and the Olympic Channel.

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Media Welcome to Lead Events, Moscow

Towering walls, packed crowds and star athletes, the Lead climbing season opens in July and accredited representatives of the media are encouraged to attend. If not done so already, media may continue to register for 2018 events via the online media accreditation form on the IFSC website.

In addition, all media may now register as well at the link above for the IFSC Youth World Championships in Moscow taking place from August 9th to 16th, the showdown of the best young Sport Climbing athletes in the world and precursor to the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 in October.

Media will receive an email confirming the application has been submitted, and another email granting/denying accreditation. Registration will be closed 1 week before the event for TVs and 2 days for other media.

For any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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2nd Edition of World University Championship for Sport Climbing

The 2018 World University Sport Climbing Championship will take place this week from June 20th to 23rd in Bratislava, Slovakia, on the biggest climbing wall in the country.

Around 150 competitors from 26 countries will compete in the capital city of Slovakia to claim the title of the world’s best university sport climber. Julia Chanourdie (FRA) and Seungwoon Cho (KOR) topped the Combined result of the first edition ever in 2016 in Shanghai, China. Runner-up Dmitrii Fakiryanov and Chanourdie each donned two gold medals in the premiere in Bouldering and Lead, while Anna Brozek and Marcin Dzienski of Poland and Stanislav Kokorin (RUS) excelled in Speed.

Brozek, Chanourdie and Dzienski return with a full cast of IFSC World Cup stars this year. Be sure to follow the performances this week of Speed climbing world record holder Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) and a strong French team which includes Bouldering standout Fanny Gibert, Lead specialist Julia Chanourdie and Speed season champion Anouck Jaubert. Japan brings a formidable lineup too led by Yuji Fujiwaki, Mei Kotake and Kaito Watanabe. Also among the competitors are IFSC World Cup medallists Kostiantyn Pavlenko and Fedir Samoilov of Ukraine, as well as Slovaks Robert Luby, Andrej Capko and Jakub Jiří Svub climbing in front of their home crowd.

Track the Sport Climbing action throughout the competition on the Bratislava event page, and more information can be found in the preview press release.

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IFSC Welcome New Administration Assistant

Erica Ricci

The IFSC is pleased to welcome Erica Ricci, who joins the Administration department as Administration Assistant. She will report to Administration Director Francesca Jengo of the IFSC.

Erica is Italian and will be based at IFSC Headquarters in Torino. She studied and worked in the UK where she spent 6 years. Upon her return to Italy, she has been working for four years for a European scientific association in a similar role. Erica is also a passionate climber and mountain lover.

"As the IFSC continues to grow, we are very pleased to welcome Erica to the IFSC," says Jengo.

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IFSC Issues RFP for Japan Rights Renewal

The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) issued an RFP regarding its media and sponsorship rights in Japan. The IFSC's current, 3-year media rights deal with Tokyo-based Synca Creations is due for renewal at the end of this year. From 2019, the IFSC intends to package media and sponsorship together to increase total value and synergy in the Japanese market.

IFSC President Marco Scolaris commented, “The growth of Sport Climbing in Japan has been unusually fast, but it reflects a trend we now observe across the world. The growing awareness of Sport Climbing is visible in a booming use of values, codes, athletes and images of our amazing sport by more and more international brands, all around the world. The market and key commercial actors are recognising the assets of Sport Climbing and this interest has catapulted the sport into the arena of main stream sports, and a world full of possibilities.”

With the deadline for submissions in September, the IFSC expects to conclude its RFP process early in Q4. More information can be found in the official press release, and for any questions please contact Steven Morris at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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IFSC Attends IOC Strategic Communication Workshop in Lausanne

On May 12th, IFSC Marketing & Communications Director Anne Fuynel and IFSC Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer attended the IOC Strategic Communication Workshop in Lausanne along with representatives of different International Federations.

During the workshop, many key topics were covered such as the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and upcoming Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, where Sport Climbing will make its first appearance.

A presentation regarding the value the YOG will bring to Sport Climbing was made by the IFSC Marketing & Communications Director and IFSC Head of Olympic Coordination. Among the vast range of points highlighted in the presentation, a fundamental topic was the unique experience that the YOG represents for young Sport Climbing athletes and how it will help the IFSC to widen its audience.

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NBC Sports to Televise Bouldering in Vail

For the first time, American viewers can tune-in on the Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA’s premiere telecast of IFSC World Cup Vail on Sunday, June 10th at 9pm ET, and first linear replay on Tuesday June 12th at 10am ET.

Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA is a partnership between NBCUniversal, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). It is the first localised version of the IOC’s global Olympic Channel, providing a more personalised experience to fans in the United States. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA launched on Saturday 15 July.

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IFSC Plenary Assembly 2019

The IFSC and the JMSCA (Japanese Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Association), next year's local organiser, have finally set the date for the 2019 IFSC Plenary Assembly. 

The IFSC Plenary Assembly will take place in Tokyo (Japan) on Saturday 16th March 2019, and will be preceded by the PA pre-session and a series of workshops the days before.

“Japan is calling in 2019: the IFSC World Championships in August and the IFSC Plenary Assembly in March, great events waiting for the first Olympic medals at Tokyo 2020," says IFSC President Marco Scolaris.

All the relevant documents will be made available in due time by e-mail. For any questions, please contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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ANOC World Beach Games will feature Sport Climbing

On May 24th, IFSC Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer, attended the first “ANOC World Beach Games” meeting of Technical Delegates, in San Diego (USA).

This event will be held there from October 10th to 16th and will feature Sport Climbing during two days.

20 male and 20 female athletes will be sorted out through a selection process defined by the IFSC. The event will take place in Mission Beach, San Diego. Sport Climbing will share the venue along with three other action sports (Skate, BMX freestyle and 3x3 Basketball), very close to the Ocean where Beach and Water Sports will occur.

In order to communicate prior to the event, the Olympic Committee will look for 4 international ambassador athletes and the IFSC will actively promote the event.
Last but not least, the event will be broadcasted and webcasted. Specific information will be available on the IFSC website soon.

The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) is an international organisation that affiliates the 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

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Puccio Wins in Thrilling Fashion in Vail, Sugimoto Returns to the Top

Puccio won gold in the last moments and the United States claimed two medals at IFSC World Cup Vail today. Japan continued to excel in the 2018 Bouldering season, placing four athletes on the podium.

Six Japanese athletes qualified for finals in Vail, as well as three American athletes competing on their home turf. Rei Sugimoto of Japan started strong, solving the opening dyno and friction climbing of M1 on his first attempt. His teammate Tomoa Narasaki and Sean Bailey of the United States matched the performance with flashes of their own. Bailey and Sugimoto pulled away on M2, adding another flash on the pure power problem. Sugimoto took the lead by maintaining his balance and showing flexibility on the M3 slab for his third top, which Narasaki also completed. Bailey needed a flash of M4 to regain the lead and nearly accomplished the feat with a packed crowd cheering behind him, but he fell with one hand on the final hold. The door was open for Narasaki to do the same, but like Bailey he came up just short of the top. It was the second victory for Sugimoto, who last won gold in 2013. Bailey placed 2nd for his first IFSC World Cup medal, completing two tops in one less attempt than Narasaki. Season leader Jernej Kruder of Slovenia placed 4th.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Vail Bouldering Final Rei Sugimoto Japan

In the women’s final, Miho Nonaka of Japan took an early lead with a quick top of the W1 slab. 2017 Vail finalist Alex Puccio energised the home crowd by keeping her composure on the slippery volumes to top with under 40 seconds remaining. Both athletes completed the jump and strong climbing of W2, as well as Fanny Gibert of France. Only Nonaka’s teammate Akiyo Noguchi found the solution to W3, using her full body to wrestle past compression moves and the tenuous upper section to join the running for gold. When Gibert and Noguchi couldn’t solve W4, the grand finale in Vail came down to the last climber on the last problem. Needing a top to surpass Nonaka, Puccio powered through the sequence of pinches, scored the outstretched zone point and stuck the final dyno with one hand to secure her second victory since 2009 in Vail. Nonaka placed 2nd with two tops to regain the lead in the season rankings ahead of Noguchi, who finished in 3rd place with more zone points than Gibert for Japan’s fourth medal of the competition. For more results, visit the Vail event page on the IFSC website.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Vail Bouldering Final Alex Puccio United States

Among Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athletes, Hannah Meul of Germany came up just one top short of qualifying for her first IFSC World Cup final and placed 10th. Mao Nakamura of Japan also climbed well in Vail, competing alongside Meul in semi-finals and finishing in 13th place. Nakamura’s compatriot Keita Dohi just missed the semi-finals cut.

The complete results, highlights, replays and photos can be found on the Vail event page. Stay tuned to the IFSC website for information about the finals replay for viewers from the USA.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Vail Bouldering Final Men Podium

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Meeting with the Tokyo Organising Committee of Olympic and Paralympic Games’ delegation

From May 22nd to 24th, both IFSC President Marco Scolaris and Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer attended their fourth meeting in Tokyo with the Tokyo Organising Committee of Olympic and Paralympic Games’ (TOCOG) delegation. 

This fourth meeting, mainly run together with the FIBA, focused on the event venue. The focus was on discerning the best possible layout of the venue so that both sports could take maximum advantage of the event and offer an amazing show, as well as the best conditions to compete. The test event and its organisation were also among the discussions.

“There are many challenges ahead of us, but I have the feeling that visit after visit with TOCOG we work more and more together as a team”, said President Scolaris.

Finally, the visit provided the opportunity for a meeting between President Scolaris and JMSCA leaders regarding preparations for the IFSC World Championships in 2019.

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The Other Young Protagonists of Buenos Aires 2018

For nine days, the Youth Olympic Village received more than 2,000 schoolchildren who left messages to cheer on the young athletes while also participating in sport initiation activities. The messages will be delivered to the young athletes when they enter the Village and start their Olympic adventure. The notes were organised into four categories: respect, excellence, friendship and passion.

The visit comes at the same time as the Buenos Aires 2018 Organising Committee (BAYOGOC) meeting with the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission, which outlined how their vision of bringing sport to the young people of Argentina has come to fruition.

Using the Youth Olympic Games as a catalyst, BAYOGOC have implemented +1300 sporting and cultural events and initiatives in schools and community sports clubs over the last four years. 1 million young people will have actively participated in YOG-themed activities being implemented by a dedicated young team from sport initiation and inspirational talks with Olympians to sport-themed cultural projects.

Visit BuenosAires2018.com for the full stories on the young protagonists and reach of the youth engagement programs.

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IFSC World Cup Vail 2018 to stream live on the Olympic Channel

Following the live coverage of IFSC World Cup in Hachioji, Japan last weekend, the Olympic Channel will live stream the finals of the 6th IFSC Bouldering World Cup of the 2018 season taking place on June 8th and 9th in Vail, Colo. (USA) on its global digital platform.

Live streaming of the IFSC Bouldering World Cup will be available in the USA and worldwide on the IFSC YouTube channel or the Olympic Channel. Both streams will be accessible directly on www.ifsc-climbing.org.

The full preview of the event and schedule can be found on the Vail event page on the IFSC website.

 

The Olympic Channel is a multi-platform, global media destination where fans can experience the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round, and is available worldwide via mobile apps for Android and iOS devices and at olympicchannel.com.

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Countdown on for Buenos Aires

Omega, the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games for the past 86 years, unveiled today the countdown clock for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018.

The unveiling ceremony was held near the iconic Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires, which will be the epicentre for the opening of Buenos Aires 2018 in an outdoor ceremony that will capture the whole planet’s attention.

The Omega countdown clock, which stands at six metres high, was inspired by the Floralis Generica, a metal sculpture in Buenos Aires that was also used as a source of inspiration for the emblem of the Youth Olympic Games, which will take place from October 6th-18th in the Argentine capital.

More information can be found in the countdown and Omega articles at BuenosAires2018.com.

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Moroni Wins 1st, 4 Medals for Japan, 1st Medal for Kipriianova

Akiyo Noguchi won her third consecutive IFSC Bouldering World Cup and Japan claimed four medals in total this weekend in Hachioji, Japan, the fifth Bouldering event of 2018. Gabriele Moroni won his first IFSC World Cup in the last moments, and Ekaterina Kipriianova stood on her first IFSC World Cup podium.

First in the team Bouldering rankings, Japan continued to excel at home in Hachioji, sending eleven athletes to semi-finals and six athletes to finals. Fresh off two victories in May in China, Akiyo Noguchi topped every problem in her qualification group and completed all four boulders on her first attempt in semi-finals. The four-time Bouldering season champion also flashed the first problem in finals, sticking the opening W1 dyno under the lights of the Esforta Arena Hachioji to take a lead she would never give up. Her first fall since the second qualifying problem came on W2 at the challenging outstretched move to score the zone point. Noguchi and her compatriot Miho Nonaka eventually found the solution, as well as Ekaterina Kipriianova of Russia.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Hachioji Bouldering Tokyo Japan Ekaterina Kipriianova Russia

When W3 bested the six female finalists, the podium placements came down to the fourth and final problem, a series of half-moon volumes requiring technique and strength. Kipriianova fell just short of the zone point for third place and her first IFSC World Cup medal, and Nonaka put the pressure on Noguchi by flashing W4. Last to climb, Noguchi ended the women’s Bouldering final with a ninth flash to win her 21st IFSC World Cup and take the lead in the Bouldering season rankings. Two events remain, and Noguchi and Nonaka have already secured spots on the season podium.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Hachioji Bouldering Tokyo Japan Akiyo Noguchi

In the men’s final, every finalist struggled on the precarious moves of the opening slab problem except Gabriele Moroni of Italy. Moroni made the first moves on M1 look easy and lunged for the top hold and an early lead. Jongwon Chon (KOR) joined Moroni at the top of the leaderboard after M2, powering past compression moves on a steep section of the wall. Rei Sugimoto jumped into the mix on a powerful M3, completing the sole top in four attempts with 10 seconds remaining. Sugimoto and Chon could not solve the concluding problem, leaving the door open for Tomoa Narasaki (JPN) who took the lead with a crowd-pleasing flash of M4. Last on the wall, Moroni scored the zone point and continued for his second top of the night to win his first IFSC World Cup since he began competing in 2004. Sugimoto scored the zone point for Japan’s fourth medal.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Hachioji Bouldering Tokyo Japan Gabriele Moroni Italy

Among Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athletes, Keita Dohi and Mao Nakamura of Japan performed best, finishing among the top 40 athletes and each topping two qualification problems. DiChong Huang and YuFei Pan of China also competed.

The complete results, highlights, replays and photos can be found on the Hachioji event page.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Hachioji Bouldering Tokyo Japan Women Podium

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Hachioji Schedule Updates

The schedule for IFSC World Cup Hachioji has been amended.


Please visit the event page for the updated info sheet or at the following link.

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Initial Components of Athlete Charter Released

A Steering Committee of 20 athlete representatives from around the world, assembled by the Athletes’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee, released the initial components of its Athlete Charter.

The Charter is an athlete-driven initiative - developed by athletes, for athletes - which aims to establish basic athlete rights and responsibilities. It was first discussed at the IOC International Athletes’ Forum in November 2017. A subsequent, first-round survey was completed by nearly 200 athlete representatives to establish major ideas to be included in the Charter.

The document is currently organised around five key topics, to address the most relevant issues for athletes: 1) Integrity and Clean Sport, 2) Governance and Communication, 3) Career and Marketing, 4) Safeguarding, 5) Sports Competition. All elite athletes will be invited to take part in a second-phase survey in two weeks, to continue to shape the Charter and share their voice.

Visit Athlete365, the official website of the IOC dedicated to athletes, for the complete news, and more principles of the Athlete Charter and sign-up for athletes to join the conversation can be found here.

2018 IOC Athlete Charter 365 Share My Voice

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Climbing the boulder rankings

The 2018 IFSC Bouldering World Cup season continues in June with the 5th event in Hachioji, Japan, and penultimate event in Vail, USA. Season podiums could already be decided when the best Bouldering athletes in the world cross continents to compete for more gold medals and climb the rankings.

Japan has topped the IFSC World Cup team Bouldering ranking every year since 2014, and they are on track to repeat the feat in 2018. Altogether, 38 Japanese athletes are registered to compete in front of their home crowd in Hachioji. Akiyo Noguchi and Miho Nonaka are the only athletes this season to stand on the podium at every Bouldering event. They won three of four competitions so far, and Noguchi swept both sets of the China Tour this month. Another victory from either star at the Esforta Arena Hachioji on Sunday will secure a spot on the Bouldering season podium.

Among the men, Kokoro Fujii and Tomoa Narasaki both stood atop a podium this year and rank among the top five Bouldering athletes, alongside Rei Sugimoto. Also on the start list for Hachioji is Combined youth world champion Meichi Narasaki, Yoshiyuki Ogata and Keita Watabe, who all won medals in Hachioji and Vail in 2017.

For over a decade, Vail has welcomed the most elite Bouldering athletes to Colorado. This year, the eleventh IFSC World Cup in Vail marks the penultimate event of the 2018 Bouldering season. In addition to Japan, also keep an eye on Slovenia in Vail. If Jernej Kruder excels in Hachioji, he will have the chance to clinch a place on the Bouldering season podium the following week. His teammates Gregor Vezonik, who twice joined him on the Bouldering podium this year, and Katja Kadic, who competed in finals in Vail in 2017, are also on the start lists for Hachioji and Vail.
From the United States, 40 athletes will climb on their home stage in Vail. Expect former Vail winner and 2017 finalist Alex Puccio to standout again, as well as PanAmerican youth Bouldering champion Brooke Raboutou, who placed 9th in 2017. Former Vail medallist Nathaniel Coleman and Sean Bailey, 11th in Vail last year, are also set to compete. The full list of starting athletes, schedules, 2017 replays and photos can be found on the Vail and Hachioji event pages on the IFSC website.

Japan and China each have two Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athletes on the start list for Hachioji. Asian youth Bouldering champions Keita Dohi (JPN) and Mao Nakamura (JPN) will compete in both Hachioji and Vail. Dohi continues to improve at IFSC World Cup events and just missed semi-finals last time in Tai’an, and Nakamura returns after twice making semi-finals. Asian youth Combined champion YuFei Pan (CHN) will compete in both events as well, and keep an eye in Vail on Galo Hernandez of Ecuador, competing in his first IFSC Bouldering World Cup, and Hannah Meul of Germany, competing in her 2nd event of the season.

Tune-in to the IFSC homepage on June 3rd and 9th to watch the live streaming of semi-final and final rounds:
www.ifsc-climbing.org
Join the chat on Twitter during the show at #IFSCwc.

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YOG Mascot a Symbol of Sport and Equality

The Buenos Aires 2018 Organising Committee has launched today its Youth Olympic mascot: #Pandi!

Inspired by the jaguar, one of the most emblematic wild cat species found in northern Argentina, the mascot aims to inspire youth to embrace sport as a tool to make the world a better place, while also raising awareness about the species' risk of extinction. The mascot is named with a "hashtag" at the beginning to demonstrate its strong online profile.

The mascot was foreshadowed in May with paw prints appearing on the famous Obelisk of Buenos Aires:

“…various footprints appeared that created a stir and raised the obvious question: whose are they? All that can be said for now is that it's a character destined to become a big protagonist at the third summer edition of the Youth Olympic Games.”

For more information about the furry protagonist, visit the complete news at BuenosAires2018.com.

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IFSC Partners with Auto-Belay Provider Perfect Descent

Perfect Descent is the world leader in Speed climbing auto-belays. Distributed by Aerial Adventure Technologies, Perfect Descent auto-belays were selected by the IFSC in 2016 to provide a more secure and fair competition environment, as well as a cleaner field of play than the human belay previously in use. The Model 220 (now called Speed Drive™) used at IFSC World Cup and IFSC World Championship events also boasts the fastest industry retraction rate available on the auto-belay market at 15 feet per second (4.6m/s). As the IFSC Exclusive Auto-Belay Partner, Perfect Descent will be present throughout the 2018 season at IFSC events and on IFSC social media platforms.

“We are proud to partner with the IFSC and support the growing global community of Sport Climbing athletes. Speed climbing is a dynamic and demanding discipline and we are excited to have a role in promoting safe and fair competition,” says Andrew Miller, Vice-President of Aerial Adventure Technologies.

Following the inclusion of Sport Climbing to the Sports Programme of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 taking place in October, participation in the Speed climbing discipline at IFSC events increased by 25 percent last year and continues to grow in 2018. In-line with this growth, the IFSC and Perfect Descent are partnering to produce original video series with IFSC athletes which present the Speed climbing discipline, discuss the Olympic format and highlight the most memorable races of the 2018 season. Watch the first interview below with 3-time Combined world champion Sean McColl (CAN), 3-time Combined season champion Jakob Schubert (AUT) and reigning Speed world champion Anna Tsyganova (RUS).

“We are excited to partner with Perfect Descent to enhance the visibility of Speed climbing athletes and technology leading up to the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires and Olympic Games in Tokyo,” says IFSC President Marco Scolaris. “We are all climbers, rising higher, faster and stronger together.”

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IFSC Olympic Qualification Event

Today, Friday 18th May, the IFSC Executive Board elected the city that will host the Olympic Qualifying event in 2019 ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Among four strong candidates (Chongqing, Los Angeles, Moscow and Toulouse) the Board chose the French city of Toulouse. The “Federation Francaise de la Montagne et de l’Escalade” (FFME) presented a very detailed candidature, based on its experience in organising international events.

A special recognition goes to the other candidates: CFR, CMA and USAC.

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IFSC Attended Climbing Wall Summit

Kobi CWS2

On Wednesday, 16th of May, Vice President Kobinata Toru and Sport Officer Silvia Verdolini attended the Climbing Wall summit (CWS) launching the “IFSC Official Sport Equipment” project in front of a room filled with holds and volumes producers.


In the interest of maintaining fairness in the field of play and of ensuring high standards in international competitions, the IFSC wishes to start a conversation towards the creation of the official sport equipment which will be authorized for use on the field of play during all IFSC events.
Hosted by the Climbing Wall Association in Denver (Colorado), the CWA Summit is one of the main indoor climbing industry's conference and trade show in the USA. More than 20 people representing various brands and producers joined the IFSC presentation and contributed to an open and fruitful discussion. The IFSC wishes to follow up the conversation with the European market and host a similar meeting at the OutDoor fair in Germany (full details here).
The IFSC Sport Department is grateful to the CWA and Bill Zimmerman, USA Climbing and IFSC International Chief Routesetter Chris Danielson for supporting the IFSC in the organisation and coordination of this successful meeting.
This was also the occasion for IFSC Board Member, Maria Izquierda, to meet IFSC partners EntrePrises and PerfectDescent. All IFSC representatives had the opportunity to attend a vast range of workshops and exhibition, and to compare vision and ideas for the future of the Sport Climbing with various stakeholders.Maria izquierda

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Double Victory for France, 1st Win for Israel, Noguchi Repeats

France’s Anouck Jaubert returned to the top of the Speed climbing podium and season rankings and Bassa Mawem won his first IFSC World Cup this weekend in Tai’an, China. In Bouldering, Alex Khazanov claimed his first gold medal and the first IFSC World Cup victory for Israel, and Akiyo Noguchi of Japan swept the first stage of the China Tour to rise to first place in the Bouldering season rankings.

The fastest Speed climbing athletes in the world continued to set low times on Sunday at the first IFSC World Cup in Tai’an. Bassa Mawem of France and Sabri Sabri of Indonesia never stopped the clock above 6 seconds. Mawem won his first IFSC World Cup by racing 7 hundredths of a second faster in the big final, and Sabri stood on his first podium. In the small final, top-ranked  Dmitrii Timofeev (RUS) returned to the podium after placing first last weekend in Chongqing, China, profiting from a false start by Aspar Jaelolo (INA).

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Taian China Speed Bassa Masem France

Anouck Jaubert, 2017 season champion and winner in Moscow last month, returned to the top of the season rankings in Tai’an. Only once did she score a time above 8 seconds, and a flawless final race against Sari Agustina (INA) earned her a second gold medal in 2018. Agustina wore her first IFSC World Cup medal and Aries Susanti Rahayu made it three medals for Indonesia by outlasting Anna Brozek of Poland in the small final. Susanti Rahayu registered quick times all day, including 7.40 seconds in the opening race of the final.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Taian China Speed Anouck Jaubert France

The Bouldering final concluded the action in Tai’an, the 3rd Speed and 4th Bouldering event of the 2018 season. Every male finalist topped the dynamic first and third problems and couldn’t overcome the volumes on the second, leaving the final problem to decide the podium. The tiny crimps beginning M4 and two slippery spherical volumes concluding it provided a challenging and exciting finish. Only Alex Khazanov solved the sequence to seal the victory in his first final and secure Israel’s first IFSC World Cup medal. Jernej Kruder (SLO) flashed two problems to maintain the lead in the Bouldering season rankings, and Gregor Vezonik brings home a second medal for Slovenia by surpassing Rei Sugimoto (JPN) on countback to semi-finals.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Taian China Bouldering Alex Khazanov Israel

4-time Bouldering season champion Akiyo Noguchi of Japan dominated in Chongqing last weekend and continued the excellent climbing in Tai’an. She flashed every problem in qualifications, never missed a top and required just five attempts to complete the final four problems and rise to first place in the season rankings. Her teammate and runner-up Miho Nonaka also topped every problem in finals: the W1 and W3 slabs, a powerful second problem and the difficult W4 which required both strength and technique to complete. Fanny Gibert (FRA) rounded out the podium with two tops, her first of 2018. Kyra Condie (USA) and Johanna Färber (AUT) competed in their first IFSC World Cup finals.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Taian China Bouldering Akiyo Noguchi Japan

Among Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athletes, Keita Dohi continued to improve in the IFSC Bouldering World Cup, leading up to October. He topped 3 qualification problems and just missed the semi-finals cut. Seongmin Eom of Korea competed in his first IFSC World Cup this weekend, and YiLing Song continued to race well in front of her home crowd.

The complete results, highlights, replays and photos can be found on the Tai'an event page.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Taian China Bouldering Podium Men

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Taian China Bouldering Podium Women

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Taian China Speed Podium Men

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Tai'an Schedule Update

Following the technical meeting, the revised timetable for IFSC World Cup Tai'an has been confirmed.

Please take note of the new schedule here, and other information can be found on the Tai'an event page.

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2 Bouldering Wins for Japan; Indonesia, Russia Excel in Speed

The Bouldering and Speed climbing seasons continued this weekend in Chongqing, the first stop on the 2018 China Tour. In the end, Indonesia, Japan and Russia all brought home three IFSC World Cup medals.

Under the early evening sun above the specially-designed Huayang Climbing Park in Chongqing, elite Bouldering athletes took to the stage for the final on Sunday. Akiyo Noguchi and Miho Nonaka of Japan started strong in the women’s final, hanging upside down to exit the roof beginning W1 and keeping it together for the sole tops. Stasa Gejo (SRB) was first to solve the W2 slab, executing precise footwork and a skip to score the zone point and leaping to the top hold with 20 seconds remaining. Noguchi followed suit on W2 and took a substantial lead by completing an exhausting 2-minute flash of an uncomfortable W3. When Nonaka topped in one attempt too many, Noguchi secured her first IFSC World Cup win since her last victory in Chongqing in 2015. Already first and second, Noguchi and Nonaka closed the round with pure power on W4 and two crowd-pleasing tops, improving their positioning in the season Bouldering rankings after three events. Gejo, European Bouldering champion and The World Games winner last year, reached her first IFSC World Cup podium by scoring three zone points.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chongqing China Bouldering Final Kokoro Fujii Japan

After every male finalist flashed M1 and could not complete the opening dyno of M3 to score the zone point, the medal decisions came down to the second and fourth problems. Kokoro Fujii finished wrestling the volumes of M2 with 5 seconds remaining, and Sean McColl (CAN) and Jakob Schubert (AUT) flashed the problem. On the very physical last problem, Fujii secured first place in Chongqing and the third medal for Japan with a double-dyno finish. McColl placed second for his first medal of the 2018 season with a strong attempt on M4 to score the zone point. Aleksei Rubtsov (RUS) bumped Schubert off the podium with an exciting last move, winning bronze on zone points.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chongqing China Bouldering Final Akiyo Noguchi Japan

The Speed finals concluded the weekend of climbing in Chongqing. 2017 stars and Moscow standouts Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI), Vladislav Deulin (RUS), Anouck Jaubert (FRA) and Iuliia Kaplina (RUS) were all defeated before the semi-finals. In the women’s medal races, Aries Susanti Rahayu of Indonesia matched Elena Timofeeva (RUS) step-for-step in the big final and took the lead to win her first IFSC World Cup. In the small final, Indonesian teammate Puji Lestari secured her first IFSC World Cup podium after a fall from world champion Anna Tsyganova (RUS) in the small final.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chongqing China Speed Winners

In the men’s Speed final, JinXin Li advanced past both Alipourshenazandifar and Deulin in front of his home crowd and finished just shy of the podium. Speed legend Danyil Boldyrev (UKR) took the victory over Li in the small final by just over one tenth of a second, scoring one of the fastest times of the day at 5.73 seconds. After winning gold in Chongqing in 2016, Dmitrii Timofeev of Russia returned to the top of the podium by performing flawlessly in the final race. Aspar Jaelolo placed second and added a third medal for Indonesia as well.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chongqing China Speed Final

Among Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athletes, YiLing Song climbed in Chongqing finals in front of her home crowd and finished in 13th place at her first IFSC Speed World Cup of the season. In Bouldering, Mao Nakamura of Japan advanced to her 2nd semi-final in three events, finishing in 20th place.

The complete results, highlights, replays and photos can be found on the Chongqing event page.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chongqing China Bouldering Podium Women

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chongqing China Speed Podium Men

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chongqing China Speed Podium Women

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Chongqing Speed Finals Delay

Due to qualifications running longer than expected, the Speed finals for IFSC World Cup Chongqing have been delayed and rescheduled for 20:00 GMT+8 May 6th, following the Bouldering finals.

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China Tour 2018: Faster, Stronger

The 2018 IFSC World Cup series continues this month with the first stage of the China Tour taking place in Chongqing on May 5th-6th and in Tai’an on May 12th-13th, hosting its first IFSC World Cup event. Faster and stronger, elite Bouldering and Speed climbing athletes vie for positioning in the season rankings.

Miho Nonaka (JPN) just missed the season Bouldering podium last year but has started strong in 2018, placing 1st and 2nd at the first two events in Meiringen and Moscow and completing every problem in Bouldering finals. With 2017 China winners Janja Garnbret (SLO) and Shauna Coxsey (GBR) off the start list, Nonaka can take a sizable lead in the season rankings this month. Japan teammate  Akiyo Noguchi has yet to miss a podium in 2018 and ranks among the top athletes. Fanny Gibert (FRA) competed alongside them in both finals and will aim to win her first IFSC World Cup.

For the men, Jernej Kruder (SLO) and Tomoa Narasaki (JPN) made the podiums last year in China and return after trading first and second place in Meiringen and Moscow. Jongwon Chon, 2017 Chongqing winner and Bouldering season champion, is off the start list for Chongqing but is set to compete in Tai’an. Also be sure to follow the climbing of  Aleksei Rubtsov (RUS), who has not missed a Bouldering final in 2018.

In Speed, Anouck Jaubert (FRA) returns to China after clinching the season title in Xiamen in October. Iuliia Kaplina (RUS) twice set the women’s Speed world record (7.32 seconds) during the first stage of the China Tour in 2017 and has not lost in Chongqing since 2015, but Jaubert matched her mark during the final run of Moscow finals and could lower the record this weekend. Also quick in Moscow was Aries Susanti Rahayu (INA), who scaled the 15-meter Speed wall in 7.39 seconds during her quarterfinal race in Moscow, as well as bronze medallist Elena Timofeeva of Russia.

Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI), The World Games Athlete of the Year who set the men’s Speed world record in Nanjing in 2017, began the 2018 season by recording four times under 6 seconds and winning a gold medal in Moscow. Not far behind him in the big final was Speed season champion Vladislav Deulin (RUS), who claimed two victories in China last year. From Indonesia, Veddriq Leonardo and Hinayah Muhammad faced-off in the small final in Moscow and will compete again in Chongqing. Also follow the climbing of their compatriot Aspar Jaelolo, who stopped the clock before 6 seconds in Moscow qualifications. The full list of starting athletes, schedules, 2017 replays and photos can be found on the Chongqing and Tai'an event pages on the IFSC website.

Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athletes DiChong Huang, YuFei Pan and YiLing Song of China will compete in front of their home crowds in Chongqing and Tai’an. Keita Dohi and teammate Mao Nakamura (JPN), who placed 15th in Meiringen, will join them on the Bouldering and Speed walls in China. Also keep an eye on Sarah Tetzlaff of New Zealand, competing in her first IFSC World Cup on Saturday.

Tune-in to the IFSC homepage on May 6th and 13th to watch the live streaming of semi-final and final rounds, and join the chat on Twitter during the show at #IFSCwc.

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Chongqing Schedule Update

Following the technical meeting, the timetable for IFSC World Cup Chongqing has been amended.


Please visit the event page for the updated info sheet or at the following link.

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Josh Levin Presents Sport Climbing

Josh Levin visited International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters last month in Lausanne, Switzerland, an integral part of his role as Athlete Role Model (ARM) for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018.

During the visit, Levin gave a short presentation about his competition experiences to provide insight into how passion for Sport Climbing could be shared with the broader Olympic community. A tour of the IOC offices followed, as well as a stop at the famous Olympic Museum to learn more about the history of the Olympic Movement.

2018 Athlete Role Model Josh Levin IOC Presentation 1

Afterward, Levin had the surprise pleasure of having a brief chat with IOC President Thomas Bach. During the conversation, they discussed the future of the Olympics and what athletes can do to create positive change in the world.

"Visiting the IOC was an absolutely incredible experience and I am truly grateful to represent Sport Climbing on the Olympic stage," says Levin. "Moving forward, I hope to share these experiences with the next generation of athletes and to pass on the Olympic Values of excellence, friendship, and respect."

2018 Athlete Role Model Josh Levin IOC President Thomas Bach 2

In November, the IOC announced the first 25 ARMs for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, and Sport Climbing stars Charlotte Durif and Levin were among the athletes selected to serve as role models. In Buenos Aires, the ARMs will be on-site for at least five days and will play a key role in supporting and mentoring the 3,998 young athletes participating in the Games, to share their experiences and inspire athletes to be the best they can be, both on and off the field of play.

2017 Athlete Role Model Josh Levin Charlotte Durif

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SportAccord 2018: Sport Climbing Shines at The World Games

From April 15th-20th, the 16th edition of SportAccord took place in Bangkok, Thailand. The convention is the world’s premier and most exclusive annual event at the service of sport. It is focused on driving positive change internationally and dedicated to engaging and connecting; rights holders, organising committees, cities, press and media, businesses and other organisations involved in the development of sport.

IFSC President Marco Scolaris and IFSC Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer attended the event this year, participating in the General Assemblies of the International World Games Association (IWGA) the Association of Recognised International Sport Federations (ARISF), the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Global Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF), as well as meetings with the IOC, WADA and other leading actors in sport.

The World Olympians Association (WOA) launched the largest ever global study analysing the long-term health of Olympians, an initiative unveiled by WOA President Joël Bouzou at SportAccord. The study targets +10,000 Olympians and aims to improve their post-career life by identifying risk factors associated with elite-level sport. Olympians who have finished competing at an Olympic level may register here to receive the link to complete the 25-minute online survey.

President Scolaris also took the occasion to meet with the Sport Climbing Association of Thailand, discussing the development of the sport in Thailand at the grassroots and international levels with its President, Somboon Uthaiwiankul, and Vice-Secretary General, Sarun Lorhpipat.

2018 Sport Accord Convention Sport Climbing Association Thailand IFSC President Marco Scolaris

Following the general assembly of the IWGA, the Sports Programme of The World Games 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama, was announced at SportAccord. 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries will compete in 30 sports when The World Games return to the United States for the first time since 1981. Sport Climbing competitions will take place at the event for the fourth consecutive edition, and already the city of Birmingham is alive with the climbing spirit. Artist Marcus Fetch painted a mural downtown featuring a Sport Climbing athlete, hoping to get citizens talking about The World Games 2021. Watch the time-lapse below to see the magic unfold.

In January, The World Games 2017 - Wroclaw Speed climbing winner Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) was voted Athlete of the Year 2017, rising to the top of the public vote in the very last moments. Unable to attend SportAccord 2018, President Scolaris received the award on his behalf during the convention. The full replays of Bouldering, Lead and Speed climbing finals in Wroclaw can be found on the event page.

"It's hard to imagine another presentation of Sport Climbing at The World Games quite like the 2017 event in Wroclaw, but already 2018 is off to a fantastic start. The appeal of Sport Climbing is true around the world, from Bangkok to Birmingham, and we returned from SportAccord with many insights into the wider movement shaping the future of our sport," says President Scolaris.

Stay tuned to the IFSC website for more information about The World Games in Birmingham, and visit The Daily for full summaries of the SportAccord convention.

2018 Sport Accord Convention The World Games 2017 Wroclaw Athlete of the Year Reza Alipour Award

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Jaubert Ties World Record, 3 Medals for Japan, Russia, Slovenia

Anouck Jaubert tied the women’s Speed climbing world record on her last run and Japan, Russia and Slovenia placed 3 athletes on the podium at the second Bouldering and first Speed event of 2018.

6 months after the final IFSC Speed World Cup in Xiamen, China, the fastest Speed climbing athletes in the world went head-to-head again this weekend in Moscow. Indonesia and Russia excelled in Speed qualifications, sending no less than 20 athletes to finals altogether. 2017 season champion Anouck Jaubert of France faced-off in the gold medal race against long-time rival Iuliia Kaplina (RUS), competing in front of her home crowd. A false start handed Jaubert the victory, and she maintained composure during the final run to tie the women’s Speed climbing world record (7.32 seconds) set by Kaplina last year at The World Games in Wroclaw. Elena Timofeeva (RUS) won her first IFSC World Cup medal, profiting in the small final on a slip from Aries Susanti Rahayu (INA), who clocked a fast time of 7.39 seconds in the quarterfinal.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Moscow Russia Speed Indonesia Team

 

In the men’s Speed final, 2017 season runner-up Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) continued to race quickly in the 2018 season opener, approaching his world record (5.48 seconds) and scoring only one time above 6 seconds. He won gold in the big final over 2017 season champion Vladislav Deulin, who made it 3 medals for Russia in Moscow. Veddriq Leonardo (INA) bested teammate Hinayah Muhammad on a false start to win a bronze medal on Sunday at his first IFSC World Cup.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Moscow Russia Speed Men Podium

Japan and Slovenia dominated in Bouldering finals on Sunday evening, claiming all the medals in the grand finale in Moscow. Tomoa Narasaki (JPN), 2nd at the first IFSC Bouldering World Cup of 2018 in Meiringen, was the only male finalist to top all four problems, including a flash of a powerful second set. The reigning Combined season champion and Bouldering world champion last won gold in the IFSC World Cup series in 2016 (Munich). Meiringen winner Jernej Kruder (SLO) was the first athlete to complete a top in finals, solving the barn-door swing of the opening problem and flashing the last two problems. Kruder’s Slovenian teammate, Gregor Vezonik, flashed the challenging steep final set for his first IFSC World Cup medal. Russia’s Aleksei Rubtsov also climbed well in Moscow, smoothly completing the jump on the third problem for 5th place.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Moscow Russia Bouldering Gregor Vezonik

Janja Garnbret (SLO), Petra Klingler (SUI) and Miho Nonaka (JPN) led the way on the first three problems: the lines of crimps on the opening slab, the multi-move dyno of the second problem and the physical third sequence. The last problem featured a showdown between Nonaka, winner in Meiringen, and Garnbret, the 2017 Combined season champion. Nonaka made the opening leap and successfully wrestled up the next volumes on her first attempt, requiring a flash from Garnbret to tie in finals and force a countback to her leading semi-final score. With fans in Moscow and around the world watching, Garnbret maintained her composure and completed the top on her first attempt for the victory. Akiyo Noguchi (JPN) also quickly solved the fourth problem to bump Klingler off the podium by top attempts.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Moscow Russia Bouldering Janja Garnbret

Aleksandra Kalucka of Poland registered an impressive time of 7.91 seconds in Speed qualifications, the first glimpse of Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 qualified athletes in the discipline this year. Elena Krasovskaia of Russia also climbed strong, topping 3 problems in Bouldering qualifications on Saturday.

The complete results, highlights, replays and photos can be found on the Moscow event page.

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Moscow Schedule Change

Following the technical meeting, the timetable for IFSC World Cup Moscow has been amended.

Please visit the event page for the updated info sheet or at the following link.

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The Home of Speed Climbing

After celebrating 70 years of Sport Climbing events last year, Moscow welcomes the best Bouldering and Speed athletes next weekend to Russia, where the earliest Speed climbing competitions were organised.

The first climbing competitions were organised in the former USSR in the late 1940s. These events focused on Speed climbing and were mostly dedicated to Soviet climbers until the 1980s. The first Climbing World Cup in Moscow took place in 1994, with the most recent edition occurring in 2010. Russian athletes have continued to excel on the world stage, in Bouldering and especially Speed. Since the inception of the IFSC in 2007, Russia has topped the national team ranking every year. Iuliia Kaplina currently holds the women's world record (7.32 seconds), and Vladislav Deulin secured the season title in the final races last year. Anna Tsyganova is the reigning world champion and the women’s Combined winner of the 70th Anniversary event, and Speed legends Stanislav Kokorin and Mariia Krasavina have both won multiple season titles.

Star Speed athletes from around the world will challenge the Russian team in Moscow on Sunday. Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) set the men’s world record last season (5.48 seconds), and Anouck Jaubert (FRA) returns after winning the season title last year. Also keep an eye on Indonesia’s Aspar Jaelolo and Aries Susanti Rahayu, who climbed fast at the final IFSC Speed World Cups of 2017 in Wujiang and Xiamen.

Moscow also hosts the second stage of the Bouldering season on Saturday and Sunday. The Japanese team, first in the national team Bouldering ranking last year, continued to perform well in Meiringen. Miho Nonaka won gold in the 2018 debut, and her teammates Tomoa Narasaki and Akiyo Noguchi joined her on the podium. Slovenia also excelled in the Bouldering opener, with Jernej Kruder winning his first IFSC World Cup and Combined season champion Janja Garnbret beginning the season with a silver medal. In the spotlight in Moscow will be Aleksei Rubtsov. The men’s Combined winner of the 70th Anniversary event finished 3rd in the Bouldering season the past two years and already won a bronze medal in Meiringen. For the full list of starting athletes and photos of the 70th Anniversary event last year, visit the official Moscow event page on the IFSC website.

12 qualified athletes for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 will compete at IFSC World Cup Moscow, including youth Speed world champion (Youth A) Aleksandra Kalucka (POL) and youth Bouldering world champion (Youth A) Filip Schenk (ITA). Three athletes from China will join them, Asian youth Combined champion YuFei Pan among them. From Russia, Luiza Emeleva and Elena Krasovskaia will climb in both disciplines in front of their home crowd. Also keep an eye on Mao Nakamura (JPN), who climbed in Meiringen semi-finals last weekend. Sandra Lettner (AUT), 4th in Meiringen, is not on the start list.

Tune-in to the IFSC homepage on April 22nd to watch the live streaming of the semi-final and final rounds, and join the chat on Twitter during the live show at #IFSCwc.

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Climbing Life Among 750 Events for Peace

For the 5th International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), the international community, motivated by Peace and Sport, organised more than 750 events registered on www.april6.org. Numerous international sports federations, athletes, Champions for Peace, institutions, schools, and associations got into action in the four corners of the world to celebrate this day and convey the message of peace through sport.

Since 2014, the IFSC has worked alongside its Honorary Member Paola Gigliotti to activate the Climbing Life page on Facebook, sharing links between nations and universities around the world emphasising the educational value of sport and the importance of sharing cultural and scientific experiences for peace. On April 6, a conference demonstrating this idea took place this year at the Perugia Medicine and Sport University.

"Four years after the start of Climbing Life, we reached an important goal. Of course we didn’t stop wars or poverty, but we successfully demonstrated that sport and science can speak the same language of peace, all around the globe," says Paola Gigliotti.

2018 International Day of Sport for Development and Peace April 6 Climbing Life Video Play

The 2018 online #WhiteCard campaign reached new heights for April6, with more than 90 million people reached on social media. In March, IFSC President Marco Scolaris, Vice-President Kobinata Toru, officials and staff displayed their white cards at the 2018 IFSC Officials Seminar near IFSC headquarters in Torino.

"Often behind-the-scenes, our officials are critical to every single IFSC event, and they came to the front of the stage to support peace and sport at our annual Seminar," says Kobinata Toru.

2018 IFSC Officials Seminar Torino March White Card

The IFSC also coordinated with the FISE organising team to participate in the White Card campaign at the FISE World Series in Hiroshima. Despite heavy rain during Bouldering qualifications on this day, participation in the IDSDP continued and Peace and Sport Ambassador Charmaine Crooks gave a speech at the event. The IFSC encouraged National Federations, athletes and fans of the Sport Climbing community to get involved as well by organising an April 6 project or raising a #WhiteCard for peace.

“By hosting FISE, an event that attracts worldwide attention mainly among the youth, in our International Peace Culture City, we believe that we can take the opportunity to connect with the youth around the world who will lead the next generation, and deliver the message of the value of peace," reads the FISE press release for April 6.

2018 IDSDP Peace and Sport FISE World Series Hiroshima

On December 6-8, the 10th annual Peace and Sport International Forum took place in Monaco. Since 2009, Honorary Member Paola Gigliotti has attended the forum and actively participated in the workshops, which have united more than 600 major decision-makers from over 110 countries. Last year's edition discussed the latest social innovations that can be combined with sport to tackle today’s most pressing societal problems and the global challenges of the future.

"The IFSC has shown that we can play a big role - through our social and educational programs and by embodying our core values - in promoting peace across the world through Sport Climbing, despite our limited resources. This is hard work that must be done," says IFSC President Marco Scolaris.

For more information on the 2018 IDSDP, please visit the complete news on the Peace and Sport website.

2018 IDSDP Peace and Sport Climbing Life Banner

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IFSC Relaunches the recruitment of the Administrative Assistant

The IFSC is looking for a skilled Administrative Assistant with bookkeeping competencies to support the Administration Department in the daily tasks.

The employee in this position will report to the Administration Director and will work closely with the other Departments. The full-time position is based at the headquarters of IFSC in Torino, Italy. Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “IFSC Administrative Assistant Application” in the subject line by April 30th, 2018.

For the full job description, please click here.

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Kruder Wins First, Nonaka Back on Top in 2018 Bouldering Debut

Japan claimed three medals and Slovenia placed two athletes on the podium at the first IFSC Bouldering World Cup of the 2018 season in Meiringen, won by Miho Nonaka (JPN) and Jernej Kruder (SLO).

Dynamic moves and creative problems created an exciting final round in Meiringen, hosting its 3rd IFSC World Cup event. The Bouldering stars and rising stars did not disappoint, giving the crowd in Switzerland and viewers everywhere thrilling moments until the end.

After standing on his first IFSC World Cup podium last year in Nanjing, Jernej Kruder rose to the top this weekend. First to climb in the men’s final, three times Kruder energised the audience by leaping for holds: the jump to the finish after controlling a challenging ladder of holds on the first problem; the quadruple dyno starting the second problem; and an unexpected drop to score the zone point on the third problem. 2017 Combined season champion Tomoa Narasaki (JPN) and Aleksei Rubtsov (RUS) topped two problems and scored four zone points to place 2nd and 3rd by attempts, and Jakob Schubert (AUT) closed out the round with the only top of a powerful fourth problem on his first attempt. Tomoaki Takata (JPN) climbed in his first IFSC World Cup final today and finished in 5th place.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Meiringen Bouldering Jernej Kruder

4 female finalists began their podium quest in Meiringen with a flash of the first problem, solving advanced footwork and a sleek switch from heel to toe to continue upward after scoring the zone point. 2017 Combined season champion Janja Garnbret (SLO), Akiyo Noguchi (JPN) and Miho Nonaka followed with flashes of a dynamic second problem, but only Nonaka continued the perfection on the subsequent slab, completing a gruelling shoulder move on her first attempt. She carried the momentum into the fourth problem, solving a double-dyno into a palm press on the way to her fourth top and first gold medal since 2016. Garnbret made her 23rd podium in 27 events by finishing with a flash, and Noguchi rounded out the podium with four tops as well, requiring more attempts to do so.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Meiringen Bouldering Miho Nonaka

10 athletes competing at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 competed in Meiringen this weekend. Sandra Lettner of Austria became the first qualified athlete to reach finals at an IFSC World Cup event in 2018, the first of her career. She climbed well all day, sticking the double-dyno rollover on the last problem in finals for 4th place. Mao Nakamura of Japan and Giorgia Tesio of Italy also performed well, qualifying for semi-finals on Friday.

The complete results, full replays and photos can be found on the Meiringen event page.

2018 IFSC Climbing World Cup Meiringen Bouldering Sandra Lettner

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IFSC Officials Give Training in Buenos Aires

The National Technical Official Training Programme of the upcoming Youth Olympic Games took place from Thursday to Saturday in Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires 2018 has set into motion and reinforced a series of initiatives to professionalise the sports administration structure, including training for technical officials and judges. The initiatives aim to support the delivery of the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, as well as to build the legacy of the 3rd Youth Olympic Games by positively impacting sport management capabilities worldwide.

On April 5-7, IFSC jury president Stanley Yeo and IFSC international routesetter Matthias Woitzuck participated in the programme, teaching as experienced instructors and leading hands-on workshops for Sport Climbing.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires National Technical Official Training Programme Instructor

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires National Technical Official Training Programme Routesetter

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Feel the Future

The Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 has a slogan!

"Feel the Future" highlights the hope that the 3,998 athletes competing in the first Games with strict gender equality will become examples of passion, coexistence and unity in diversity, as well as a source of inspiration to create a better world through sport.

The slogan is part of a larger manifesto:

Feel the future.
The energy of youth to create a better world.
With sport as its channel.
Friendship, respect, and excellence as the common language.
The South celebrates diversity.
Gender equality and equal opportunities.
Bridges instead of barriers.
Passion that inspires.
The transformative power of youth.
Buenos Aires 2018.

FEEL THE FUTURE.

For more information, please visit the complete news at Olympic.org and BuenosAires2018.com.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Slogan Video Feel The Future Play

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Sport Climbing Enters ISF

In 2019, Sport Climbing will make its debut at the World Schools Championship of the International School Sport Federation (ISF).

IFSC President Marco Scolaris and ISF President Laurent Petrynka met in Lausanne last week to sign the agreement officially recognising Sport Climbing as a sport of the International School Sport Federation.

The ISF is recognised by the International Olympic Committee and promotes the values and interests of education through sport. ISF events aim to promote mutual understanding, volunteering empowerment, peace, non-discrimination, healthy lifestyle, social inclusion, and gender equality among young people.

ISF made a presentation at the 2018 IFSC Plenary Assembly in Innsbruck.

12 World Schools Championship events take place every year, with 10,000 participants competing for up to a week. The first World Schools Championship for Sport Climbing will take place in Aubenas, France, on May 18-24, 2019. Athletes will be representing the school at which they are studying and national champions will come together from all around the world for a high-level competition, enriching lifetime experience and multicultural exchange.

“Joining ISF is a natural progression for Sport Climbing, and the 2019 World Schools Championship will be a unique opportunity for talented Sport Climbing athletes to compete, learn and continue to grow into leaders of their communities," says President Scolaris.

2018 ISF IFSC Agreement President Scolaris Petrynka

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YOG Media Registration Open

Media representatives wishing to cover the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 are required to complete the accreditation application by May 24, 2018.

The Summer Youth Olympic Games are an elite multi-sport international event for the world’s best young athletes between the ages of 15 to 18. Buenos Aires 2018 will mark the first time that an Olympic event has had an equal number of women and men athletes. There will be 1,999 women and 1,999 men competing in the 32 sports between 6 to 18 October.

The operations for the media are on a different scale than those found at the Olympic Games, and will offer a more interactive atmosphere for media representatives and athletes, with the focus on creating an easy and fun reporting environment in the spirit of the Youth Olympic Games.

For more information, please visit the complete news at Olympic.org and BuenosAires2018.com.

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New Season, New Stars: IFSC Bouldering World Cup Returns

Bouldering stars and rising stars from all around the world compete in 7 days at the IFSC Bouldering World Cup in Meiringen, Switzerland, the start of an exciting IFSC season which also features the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires and IFSC Climbing & Paraclimbing World Championships in Innsbruck.

Since 2016, Meiringen marks the opening of the IFSC Climbing World Cup season. Nestled in the Swiss Alps, the mountain village welcomes a new strong field of about 250 elite Bouldering athletes on April 13th-14th.

Shauna Coxsey (GBR) has yet to lose in Meiringen, but as in 2017 the reigning Bouldering season champion will have to overcome a recent injury (finger) to continue her streak of victories with Meiringen runner-up Katharina Saurwein (AUT) back on the start list. Jongwon Chon (KOR) missed the finals cut last year, but the men’s Bouldering season champion and Meiringen runner-up Aleksei Rubtsov (RUS) are top candidates to medal. After dominating the Bouldering team rankings in 2017, Japan returns with a full lineup of podium contenders: Meiringen winner Kokoro Fujii, Combined season champion Tomoa Narasaki, Akiyo Noguchi, Miho Nonaka and youth Bouldering world champion (Youth B) Futaba Ito. Expectations are also high for the United Sates, sending youth Combined world champion (Juniors) Claire Buhrfeind and more strong contenders. From Switzerland, world champion Petra Klingler fell just short of the podium in Meiringen last year, but she will again be in the spotlight in front of her home crowd. Also keep an eye on Alexander Megos (GER), runner-up at the European Bouldering Championship in Munich.

10 rising stars competing at the Youth Olympic Games in October will test their progress in Meiringen. Youth Combined world champion (Youth A) Sandra Lettner (AUT) will climb in her first IFSC World Cup, alongside Argentina native Valentina Aguado, Combined world champion Elena Krasovskaia (RUS), Keita Dohi and Mao Nakamura of Japan, Petar Ivanov (BUL), Vita Lukan (SLO), Hannah Meul (GER) and Filip Schenk and Giorgia Tesio of Italy.

Tune-in to the IFSC homepage on April 14th for the semi-finals and finals live streaming to see how all the stars and rising stars perform. The schedule, results, starters, 2017 replays and photos can all be found on the official Meiringen event page.

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IFSC Vice-President Meets JMSCA in Hachioji

On Tuesday, IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru met with delegates of the Japanese Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Association in Hachioji, Japan.

The meeting focused on preparations for the IFSC Climbing & Paraclimbing World Championships in 2019, the signature event of the IFSC calendar. The IFSC Plenary Assembly approved as event host the candidature of Hachioji, the largest city in the Greater Tokyo metropolitan area which hosted its first IFSC World Cup event in 2017.

Takayuki Ishimori, Mayor of Hachioji, attended the meeting and showed great interest in IFSC World Championships Hachioji 2019 and the second edition of IFSC World Cup Hachioji in June 2018.

“After very positive results last year, we are confident in continued success for Sport Climbing in Hachioji thanks to the support of the JMSCA and the City of Hachioji," says Vice-President Toru.

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3rd IF Gender Equality Leadership Forum

Electoral processes, gender-neutral portrayal and meaningful inclusion in decision-making roles were at the heart of the 3rd International Federation (IF) Gender Equality in Leadership Forum which took place on March 28 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The themes are key elements of the recently launched Gender Equality Review Project Recommendations of the International Olympic Committee, the full report of which can be found here.

IFSC President Marco Scolaris and IFSC Sport Officer Silvia Verdolini participated at the forum, and altogether more than 30 International Federation representatives attended the event to discuss the recommendations, share best practices to adapt to their own organisations, and seek new solutions to improve gender equality in sports leadership.

“We acknowledge and actively work against gender disparities in the IFSC, where 40 percent of athlete licenses are distributed to female athletes and male and female athletes are awarded equally since the first international competition,” says President Scolaris. “Although there is still a long way to go, I have to say that Sport Climbing has started already decades ago with the right foot: both genders have always been felt (and therefore considered) equal. Moreover, one of the beautiful things about Sport Climbing competitions is that they give everyone the best chance to express themselves, to show parallel levels of excellence across disciplines. We are proud of the record-setting success of Janja Garnbret at IFSC events, as well as the ground-breaking outdoor ascents of former world champion Angela Eiter and youth world champion Margo Hayes and the organising of events like the Women’s Climbing Symposium by season champion Shauna Coxsey. We hope our organisation consistently serves alongside them and all leaders of the Sport Climbing community to make sure our climbs are always towards gender equality.”

For more information on the forum, visit the complete news at Olympic.org.

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IFSC Searches for New Climbing Partnership with Marketing Agencies

The IFSC wishes to mandate leading marketing agencies exemplifying core IFSC values for the procurement and negotiation of partnership agreements throughout Europe and North America for the further development of Sport Climbing.

Since 2017, the IFSC has been working with Hakuhodo DY Group, the 2nd largest marketing agency in Japan and 11th largest in the world. Through this collaboration, the IFSC signed a partnership in 2018 with Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., the flag carrier airline of Japan.

More information can be found in the official press release, and if interested please contact IFSC Marketing and Communications Director Anne Fuynel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by April 6, 2018.

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Officials Prepare for 2018 Season

IFSC technical delegates, jury presidents, judges, routesetters and the webcasting crew convened in Torino last weekend with IFSC President Marco Scolaris, Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru and staff for the 2018 IFSC Officials Seminar.

Every year, IFSC officials come together to review the previous season and discuss changes for the current one during a complete two-day seminar near IFSC headquarters. Meetings continued this year, with more than 50 officials coming from all around the world for the seminar.

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) takes place on April 6, and everyone attending the seminar showed their support by joining the White Card campaign of Peace and Sport. Further participation of the climbing community can be found on the Climbing Life facebook page.

On Saturday morning, Marco Scolaris and Kobinata Toru welcomed the officials to Torino and outlined the direction of the Sport Department for 2018, in addition to explaining updates to the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 from a sport perspective.

2018 IFSC Officials Seminar Torino March 2

IFSC Sport Officer Silvia Verdolini and IFSC Event Officer Alessandro Di Cato outlined developments to Sport Department activities, followed by an interactive workshop where all participants shared challenges and strengths of events on the 2018 calendar, and technical delegates summarised the tasks for everyone attending to improve the collaboration and team work of officials. In the afternoon, judges, jury presidents and routesetters debriefed on the previous season and discussed rule changes in preparing for the season upcoming.

On Sunday, Kobinata Toru presented on long term goals, leading up to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and beyond, and shared with officials the importance of sport presentation. Additional discussions took place on the career path for routesetters and judges, and jury presidents and judges also took time to dive into rules for Combined events.

2018 IFSC Officials Seminar Torino March 1

"Often behind-the-scenes, our officials are critical to every single IFSC event," says Kobinata Toru. "Discussing and dining all together last weekend provided the important opportunity to expand our understanding of the technical needs at IFSC events and the best way to communicate the excitement of our sport on-site and online."

The 2018 IFSC World Cup season begins in Meiringen next month, and the live streaming of bouldering semi-finals and finals will take place on April 14 at ifsc-climbing.org.

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Torch Tour Coming Soon

In August and September, the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic flame will travel throughout Argentina, taking the Olympic spirit to every corner of the country.

The flame will be lit in a ceremony in Greece to mark the start of the torch relay for the third summer edition of the Youth Olympic Games, now only 200 days away. During its journey, the flame will travel in five Argentine regions while lighting up the whole planet. Altogether, the flame will cover more than 10,000 kilometres and 16 cities, in addition to iconic Argentine geography.

More information can be found in the full news on the Buenos Aires 2018 website and Facebook video below.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Torch Tour Thumbnail

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Beginning a New Chapter - IFSC Plenary Assembly 2018

The upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, the creation of the Ethics Commission and the addition of new Member Federations from Asia centred the 2018 IFSC Plenary Assembly in Innsbruck.

Hosted by Austria Climbing, the 13th annual IFSC Plenary Assembly on March 15-17 gathered about 100 delegates from 51 National Federations to prepare for the beginning of a new chapter for Sport Climbing.

Sport Climbing will feature as a medal sport in an Olympic context for the first time at the Youth Olympic Games, just 200 days away on Tuesday. 40 athletes between the ages of 16-17 will climb in Buenos Aires, following their performances at IFSC Youth World Championships Innsbruck and other qualification events in 2017. Ongoing developments for the athletes, officials and venue were presented on Saturday, alongside updates for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the talented young athletes representing our sport in Buenos Aires, the first Olympians of Sport Climbing, and we will continue working with the IOC to make it the best Youth Olympic Games possible,” says IFSC President Marco Scolaris.

After the publication of the Ethics Charter for the Community, the Ethics Commission was officially established on Saturday to guide its implementation. Marc Le Menestrel was appointed as chairman, and additional members will be added throughout the year.

The IFSC Plenary Assembly also confirmed the interest of the IFSC Executive Board to continue supporting the missions of the Paraclimbing Commission and strengthen Paraclimbing activities in 2018 and beyond.

2018 IFSC Plenary Assembly Innsbruck Austria Day Three 2 General Proceedings 1 Credit KVÖRight to left: IFSC President Marco Scolaris speaks with Eugen Burtscher, President of Austria Climbing, and Christoph Kaufmann, Mayor of Innsbruck, during the main proceedings of the IFSC Plenary Assembly. © KVÖ.

Two National Federations were voted new Members of the IFSC on Saturday: the Cambodia Climbing Federation (CCF) and the National Association for Climbing and Mountaineering in Sri Lanka (NACMSL). 23 Federations including Continental Members are now represented on the continent of Asia, the most ever.

“As our sport expands in Asia leading up to Tokyo 2020, we are pleased to welcome the National Federations of Cambodia and Sri Lanka to the IFSC family,” says IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru.

In the evening, the 13th annual IFSC Plenary Assembly concluded with a gala dinner for all the delegates at the Bergisel Sky in Innsbruck. Photos of all the gatherings can be found in the IFSC Flickr gallery, and the next IFSC Plenary Assembly in 2019 will take place in Tokyo.

Press Release

Day 2 Recap

Day 1 Recap

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Building a Legacy - IFSC Plenary Assembly 2018

A press conference on the Olympic Games, IFSC World Championships and more opened the second day of the 2018 IFSC Plenary Assembly, the start of general proceedings.

Michael Schöpf, Sport Manager of Austria Climbing and CEO of the IFSC World Championships taking place in Innsbruck on September 6-16, began the press conference by chronicling the journey of Sport Climbing in Innsbruck, which most recently hosted the IFSC Youth World Championships in 2017. Star Sport Climbing athlete Katharina Saurwein, Head Coach of the Austrian Paraclimbing Team, noted the growth of Paraclimbing in Austria as well, which will send Paraclimbing athletes to the IFSC World Championships for the first time this year.

Kobinata Toru, IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events, and Jérôme Meyer, Head of Olympic Coordination, followed with presentations on the upcoming Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 and Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. A number of ongoing preparations will be discussed at the IFSC Plenary Assembly tomorrow, including the Qualification System for Tokyo 2020. Before welcoming questions from the local and international media attending, IFSC President Marco Scolaris summarised the upcoming opportunities for Sport Climbing in 2018 embodying IFSC and Olympic values. All the highlights from the press conference can be watched in the video below.

"The Youth Olympic Games is an event where the goal is to give all the athlete participants a larger experience than just competing. The motto is 'compete, learn and share,'" said Jérôme Meyer. "Preparations are well underway, and we are excited to deliver the best experience of Sport Climbing in Buenos Aires in October."

Amidst continental meetings in the afternoon, IFSC Secretary General Debra Gawrych and IFSC Consultant Leslie Baxter concluded the series of workshops by leading discussions on strategic planning for National Federations. The basic principles and benefits of the process were defined, as well as the universal mission to support the growth and development of Sport Climbing alongside stakeholders as a global and accessible activity: from competitive to recreational, indoors and outdoors. Three panelists from National Federations then shared their own experiences determining and executing strategies: Burgi Beste, Vice-President of Deutscher Alpenverein; Yuji Hirayama, Vice-President of the Japan Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Association; and Kynan Waggoner, CEO of USA Climbing.

2018 IFSC Plenary Assembly Innsbruck Austria Day Two 2 Workshop 1

In the evening, general proceedings of the IFSC Plenary Assembly began at the Austria Trend Hotel Congress in Innsbruck, with reports from the IFSC on Paraclimbing activities, media, marketing and communication outputs in 2017 and approaches for 2018, and additional updates on governance.

Stay tuned for a recap of the main proceedings of the 2018 IFSC Plenary Assembly on Saturday.

Day 1 Recap

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Climbing Together - IFSC Plenary Assembly 2018

IFSC Plenary Assembly workshops began today in Innsbruck, during which National Federations learned and shared best practices surrounding the organisation of international Sport Climbing events.

Workshops for Members of the IFSC were first provided at the annual IFSC Plenary Assembly in 2017 in Quebec City. Following the success of the interactive gatherings, the concept was continued this year at the Austria Trend Hotel Congress in Innsbruck with a new cast of experienced speakers and fresh topics.

The first workshop in the morning covered working with sponsorship agencies to improve the value of Sport Climbing and generate revenues. Keiichi Nakano from the Sports Division of Hakuhodo DY media partners and Daisuka Niwa, Deputy General Manager of the Sports Division, presented on the strategic goals of sponsorships for emerging sports. Preserving the integrity of a sport while raising its profile was identified as the main goal, building real partnerships which support all the intertwining areas of a sport to do so. Differentiation of sponsorship packages for events was also emphasized, to create clear and fair relationships with partners.

Michael Schöpf, Sport Manager of Austria Climbing and CEO of IFSC World Championships Innsbruck 2018, continued the exchange of ideas alongside Ben Lepesant, Head of Media & Communications at Austria Climbing and Innsbruck 2018, focusing on the practical aspects of attracting and sustaining relationships with sponsors from an event organiser perspective.

2018 IFSC Plenary Assembly Innsbruck Austria Day One 1 Workshop 4
Ben Lepesant presenting at an IFSC Plenary Assembly workshop.

In the afternoon, National Federations engaged in a round table discussion during the second workshop on long-term planning and effective business models for hosting international events. Michael Schöpf and IFSC Event Officer Alessandro di Cato offered key insight, ranging from establishing an exciting sport atmosphere for the right audience to encouraging participation of political institutions and overcoming financial barriers with limited resources. The significant economic impact of athletes, officials, representatives, press and fans on the local economy was identified, and participating representatives of National Federations spoke from their unique experiences about the challenges of integrating sport, political and economic visions.

"The workshop this afternoon was a great opportunity to share experiences and give insight to other National Federations and event organisers about organising an IFSC World Cup and the IFSC World Championships,” said Michael Schöpf in the afternoon session. "Looking forward into the future, this is surely a good starting point."

In the evening, the delegates visited the venue of the upcoming IFSC World Championships on September 6-16, stopping by the towering walls of Kletterzentrum Innsbruck where the IFSC Youth World Championships took place last year.

The 2018 IFSC Plenary Assembly continues tomorrow with the start of general proceedings, a third workshop, continental meetings and a press conference at 11:00 (GMT+1).

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IFSC Welcomed in Tokyo

President Marco Scolaris, Vice President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru and Head of Olympic Coordination Jérôme Meyer of the IFSC had meetings with Tokyo 2020 and the Japan Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Association on March 7-9. The meetings focused on ongoing preparations for Sport Climbing at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. A long section was conducted jointly with FIBA representatives, since the IFSC is sharing the venue with Basketball 3x3 in the Aomi Urban Cluster.

2018 IFSC in Tokyo March 7 9 Photo 4

The IFSC team visited Tokyo 2020 headquarters, where the "My Dream" Art Exhibition was on display. Paintings of schoolchildren dreaming about the Olympics hung on the walls, some of which imagined competing in the Games as a Sport Climbing athlete and winning an Olympic gold medal.

"It was a warm welcome at the Tokyo 2020 offices, and these paintings are a real source of inspiration for us, just as Sport Climbing is for those young artists," said President Scolaris.

2018 IFSC in Tokyo March 7 9 Photo 2

2018 IFSC in Tokyo March 7 9 Photo 5

2018 IFSC in Tokyo March 7 9 Photo 6

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2018 IFSC Plenary Assembly Agenda

The 2018 IFSC Plenary Assembly will be taking place in Innsbruck on March 16-17, 2018, and the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires are at the top of the agenda.

A press conference on Friday morning precedes the annual gathering of Member Federations, during which the upcoming Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the IFSC Climbing & Paraclimbing World Championships Innsbruck 2018 will be discussed by IFSC President Marco Scolaris, Austria Climbing President Eugen Burtscher and distinguished guests Kobinata Toru, IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events, Jérôme Meyer, Head of Olympic coordination, Michael Schöpf, Sport Manager of Austria Climbing, and Katharina Saurwein, star Sport Climbing athlete and head coach of the Austrian paraclimbing team.

“This year, an exciting new chapter begins for our sport," says President Scolaris. "In Buenos Aires, hard-working young athletes will become the first Sport Climbing Olympians, many of whom competed right here in Innsbruck last year.”

2018 IFSC Plenary Assembly Innsbruck Athlete Lead Austria Climbing© KVÖ Heiko Wilhelm

A report on the recent Paraclimbing activities and more launches the discussions Friday evening, followed by updates from the IFSC regarding new developments in marketing and communication and the IFSC structure. On Saturday, the meetings continue throughout the day and focus on preparations for the Olympics, membership changes in 2018, activities of the Sport Department and Commissions and more. For the full agenda, please click here.

Additional workshops are planned on the 15th and 16th of March, covering how to work with a sponsorship agency to improve the value of the sport and generate revenues, hosting and organising an international event and strategic planning for National Federations. More details about the workshops are listed here.

Further information about the venue, schedule and logistics can be found in the info sheet.

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Entre-Prises to Provide Climbing Walls for the Youth Olympic Games

Entre-Prises, a long-time IFSC partner, will provide the Bouldering, Lead and Speed climbing walls for the sport climbing events at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018.

Entre-Prises (EP) is the IFSC Official Climbing Wall Supplier and a world leader in climbing walls. EP designs, manufactures and installs climbing structures and training devices of the highest quality, with more than 30 years of experience in the industry and over 6,000 climbing walls built around the globe. Now, the expertise of EP will be on display for all rounds of the sport climbing action in Buenos Aires.

“It is an honour to provide the climbing walls for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires,” says Eric Surdej, CEO of EP. “We welcome the challenge of providing the structural foundation for sport climbing on this Olympic stage with the finest solutions we can offer. Climbing is a great life experience and we strongly believe that the Olympic Games will contribute to sharing sport climbing values.”

Since its inception, the global and multicultural team at EP has been committed to bringing climbing to everyone. In line with this mission, the climbing walls of EP will continue to be used after the Youth Olympic Games for the development of sport climbing in Argentina and throughout South America. The Federación Argentina de Ski y Andinismo (FASA) and the IFSC will work jointly on establishing a world-class climbing centre for international and local competitions, high-end training of athletes and enjoyment by the surrounding communities to continue the legacy of the Youth Olympic Games beyond 2018.

“The reach of our sport is far, and the work of leaders of the industry like EP continues to play a significant role in expanding that reach,” says IFSC President Marco Scolaris. “We are fortunate to partner with companies sharing our values, which includes increasing the accessibility of sport climbing for all.”

For the full press release, please click here.

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Japan Sport Council Officers Visit IFSC

On Tuesday, Officers from Japan Sport Council, Hiroshi Sakata and Hiromi Kosaka, met with IFSC President Marco Scolaris at IFSC headquarters in Torino.

The discussion focused on an enquiry of JSC regarding Olympic sports and the five additional sports to be featured at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, in particular, Sport Climbing history, vision and strategic plan.

The occasion was also an opportunity for the IFSC President to highlight the unique characteristics of Sport Climbing and its community, as well as the passion and effort of the IFSC and IFSC stakeholders in preparing for the Games.

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Tokyo 2020 Mascots Unveiled

The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) yesterday unveiled their official Olympic and Paralympic mascots, following an evaluation of three shortlisted design sets by elementary schoolchildren across Japan and at Japanese schools overseas.

205,755 classes at 16,769 schools took part in the election, and the results were announced in front of around 600 children at Hoyonomori Gakuen School in Tokyo. The creator of the winning mascots is Ryo Taniguchi, a character designer/illustrator living in southern Japan who graduated from Cabrillo College in California, USA.

The Mascot Selection Panel will now decide names for the winning mascots, which will make their official debut in July or August 2018. For more information, please visit the complete news on the Tokyo 2020 website.

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Get Your Tickets for Innsbruck

Less than 200 days remain until the IFSC Climbing and Paraclimbing World Championships in Innsbruck, and the first tickets for the event will be available on March 1.

“Climb, come together, celebrate” is the motto of the event, the biannual gathering of the most elite Sport Climbing athletes in the world, and fans will be able to experience the motto in person on September 6-16.

More information can be found in the press release, and to purchase your ticket to the signature IFSC event of the 2018 season please visit the Innsbruck 2018 website.

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Save the Date!

IFSC President Marco Scolaris will be discussing the upcoming Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 and more at the press conference during the 13th Annual Plenary Assembly in Innsbruck. The press conference will be held on March 16th at Austria Climbing Headquarters.

“This year, an exciting new chapter begins for our sport," says President Scolaris. "In Buenos Aires, hard-working young athletes will become the first Sport Climbing Olympians, many of whom competed right here in Innsbruck last year.”

Please click here for more information about the press conference, and the Plenary Assembly Programme can be found here.

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IFSC Attends the Winter Olympic Games

The Winter Olympic Games have been taking place in PyeongChang, and President Marco Scolaris, Secretary General Debra Gawrych, Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru and Administration Director Francesca Jengo of the IFSC all attended the beginning of the Games.

“Peace in Motion” was the promise made by creative director Song Seung-whan, and that is exactly what President Scolaris and the IFSC representatives saw during the Opening Ceremony.

“In PyeongChang, we experienced a warm welcome to the Olympic Family," said President Scolaris. "We met many friends and had the opportunity to discuss the future of the Olympic Movement and the role our sport has to play. It was another step forward, toward the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the future of sport climbing. “Passion Connected” is the PyeongChang tag line, and we at the IFSC know what this means.”

More information on the Winter Olympic Games can be found on the Pyeongchang 2018 website.

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The New Norm Reforming Olympics

A set of 118 reforms called "The New Norm" was presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its 132nd Session, which took place on February 6-8 in Pyeongchang.

The plan focuses on six recommendations of the Olympic Agenda 2020 and will provide host cities with increased flexibility and assistance, with the aim of ensuring the Games are affordable, beneficial and sustainable. The measures presented address the challenges associated with the cost of bidding and hosting the Olympic Games. Efficiency and waste reduction are emphasized in the plan, which estimates maximum savings of hundreds of millions of dollars in the delivery of the Games.

"The IFSC supports this fundamental rethinking, and we are already working closely with the IOC, FIBA and Tokyo 2020 to put these ideas into practice by sharing the venue with Basketball 3x3 at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020," says IFSC President Marco Scolaris.

Visit Olympic.org for the full news, and coverage of the Olympic Games Pyeongchang 2018 can be found at OlympicChannel.com.

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IFSC Meetings in Japan

Due to a notable growth of interest in sport climbing in Japan, IFSC Secretary General Debra Gawrych and IFSC Marketing & Communications Director Anne Fuynel traveled to Japan on Friday to meet with broadcasters, sponsors, TV rights and marketing agencies.

Meetings were held in Tokyo with IFSC rights-holder Synca Creations, Japan Airlines, IFSC new partner, and IFSC marketing agency in Japan, HDY, Hakuhodo. Among the topics discussed was the promotion of sport climbing in 2018.

IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru also met with the Secretary General and the Marketing & Communications Director, to work on various topics including sport presentation and Tokyo 2020.

Finally, the Japan Bouldering Cup also took place last weekend in Tokyo, offering the IFSC representatives the opportunity to watch elite sport climbing athletes from Japan, soon to compete in the IFSC World Cups of 2018.

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2018 Media Registration Opens

The IFSC is pleased to welcome media to a new season of competition climbing!

The 2018 season starts in just over 8 weeks, and media registration is now open. All media at IFSC events may register via the online media accreditation form. This form contains a simplified Event Media Policy, and new events are on the schedule.

Each media will receive an email confirming the application has been received, and another email granting/denying accreditation. Registration will be closed 1 week before the event for TVs and 2 days for other media.

For any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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IFSC Flies into Tomorrow with Japan Airlines

The IFSC is pleased to announce that Japan Airlines will support the development of sport climbing in 2018 as an IFSC Main Partner.

Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., is the flag carrier airline of Japan and the first Japanese airline to venture overseas. For 65 years Japan Airlines has continued to pursue an incredible determination to support dreams and the people who have them. Starting in 2018, Japan Airlines will join the IFSC in supporting the development of sport climbing, set to feature for the first time at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires this year and at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

“We are thrilled to have such a committed partner sharing the same vision and passion for aiming higher, especially during a period of substantial growth and new opportunities for sport climbing,” says IFSC President Marco Scolaris. “We are looking forward to flying into the challenges of tomorrow with Japan Airlines.”

As an IFSC Main Partner and a partner of the JMSCA, Japan Airlines will be present throughout the 2018 season during IFSC events and activities. Additionally, Japan Airlines will be strongly represented on IFSC social media as it aims to pass on a better society to the next generation through the airline business. The company’s “Fostering the Next Generation” program provides hands-on educational experiences and social welfare to children, and Japan Airlines also supports young athletes by encouraging JAL Mileage Bank members to donate their miles to under-funded sports projects.

Please click here for the full press release.

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YOG Medal Design Chosen

The winning entry of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s Medal Design Competition for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 has been chosen. It was submitted by 18-year-old Muhamad Farid Husen from Indonesia, and is entitled "Fireworks of Victory". Chosen from close to 300 entries from over 50 nations, the winning design was picked by a panel of judges made up of Young Change-Makers, Young Reporters and IOC Members.

Winner Muhamad Farid Husen said of his design: "This medal was inspired by fireworks. Fireworks representing the excitement and the glory of the Youth Olympic Games where all nations come together as one to participate and celebrate. Fireworks fly to the sky, giving the reflection of how the young athletes are reaching their dreams."

More information can be found at Olympic.org and BuenosAires2018.com.

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Alipourshenazandifar Athlete of the Year

After an incredibly tight race, Reza Alipourshenazandifar was voted Athlete of the Year 2017 yesterday. The Athlete of the Year award is distributed annually by the International World Games Association (IWGA), who selects a candidate from participating IWGA sports and after fans vote daily for their favourite candidate over one month.

This year, three athletes stood out at the halfway mark, when the field was reduced from 21 to 9 athletes: speed skater Fabriana Arias (COL), powerlifter Larysa Soloviova (UKR) and speed climber Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI). Reza and Larysa pulled ahead at the end of January, regularly swapping first place. After thousands of votes on the final day and strong support from sport climbing and powerlifting fans alike, Reza regained the lead in the last hour to win the title by 754 votes, receiving 90,790 votes in total. Altogether, a record 260,266 votes were cast.

At IFSC World Cup Nanjing last year, Reza set a new men’s speed world record at 5.48 seconds. Weeks later, he won the first gold medal for Iran at The World Games in Wroclaw. Support for the speed climbing star came from around the world, including from fellow Iranians, Australia and the Philippines.

2018 IWGA Athlete of the Year 2017 Australia Philippines

Reza is the second sport climbing athlete to win the Athlete of the Year award. Adam Ondra (CZE) claimed the prize in 2014 after becoming the Bouldering and Lead world champion.

“Wow, already two Athlete of the Year awards for sport climbing, the most of any sport,” said IFSC President Marco Scolaris. “Congratulations to Reza for this success as well as for his achievements in 2017. He is the fastest Speed climber and the first Iranian athlete to win gold at The World Games. Keep climbing!”

More information can be found in the IWGA announcement here.

2018 IWGA Athlete of the Year Reza Alipourshenazandifar Facebook Video

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Tops-Zones-Attempts: The Bouldering Score Reviewed

With the Olympics on our doorsteps and the incredible exposure the Games will give our sport, we cannot ignore the growth of our followers.


Sport Climbing audience is changing: till now it has been restricted to the climbers' niche, we are now opening up to newcomers. For this reason, the Sport Department decided to put forward a review of the Bouldering scoring system that will greatly improve the understanding of standings for a non-endemic audience and allow for predictions during competitions. The "Bonus" hold will take back its original name of "Zone" and the scoring sequence will now be:
1. Number of Tops (T)
2. Number of zones (z)
3. Number of attempts to Top (A)
4. Number of attempts to zone (shown only in case of ties)
The Bouldering scoring system was approved by the Executive Board and will be in place for the 2018 season.

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Job Opening: IFSC Event Sponsor & Media Officer

The IFSC is looking for an experienced Event Sponsor and Media Officer to guide the management of sponsor and media relations surrounding IFSC events in 2018.

The full-time position is based at the headquarters of IFSC media partner Systemd, near Chambéry, France. Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “IFSC Event Sponsor and Media Officer Application” in the subject line by February 18th, 2018.

For the full job description, please click here.

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Longest IFSC World Championships Scheduled

The schedule of the 2018 IFSC Climbing and Paraclimbing World Championships was confirmed this week. The signature event will take place September 6-16 in Innsbruck, Austria, the longest IFSC World Championships ever.

The IFSC Climbing and Paraclimbing World Championships take place biannually and showcase the most elite sport climbing athletes from across the globe. This year, the event will be the longest ever with the addition of the Combined finals on the last day. After 9 days of climbing, the six top-scoring men and women will face-off in a thrilling grand finale of Bouldering, Lead and Speed climbing.

Paraclimbing has been featured at the IFSC World Championships since 2011, and this year up to 12 categories will be represented. In the spotlight will be the Austrian Paraclimbing team, making their debut on the world stage in front of their home crowd in Innsbruck. The team is coached by star sport climbing athlete Katharina Saurwein and have been preparing for the event for nearly two years.

“Adequately conveying the great contribution of Paraclimbing to the IFSC World Championships atmosphere requires more than words. The efforts are rewarded by an unforgettable show that must be experienced,” says IFSC President Marco Scolaris. “We can’t wait to be in Innsbruck once again, for such a major event, after the fantastic Youth World Championships last year. Tyrol has been a natural destination for sport climbing for years, a place where, quoting former IOC President Jacques Rogge: “Everybody climbs!”

More information can be found in the IFSC press release and at the Innsbruck 2018 website.

2017 IFSC Youth World Championship Innsbruck Bouldering Wall Scenic

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Job Opening: IFSC Bookkeeper

The IFSC has extended the application period for a skilled Bookkeeper to support the Administration Department in the daily bookkeeping tasks.

The part-time position is based at the IFSC headquarters in Torino, and interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “IFSC Bookkeeper Application” in the subject line by Sunday, 4th February 2017.

For the full job description, please click here.

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Sang-Tae Cho Passes Away

It is with great grief that we announce the passing today of IFSC Honorary Member Sang-tae Cho (KOR). Sang-tae, born in 1926, was a fundamental actor in sport climbing who served as the former president of the Asian Council and the first Asian International Judge.

“Sang-tae has been a leader in the development of our sport since before the turn of the century,” says Marco Scolaris, President of the IFSC. “He was a great guy and a friend for all those who met him. He will be missed, and our thoughts are with the Sang-tae family.”

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January Executive Board Teleconference Held

On January 17th, the IFSC Executive Board met to discuss ongoing developments in the IFSC.

Topics included updates on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games preparation. In addition, the Sport Department gave an overview of the rule changes aimed to adapt and improved Sport Climbing in his first Olympic experience. The Board was called to vote the acceptance of the NACMSL (National Association for Climbing and Mountaineering in Sri Lanka) as a new member, for the final ratification at the next Plenary Assembly.
Finally, the 2018 PA agenda and workshop have been defined, Nationality Rule, Combined as a discipline, split finals and Official nomination were subject to decisions as well. Finally, the 2018 Youth World Championship will be reallocated after the withdrawal of Climbing Escalade Canada.

The next IFSC Teleconference will be held on February, 21st.

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YOG Pictograms Unveiled

Involving hundreds of students in primary schools throughout Buenos Aires in the design process, the pictograms for sport climbing and all sports at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 were unveiled today.

The project began by taking pictures of athletes in technical poses representing their sport or discipline. The pictures were then used as a base for the children to trace the athlete’s pose in one continuous stroke, without lifting their pencils from the photograph. A team of designers then found similarities among the drawings to create the final images, the pictograms identifying the dreams of athletes during the Youth Olympic Games.

Visit the Buenos Aires 2018 website for more information, and see all the pictograms in the Facebook video below.

2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires Pictogram Video

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2018 IFSC Registered Testing Pool

The IFSC released the list of athletes who are subject to out-competition testing for the 2018 season.


All athletes in the list are required to comply with the whereabouts requirements set out in IFSC Anti-Doping Rules. This includes providing updated whereabouts filings and being available for no-advance notice testing during the designated 60-minute time slot. The IFSC Registered Testing pool is reviewed and updated on a regular basis or on ad-hoc requirements.

 

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President attended IFSC European Council Board Meeting

President Marco Scolaris attended the meeting of the Executive Board Members of IFSC Europe held in Innsbruck the 8th and 9th of January.

JMair Alpsolut Walltopia KI 07336 37


With President Scolaris, was travelling the IFSC Administration Director Francesca Jengo who worked with Austria Climbing, on the latest details of the IFSC Plenary Assembly that will take place in Innsbruck from the 15th to the 18th of March 2018.

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2018 PA Registrations Open

The IFSC and the Austrian Climbing Federation (Kletterverband Österreich) are pleased to announce the 13th IFSC Plenary Assembly, taking place in Innsbruck, Austria, on March 17th, 2018.


All Member Federations received the Plenary Assembly Programme. Registrations are open until Monday, 15th January 2018 – please follow the instructions received by e-mail or contact the IFSC Office for more information.

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Buenos Aires Preparations Continue

Sport Director Jerome Meyer travelled to Buenos Aires this autumn, continuing work in the run-up to the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games in 2018.

The IFSC representative met with Sport Manager for the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games Julian de Mare, colleagues from the Argentinian National Federation, and Technical Manager of IFSC Walls partner Entre-prises, Etienne Leroy.
In the meeting, details of the venue for Sport Climbing were discussed, and final details for the wall and the delivery were confirmed. Further organisation continues as the event quickly approaches.

1117BuenosAires1

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Sport Department Management Committee Meets

The Sport Department Management Committee came together at the beginning of December to review and provide consultation on the development of the Sport. Participation was high with almost full attendance, and Vice-President for Sport and Events Kobinata Toru, providing rich insight through his role in supporting the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, led focused and fruitful discussions.


The annual meeting was held in Turin for the second year in a row and brings together technical experts from all parts of the world,including technical delegates, officials, route setters and representatives of the IFSC continental councils. It is the occasion in which Rule changes for the upcoming year are discussed and the Nominations for the 2018 events are submitted. The collected recommendations on rules and nominations are then passed on to the Executive Board. In addition, other issues addressing the sport and its development are discussed.
This year, discussions surrounded the challenges provided by growing public interest and growing events, and explored various ways to reduce the pressure on Event Organisers. Conversations also included the development of the Bouldering Format, evaluating suggestions brought forward by the Bouldering Format Working Group and further developed by the Athletes Commission. These results will also be put forward to the Board.

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Final Teleconference of 2017 held

The regular, monthly Board teleconference was held on December 13th. Joining the President Maco Scolaris and staff in the Turin head office were Secretary General Debra Gawrych, Vice President Treasurer and Finances Pierre-Henri Paillasson, and President of the IFSC European Council Wolfgang Wabel.


As the Board closed the year and looked ahead to 2018, the meeting addressed a wide range of topics, from the preparation for Buenos Aires 2018, to Paraclimbing Working Group outcome and various marketing aspects. Vice President for Sport and Events Kobinata Toru provided an update on the developments regarding the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In addition, the Sport Department reported on Event Organiser and Sport Department Management Committee meetings, held in November and December. An improvement of the bouldering scoring system was approved.
Former IFSC Sport Manager, Leslie Baxter, illustrated the principles of her analysis on IFSC governance and structure and the priorities for a harmonious growth.
The next Executive Board Teleconference will take place on January 17th, 2018.

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First Combined Winners in Africa

The Africa Youth A qualification event for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 was held on Friday at the CityROCK climbing gym in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was the first Combined sport climbing competition in Africa.

Held at the largest climbing gym in Africa and with phenomenal route setting, the event fulfilled its promise of being a nail-biting competition between the top Youth A sport climbing athletes in South Africa. In the end, Angela Eckhardt and David Naudé topped the Combined podium after an entire day of continuous Bouldering, Lead and Speed climbing.

The first of its kind in Africa, the event marks the start of something new and exciting for sport climbing on the continent. More plans are being discussed to involve more athletes and host additional events in Africa in the near future.

Female Youth A Winners:

1. Gold Medalist: Angela Eckhardt
2. Silver Medalist: Hannah Sealy-Fisher
3. Bronze Medalist: Shanay Meintjes

Male Youth A Winners:

1. Gold Medalist: David Naudé
2. Silver Medalist: Christopher Cosser
3. Bronze Medalist: Mel Janse van Rensburg

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70 Years of Sport Climbing Events

Last weekend, Moscow hosted the 70th anniversary celebration of the first ever sport climbing event. The Combined event featured the format to be used at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 and Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. After almost nonstop climbing in all three disciplines, Speed world champion Anna Tsyganova and Bouldering icon Aleksei Rubtsov claimed the victories.

The first climbing competitions were organized in the former USSR in the late 1940s. These events were focused on Speed climbing and were mostly dedicated to Soviet climbers until the 1980s. The first Climbing World Cup in Moscow took place in 1994 at the Palace of Children Sport, a popular destination for many international events in the years to follow.

Russian athletes have continued to excel on the world stage, especially in Speed climbing, with countless victories and medals at all levels, especially in Bouldering and Speed. Since the inception of the IFSC in 2007, Russia has topped the national team ranking in Speed climbing every year, with numerous star athletes winning gold medals. Russia's own Iuliia Kaplina currently holds the women's Speed climbing record (7.32 seconds).

2017 Russia 70 Anniversary Moscow Marco Scolaris IFSC President

IFSC President Marco Scolaris was invited to attend the event by Dmitry Bychkov, President of the Climbing Federation of Russia, and he was welcomed by Stanislavsky Pozdnyakov, the first Vice President of the Russian Olympic Committee and Assistant of Russian President for Economic Affairs Andrei Belousov. During his visit, President Scolaris also met Aleksander Gorbenko, Deputy Mayor of Moscow and Nikolai Gulyaev, chairman of the Moscow sport department, with whom he discussed the future development of sport climbing in Moscow and future events in the capital, in particular the provisional IFSC Moscow World Cup 2018.

“We all know that Russian sport is living some turbulent times," Scolaris said during his speech at the event. "But climbing is going up and sport climbing needs Russia. Let’s climb the world together and, through sport, through our sport, let’s make it a better place to live.”

2017 Russia 70 Anniversary Moscow Aleksei Rubtsov Combined

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Sport Climbing to Feature Alongside Basketball 3x3 at Tokyo 2020

On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved that basketball 3x3 will be held in the same venue as sport climbing for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, near other urban sports.

Sport climbing and basketball 3x3 will be set-up at the Aomi Urban Sports Venue in the Tokyo Bay Zone, conveniently situated close to the Olympic Village. Also in the Tokyo Bay Zone will be skateboarding and BMX freestyle and racing events, taking place in the northern part of Tokyo's Ariake district. Basketball 3x3 and BMX freestyle were recently added to the Tokyo 2020 sports programme by the IOC.

"We can't wait to show the best of sport climbing at Tokyo 2020 alongside such a popular, urban team sport like basketball 3x3," said IFSC President Marco Scolaris.

Please visit the Tokyo 2020 website for the full announcement.

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IFSC attends Host City 2017

The city of Glasgow warmly welcomed IFSC president Marco Scolaris and other attendees to “Host City 2017” on November 28-29.

This year, the conference recorded its highest ever number of participants, with some notable attendees including Christophe Dubi, Olympic Games Executive Director, International Olympic Committee; Patrick Baumann, President, General Association of International Sports Federations; Hiromi Kawamura, Public Relations Secretary, Tokyo 2020. In total, 50 city representatives, 30 event owners, 20 organising committees, 15 media and two hundred delegates attended.

President Scolaris took part in a panel discussion on the topic "the priorities for the next generation of fans". The panel addressed the impact the new Olympic sports will have on the Olympic programme and the eSports entry in the 2018 Asian Games.

Host City 2017 Conference Director Ben Avison said, “We were delighted to have Marco Maria Scolaris speaking at Host City 2017. His contribution to the panel discussion on ‘New content for a new generation of fans’, alongside Hiromi Kawamura of Tokyo 2020 Simone Masserini of World Skate and millennial expert David Coletto, highlighted the crucial role that the new Olympic sports will play in creating authentic event experiences for future audiences”.

HostCity2017Day1Web 1180

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IFSC Visits Tokyo 2020

President Marco Scolaris and Sport Director Jerome Meyer travelled to Tokyo in November for a meeting with the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee. The meeting was held to continue work on Sport Climbing’s first appearance in the Olympic Program in 2020.


The visit was part of the schedule of regular meeting between International Federations occurring until the Olympic Games. The IFSC delegation addressed amongst other the question of the venue design as well as matters regarding the share of venue between Basketball 3x3 and Sport Climbing.

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IFSC Welcomes New Staff

The IFSC is pleased to welcome Lorenzo Bertoldi, who is joining the Communication department as Communication Assistant. He will be reporting to the Communication Director of IFSC Departments and other internal and external Communication and Marketing stakeholders.

Lorenzo is Italian and he will be based at the IFSC Headquarters in Torino. He spent three years in Australia where he gained experience studying events and communication and working in different fields. Most recently he came back to his own city, Torino, where he had the chance to collaborate with different event and communication agencies until he received the opportunity to join the IFSC working in an environment which is also his passion: Climbing.

Francesca Jengo, Director of Administration comments, "as the IFSC continues to grow, we are very pleased to welcome Lorenzo to the communication team".

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Event Organiser Meetings Begin in Torino

The IFSC began meetings last week with event organisers of the 2018 sport climbing season, welcoming national federation members and local event organisers to its headquarters in Torino.

This year, organising teams of IFSC World Cup, IFSC World Championship and IFSC Youth World Championship events will have the opportunity to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities specific to their venue in individual meetings with IFSC staff and representatives. Various topics will be addressed, ranging from international event promotion to the management of sport and media on-site, and the meetings will continue in December.

“We are looking forward to celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of IFSC event organisers last season as well as addressing together the key areas of improvement for next year in productive, focused meetings," says IFSC Marketing & Communications Director Anne Fuynel.

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Avezou Now World and European Combined Youth Champion

The European Youth Championships wrapped up last weekend in Saint-Etienne, France, and the final podium in Youth A Combined was decided.

France’s own Sam Avezou, crowned Combined youth world champion in Innsbruck in September, continued to perform well across the three sport climbing disciplines. In the finals he edged Pietro Biagini (ITA) - the only male athlete to not fall on the Lead routes - by scoring the best time on the Speed wall and executing under pressure on the Lead route to match Biagini's top. Nathan Martin, Avezou's teammate, finished in third place.

Giorgia Tesio of Italy overcame higher times on the Speed wall by dominating in Bouldering and Lead. First in both disciplines after qualifications on Saturday, she continued the strong form the following day by completing three problems in finals and falling just short of the top on the Lead route. Nolwenn Arc (FRA) - the only female athlete to not fall on the Lead routes - placed third and Hannah Meul (GER) maintained consistency across the three disciplines in finals for second place.

Here are the full results from Saint-Etienne for female and male athletes. Results from previous stages of these Championships can be found on the Slany and Perm event pages.

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Jain Kim Named South Korea's Top Female Athlete

Bouldering and Lead climber Jain Kim received the award of top female athlete at the 2017 Korea Woman Sports Awards, which took place on November 21 in Seoul, South Korea.

Kim is a 3-time IFSC Lead World Cup season champion who continues to place among the top ranks on the world stage. Among active female athletes, no one has won more IFSC Lead World Cup events (26). She also excels in Bouldering, having won the Combined season title twice and placing second in both Lead and the Combined in 2017.

Originally the Yungok Female Sports Grand Awards, the annual Korea Woman Sports Awards was established in 1989 by former International Olympic Committee Vice President Kim Un-yong to honor South Korean women's athletic achievements.

For more information, please click here.

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November Executive Board Teleconference Held

On November 22nd the IFSC Executive Board met to discuss ongoing developments in the IFSC.

Topics included the global strategy, and update on current developments with a special focus on the continued positive work towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In addition, the Board was given a global overview of the IFSC financial status and the key projects for the upcoming months, with an eye to relationships with IFSC National Federations. Finally, preparation for the 2018 PA in Innsbruck has started.

The next IFSC Teleconference will be held on December 13th.

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IFSC Visits Sponsor Headquarters

On the occasion of the first ever China Open on November 17th-19th, IFSC representatives visited the headquarters of Kailas, an IFSC main partner (apparel, ropes and safety gear) and sponsor of the Guangzhou China Open 2017.

IFSC Marketing & Communications Director Anne Fuynel and IFSC Technical Delegate Graeme Alderson visited the headquarters in Guangzhou which hosts around 500 employees across 5 floors. The unique offices also feature a full store for the public and a climbing gym for Kailas employees.

2017 IFSC Guangzhou China Open Kailas Headquarters Climbing Gym
Inside the climbing gym at Kailas headquarters.

The IFSC representatives met with Kailas founder Baggio Zhong and International Sales & Marketing Director Sam Zhong to discuss the current collaboration between the IFSC and Kailas, as well as possibilities for further support and development of the sport climbing community.

Left to right: Anne Fuynel; Sam Zhong; Baggio Zhong, Graeme Alderson.
2017 IFSC Guangzhou China Open Kailas Headquarters Founder

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Top Athletes Top Podiums in Guangzhou

After the close of the IFSC World Cup season in Kranj, Slovenia, top sport climbing athletes competed on November 17th-19th at the China Open in Guangzhou.

The China Open was a unique event designed by the Chinese Mountaineering Association and the IFSC based on the standard IFSC World Cup format, with some variations. The Lead and Speed finals were broadcasted live on CCTV5, part of the national broadcasting network and the major sports broadcaster in China. It was the first time an IFSC event was broadcasted live on CCTV5.

2017 Guangzhou China Open China Pan YuFei© Chinese Mountaineering Association

Reza Alipourshenazandifar (IRI) and Iuliia Kaplina (RUS) returned to the top of the Speed podiums in China on Saturday after breaking Speed world records there earlier this year. In Bouldering, 2016 season champion Jongwon Chon (KOR) won on bonus holds and 2016 season runner-up Miho Nonaka (JPN) was the only finalist to top all 4 problems. Kranj winners Jakob Schubert (AUT) and Janja Garnbret (SLO) closed out the competition on Sunday by adding two more victories to their 2017 scorecards, topping the routes in both Lead finals and semi-finals.

Please visit the event page for more information and results from qualifications, and the results from finals/semi-finals can be found here: Men Bouldering Men Lead Men Speed Women Bouldering Women Lead Women Speed

© Chinese Mountaineering Association
2017 Guangzhou China Open Speed Podium Women

2017 Guangzhou China Open Speed Podium Men

2017 Guangzhou China Open Podium Korea

2017 Guangzhou China Open Lead Podium Men

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Design a Piece of Olympic History

The medal design competition for Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 opens today and runs until Jaunary 12, 2018. The winning design will be selected at the end of January and will feature on the gold, silver and bronze medals awarded to athletes in Buenos Aires.

In addition to the prestige of creating Olympic history, the winning designer will win a trip to Buenos Aires to enjoy the Opening Ceremony and witness the awarding of their medals in the sports competitions, as well as a full collection of the medals for the winner to cherish.

Please visit www.medal-design-competition.com to enter.

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Combined, Lead Season Champions Crowned in Kranj

The 2017 sport climbing season concluded in Kranj, Slovenia, hosting the 8th IFSC Lead World Cup. The finals were a riveting show of Lead climbing and decided the last podiums of the season.

After clinching the Combined and Lead season titles in China last month, Janja Garnbret concluded her historic season in thrilling fashion. The 18-year-old from Slovenia was the last athlete to climb in finals and maintained her composure in front of her home crowd, surpassing the high point of Jain Kim (KOR) and falling at the very top of the route. She is the first athlete to win nine IFSC World Cup events in a single season, and her 1,135 points in the Combined this year is also the most ever accumulated in a single season. Kim finished in second place in the Lead season rankings, followed by Anak Verhoeven (BEL).

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Season Podium Women

Jakob Schubert was also on point all weekend long, staying at the top of the results every round. The two-time Lead season champion and three-time Combined season champion won his 18th IFSC World Cup on Sunday with the only top in finals. Alexander Megos (GER) fell at the last move to place second in Kranj, and Dmitrii Fakirianov (RUS) earned the bronze medal at his first IFSC World Cup of 2017.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Podium Men

Semi-finals on Saturday decided the winners in the Combined and Lead season rankings for the men. Romain Desgranges just missed the finals cut, but his 9th place clinched the season victory in Lead. The French star won the most IFSC Lead World Cup events this season among male athletes (3). Stefano Ghisolfi (ITA) finished in second place in the Lead season rankings, followed by Keiichiro Korenaga (JPN).

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Season Podium Men

Bouldering season champion Jongwon Chon (KOR) and runner-up Tomoa Narasaki (JPN) soared in the Combined season rankings last month in China. With a small edge heading into the weekend, Narasaki stayed close enough to Chon in semi-finals to win the Combined season title by 7 points. Kokoro Fujii (JPN) also competed in Kranj and rounded out the podium.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Combined Season Podium Men

Athletes from Slovenia, France and Japan climbed well all season long in Lead. Slovenia defended their spot atop the Team rankings by excelling at the final event in Kranj, sending four athletes to finals, the first for Vita Lukan. France placed second, led by Desgranges and Julia Chanourdie, and Japan – winner of the Bouldering title - finished in third place in Lead.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Podium Women

Great Britain also performed well in Kranj. Molly Thompson-Smith won the team’s first medal in Lead, and Bouldering season champion Shauna Coxsey qualified for finals in her first IFSC Lead World Cup, placing third in the Combined season rankings behind Kim.

The full results can be accessed on the Kranj event page, and please click here for the complete season rankings.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Jain Kim

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Kranj Schedule Update

Athletes and coaches, please take note of the changes to the Isolation Zone times for IFSC World Cup Kranj.

The Isolation Zone will now close at 19:00 on Saturday for Lead semi-finals and at 15:45 on Sunday for Lead finals.

For the full programme, please click here.

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Sports Stars to Gather at the Youth Olympic Games

On November 9th, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) revealed the first 25 Athlete Role Models (ARMs) who will gather in the Argentinian capital next October to mentor and support the next generation of young athletes who will compete at Buenos Aires 2018.

Sporting legends have been selected in the 32 sports that appear on the Olympic programme at next year’s Youth Olympic Games. The list includes many well-known names in the world of sport, including Olympic and world champions, with more to be revealed closer to the Games. For Sport Climbing, Charlotte Durif (FRA) and Josh Levin (USA) were announced.

In Buenos Aires, the ARMs will be on hand for a minimum of five days and will play a key role in supporting and mentoring the 3,998 young athletes that will be participating in the Games.
The ARMs will be behind the scenes during the competitions and will also be available for informal chats in a specially created lounge that will be open to all participants. The athletes and fans can also learn valuable lessons from the ARMs during “Chat with Champions” sessions – a Q&A format to promote discussion with the young athletes. Fans of the YOG will also have the opportunity to put their questions directly to the ARMs during informal chat sessions on the Olympic Channel and wider social media platforms.

The main goal behind the programme is to enable the ARMs to share their experiences and inspire the athletes to be the best they can be both on and off the field of play. Athlete feedback from previous YOG editions have shown that the ARM programme is consistently ranked highly in athletes’ experience. Young athletes are inspired by these ARMs, not only to perform at their best, but also to become positive role models themselves.
In Buenos Aires, the ARMs will also spend time in the four parks, engaging with local youth through various Learn & Share activities and participating in sport initiation sessions for public.

Li Lingwei, Acting Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for Buenos Aires 2018 and badminton legend said: “The Athlete Role Models programme is a crucial part of the Youth Olympic Games and an opportunity for young athletes to learn valuable lessons from the best in sport. Competing in international sport at the highest level is an exhilarating career, but it also comes with its pressures and challenges, which is why we are happy to have the team of Athlete Role Models to support the next generation.”

Click here for the first 25 names to be revealed as ARMs.
For more information on the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 go to: www.buenosaires2018.com.

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IFSC Champions Aim to Inspire Women to Climb

The Women’s Climbing Symposium, organised by 2017 Season Bouldering Champion Shauna Coxey, was held this past weekend in Bristol, Great Britain.

An annual event, this year the symposium drew former and current competitors, including Lyn Hill, first climber to free climb the Nose in Yosemite and Leah Crane, who ranked 25th in the 2017 Bouldering Season. The event aims to inspire climbers, and specifically women, to push themselves and develop their climbing. The one-day meeting brings together over 400 participants in an open and friendly environment to participate in talks, workshops, and of course, to climb.

The official website of the Women’s climbing symposium can be found here.

A recap of the event can be found on the redbull website.

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Bouldering, Lead Athletes to Conclude Seasons in Kranj

The 2017 IFSC World Cup season concludes on November 11-12 in Kranj, Slovenia, and this year Bouldering and Lead athletes will compete for the Combined season podiums.

Kranj owns a distinguished competition climbing history, having hosted Lead World Cup events since 1996. The Combined and Lead season medals will again be decided there at the 8th and final IFSC Lead World Cup of 2017.

Janja Garnbret improved on her historic 2016 season by becoming the first athlete to win eight IFSC World Cup events in a single season. The 18-year-old Slovenian star defended her Combined and Lead season titles in China last month, and she will again be in the spotlight in front of her home crowd in Kranj.

2016 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Janja Garnbret 2017

Shauna Coxsey (GBR) is among the Bouldering stars vying for a spot on the Combined season podium. The Bouldering season champion is currently ranked second in the Combined rankings and will be competing in her first IFSC Lead World Cup in Kranj. To maintain this positioning, she will have to contend with Lead star Jain Kim (KOR), ranked third. Bouldering legend Akiyo Noguchi (JPN) is also in the running for the Combined podium.

2016 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Jain Kim 2017

Bouldering season champion Jongwon Chon (KOR) and Bouldering runner-up Tomoa Narasaki (JPN) soared in the Combined rankings after their strong Lead climbing performances in China last month. Both athletes are already guaranteed a place on the Combined podium, and they will compete for the top spot in Kranj alongside Narasaki’s teammate Kokoro Fujii (JPN). Even a win from Fujii may not be enough to overtake them, but he can defend third place from Jan Hojer (GER) and Romain Desgranges (FRA) with a strong finish.

2016 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Romain Desgranges 2017

Desgranges has won more IFSC Lead World Cup events this year than any other male athlete (3). He can clinch the Lead season title on the first day of climbing in Kranj by placing 15th or better in semi-finals. Anything less and Stefano Ghisolfi (ITA) can catch him with a final victory. Ghisolfi and Keiichiro Korenaga (JPN) already secured a spot on the Lead season podium. Also keep an eye on 2016 Lead season champion Domen Skofic (SLO), climbing in front of his home crowd, and Alexander Megos (GER), who is back on the start list after last competing in Arco.

2016 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Stefano Ghisolfi 2017

Kim and Anak Verhoeven (BEL) will stand alongside Garnbret on the women’s Lead season podium, and a final medal in Kranj would guarantee second place for Kim. Be sure to track the progress of Slovenian Lead legend Mina Markovic as well.

2016 IFSC Climbing World Cup Kranj Slovenia Lead Akiyo Noguchi 2017

Tune-in for the LIVE streaming on November 11-12 on the IFSC homepage, and please visit the Kranj event page for more information.

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China Open Information

The IFSC China Open will be held from the 17th to the 19th of November in Guangzhou, China. 

The IFSC China Open is a unique event designed by the CMA and IFSC based on the standard World Cup format but with some variations. The IFSC China Open will showcase Bouldering, Lead and Speed with three rounds for each discipline.

 For each discipline, the following athletes will be automatically given a bye to the semi-final.
• The seeded athletes. These are the 10 best athletes from the World Ranking in each discipline defined after the IFSC World Cup in Xiamen, October 2017. These are defined as Pre-Qualified Athletes.
• The 2 best Chinese athletes (selected by the CMA). These are defined as Pre-Qualified Athletes. The remaining places for the semi-finals will be determined from the qualification rounds.

The Speed qualification round will be the same as a normal IFSC World Cup qualification round with the best ranked athletes moving into the China Open semi-final round alongside the Pre-Qualified Athletes, with a fixed quota of 20 athletes. The 20 athletes will climb on both routes with the best 16 going onto the Final Rounds.

The Bouldering qualification round will be the same as a normal IFSC World Cup qualification round with the best ranked athletes moving into the China Open semi-final round alongside the Pre-Qualified Athletes, with a fixed quota of 20 athletes. The fixed quota for the final is 6 athletes.

The Lead qualification round will be on a single route on-sight same as a normal IFSC World Cup qualification round with the best ranked athletes moving into the China Open semi-final round alongside the Pre-Qualified Athletes, with a fixed quota of 20 athletes. The fixed quota for the final is 8 athletes.

There is no IFSC or CMA entry fee for the IFSC China Open 2017 although each athlete must hold a current IFSC Licence. Team officials are subject to the standard rules, a maximum of 5 per discipline and they must hold a current IFSC licence.

Please find all the relevant information here.

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IFSC Continues to Expand Global Exposure of Sport Climbing

The IFSC continues to expand the exposure of its monthly 26-minute highlight programmes in 2017, bringing the best of sport climbing to new audiences on all five continents.

The 26-minute highlight programmes are produced by the IFSC with English commentary and are sent to TV and online broadcasters around the globe. For the 2017 season, each episode dives into all three disciplines of the most recent IFSC World Cup and Youth World Championship events and highlights the climbing and lifestyles of elite athletes competing at this highest level of sport climbing.

IFSC President Marco Scolaris commented on the growth:

“We are proud to send the excitement and values of sport climbing to more regions around the globe. Our goal has always been to develop sport climbing worldwide, and this show is one hold of that long climb. Now, more eyes than ever in Africa, Asia and all over can watch the inspiring performances and character of IFSC athletes. We can’t wait to see the positive effect this continued growth will have on our sport and, eventually, the competitions.”

For the full press release, please click here.

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1000 Days Until Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Today marks 1000 days until the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the first Olympic Games at the senior level for sport climbing. Tokyo 2020 staged a "1,000 Days To Go" event to celebrate the occasion, which 15,000 people attended.

The main street of Tokyo’s famous Nihonbashi district was decorated with new graphics and turned into a giant sports field for the day. A short climbing wall was erected, and IFSC athletes Akiyo Noguchi and Miho Nonaka were on-site representing sport climbing. After watching demonstrations by athletes, the public had the opportunity to learn about and practice some of the sports making their first appearance in the Olympic Games in 2020.

2017 Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 1000 Days To 2 Go Countdown© Japan Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association.

Marking the start of the countdown, the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) announced today that five million people throughout Japan have already taken part in more than 14,000 Games-related actions in the Tokyo 2020 Nationwide Participation Programme, launched last year.

Visit the Tokyo 2020 Facebook page for videos of the event, and click below to watch a preview of sport climbing on the Olympics Facebook page. More information about the event can be found here.

Olympic Facebook Sport Climbing Presentation 2017

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Kranj Media Accreditations

Combined and Lead champions will soon be crowned at the final IFSC World Cup of 2017 in Kranj, Slovenia. Members of the media are encouraged to attend the event, taking place on November 11-12.

To apply for accreditation, please complete the online form on the IFSC website here. Submissions must be completed 1 week before the event for TV, 48 hours for all other media.

For any questions, contact IFSC press officer Joseph Robinson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Job Opening: Deadline Extended

The application period for the position of IFSC Communication Assistant has been extended until November 4 2017.

The IFSC is looking for a talented Communications Assistant to manage a variety of day-to-day tasks for the Marketing & Communications Department, as well as contribute to the organisation of IFSC events. For more details, please click here.

Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “Communications Assistant Application” in the subject line.

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October Executive Board Meeting Held

The monthly Executive Board meeting was held via Teleconference on October 19, 2017. Topics included an update on the progress regarding the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the goals for the future development of Paraclimbing.

A new working group was also confirmed. This working group, focusing on Sport Equipment, will be chaired by Asian Council President Anthony Seah and consult both commercial producers of climbing safety products as well as representatives of the Officials. The members of this working group will be confirmed and begin their duties at the end of October.

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Stirling Defends Oceania Lead Title

The Oceania Continental Championships took place in Noumea, New Caledonia, on October 12-15. Australia stood on all but one podium and collected 10 medals in total, New Caledonia excelled in Speed and won 5 medals, and New Zeeland brought home 3 medals.

Lucinda Ann Stirling has been the reigning Oceania Lead champion for five years, winning both the 2013 and 2016 championships. The IFSC World Cup regular from Australia defended the title last weekend, the only athlete to top every route. Her teammate Tiffany Melius completed two tops in less attempts than Stirling in Bouldering finals to become the new Oceania Bouldering champion. In Speed, New Caledonia’s own Loan Maillard posted the fastest time in every round to win the title in front of her home crowd.

For the men, George Sanders of New Zeeland followed up two strong climbs in qualification by matching the high point of Riley Thurstans in finals, giving New Zeeland the Lead title. Sam Lavender bested them both in Bouldering finals, completing two tops to add to Australia’s gold medal tally. New Caledonia dominated in the men’s Speed climbing as well. They won every medal, and Yann Leclerc de Lannoy was never beaten to the top.

The Oceania Youth Championships also took place last weekend, the third qualifying event for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. Sarah Tetzlaff of New Zeeland led the way for the female athletes in the Youth A Combined finals, placing first in Speed, fifth in Bouldering and second in Lead. Ned Middlehurst of Australia also overcame a lower result in Bouldering, ending the Combined finals with a first place among male athletes in Lead.

For the full results, please visit the Noumea event page.

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Deulin, Garnbret, Jaubert Win Season Titles in Xiamen

The China Tour concluded with title-winning performances from elite sport climbing athletes at the final Speed and penultimate Lead event of 2017.

Vladislav Deulin of Russia needed 4th place or better to clinch the season title, but he did much more than that this weekend. He clocked a personal best time on the 15-metre Speed wall (5.53 seconds) in winning the final match and never scored a time above six seconds. The victory was Deulin’s third of the season and earned him the title of Speed season champion. Wujiang runner-up Aspar Jaelolo was also fast this weekend and brought home another silver medal for Indonesia. 19-year-old Kostiantyn Pavlenko kept a steady pace in every race to stand on his first IFSC Speed World Cup podium. World record holder Reza Alipourshenazandifar of Iran finished in second place on the season after missing two events, and Ludovico Fossali of Italy finished in third place.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Speed Podium Men Season

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Speed Podium Men

After losing the season title in Xiamen last season to rival Iuliia Kaplina, Anouck Jaubert of France responded with a flawless performance this year. She never scored a time above eight seconds and, despite needing second place in the final to surpass Kaplina, kept her composure to win her fourth gold medal of 2017 and the Speed season title. Kaplina missed the finals but still had a spectacular season, winning three events to finish in second place. Her Russian teammate Mariia Krasavina stood on four podiums to finish in third place. Aries Susanti Rahayu increased Indonesia’s medal count on the China Tour in becoming the first female Indonesian athlete to stand on the podium at an IFSC Speed World Cup. Anna Tsyganova of Russia won the bronze medal.

Russia remained undefeated in the Speed team rankings, having placed first every year since the inception of the IFSC. France matched its second place of last season, and Italy rose to third place.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Speed Podium Women

When rain cancelled the women’s Lead semi-final, the 13 athletes with two tops in qualifications qualified for finals. Ashima Shiraishi of the United States was first to make significant progress on a challenging headwall, falling two moves shy of the top hold for her first IFSC World Cup podium. The mark stood until Anak Verhoeven stepped onto the wall. The athlete from Belgium marched to the chains with energy to spare for her first victory of the season. Slovenian Janja Garnbret joined them on the podium, placing third to clinch the Lead season title for the second consecutive season. Last weekend in Wujiang, she defended her Combined season title as well, and she boasts the highest Combined score in IFSC history.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Lead Podium Women

For the men, Bouldering stars Jongwon Chon of Korea and Tomoa Narasaki of Japan returned to Lead finals in Xiamen, as well as Kokoro Fujii. In the end, Japan’s Keiichiro Korenaga climbed highest on the steep final route for his first IFSC World Cup victory, and Narasaki matched his second place in Wujiang. 17-year-old YuFei Pan and HaiBin Qu of China both competed in their first final this weekend and received much support from the home crowd. Pan climbed superbly, cutting feet and fighting the pump to win the first IFSC Lead World Cup medal for China.

Please visit the Xiamen event page for the full Lead and Speed results, and the current season rankings can be found here.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Xiamen China Lead Podium Men

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Further Timetable Changes in Xiamen

Following technical difficulties, the timetable in Xiamen has been further modified.

The speed qualifications have been moved to 15:30 local time, and Finals will be held at 16:30 local time (GMT+8).

 

The revised schedule is as follows:

Sunday 15 October
12:00 Warm-up zone close for Lead Semi-final
12.15 Observation for Men & Women Lead Semi-final
12.30-15.00 Men & Women Lead Semi-final
15.00-15.30 Warm-up zone open/close for Speed Final
15.30-16.30 Speed Qualification
16:30-17:30 Speed Final
17.45 Warm-up zone close for Lead Final
18.30-18.45 Presentation and Observation of Lead finalists
18.50-20.30 Lead Final for Men & Women
20.45 Awarding Ceremony

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Xiamen Schedule Update

Due to rain, Lead semi-finals at IFSC World Cup Xiamen have been postponed until Sunday, October 15th.

To see all the schedule changes, please click here.

New times for the shuttle bus between the hotel and venue can be downloaded here.

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Besnard Remains Undefeated After Sheffield

The 3rd Paraclimbing Cup of 2017 took place last weekend in Sheffield, England, and 47 elite athletes representing 14 nations competed across 9 categories.

In RP3, Mathieu Besnard of France remained undefeated this season, having won the previous Paraclimbing Cup events in Edinburgh and Briançon. After winning two medals in Edinburgh, Israel continued to impress in the RP categories (limited range, power or stability) as well. Mor Michael Sapir repeated in RP1 and Nimrod Mugzach upgraded his two medals in RP2 this year to gold, the first of his career.

Leg amputee Iván Germán Pascual of Spain also won his first Paraclimbing Cup in Sheffield, besting Edinburgh winner Julien Gasc on countback to qualifications. Visually impaired athlete Simone Salvagnin brought home a gold medal to Italy, and forearm amputee Matthew Phillips of Great Britain pleased the home crowd with two tops and the high point in finals to match his gold medal in Sheffield last year.

Men's AU2 (forearm amputee) podium.
2017 IFSC Paraclimbing Cup Sheffield Matthew Phillips MAU2 Forearm Amputee Podium

2017 IFSC Paraclimbing Cup Sheffield Simone Salvagnin Visually Impaired MB2 PodiumMen's B2 (visually impaired) podium.

For the women, Phillip’s teammate Hannah Baldwin and world champion Lucie Jarrige of France also repeated their victories in Sheffield, excelling in finals of RP2 and RP3. After impressing the crowd in Edinburgh with a towering high point in finals, it was a close competition last weekend for visually impaired athlete Tanja Glusic of Slovenia. She came away with a hard-fought gold medal, with strong climbing from Briançon winner Roxane Heili and Sabine Ladel of France as well.

Please click here for the complete results and video highlights, and stay tuned for the 4th and final Paraclimbing Cup of 2017 in Bangalore, India, on December 2nd-3rd.

Women's RP2 podium.
2017 IFSC Paraclimbing Cup Sheffield Hannah Baldwin WRP2 Podium

2017 IFSC Paraclimbing Cup Sheffield Lucie Jarrige WRP3 PodiumWomen's RP3 podium.

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Speed Finale in Xiamen

The China Tour concludes this weekend with the final Speed and penultimate Lead events of 2017 at IFSC World Cup Xiamen. Tune-in to the IFSC homepage on October 15 to watch the sport climbing!

Last year in Xiamen, Iuliia Kaplina of Russia placed second to win the season title in Speed over Anouck Jaubert of France. The rivalry has continued this season, with Kaplina finding the upper hand at IFSC World Cup Wujiang last weekend. The 7th and final Speed event in Xiamen will again determine who will be crowned season champion, and a win from either elite athlete will seal the deal. Kaplina’s teammate Mariia Krasavina has already secured the third spot on the season podium.1

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang China Speed Iuliia Kaplina Anouck Jaubert

In the men’s field, Vladislav Deulin of Russia is guaranteed to finish in first or second place on the season podium in Speed and can clinch the season title by making it to the medal races at IFSC World Cup Xiamen. His compatriots Aleksandr Shikov – winner at Wujiang – and Stanislav Kokorin can stand alongside him at season’s end, as well as world record holder Reza Alipourshenazandifar of Iran and Italian athletes Ludovico Fossali and Leonardo Gontero.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang China Speed Aleksandr Shikov

Reigning Combined season champion Janja Garnbret of Slovenia defended this title in Wujiang, clinching the season title in the Combined. At just 18 years old, Garnbret has already recorded the most Combined points in a single season in the history of the IFSC, and there are still two Lead events remaining. She can defend her title as Lead season champion at the 7th Lead event of the season in Xiamen by placing 13th or better. Jain KimAnak VerhoevenJessica Pilz and Julia Chanourdie are competing for second place, and multiple athletes can place third.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang China Lead Janja Garnbret

Stefano Ghisolfi of Italy improved his positioning in the men’s Lead rankings by closing out the climbing in Wujiang with a thrilling top as Garnbret did. Still, Romain Desgranges of France can clinch the season title in Lead in Xiamen by finishing in second place, and he is already guaranteed a spot on the season podium. Multiple athletes are competing for second and third place, including reigning season champion Domen Skofic Slovenia. Jongwon Chon of Korea and Tomoa Narasaki of Japan improved their positioning in the Combined by finishing in 6th and 2nd place in Wujiang, respectively, and they are both on the start list for Xiamen.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang China Lead Stefano Ghisolfi

Please click here for the complete season rankings. The competition schedule, starters, 2016 highlights, photos and more can be found on the Xiamen event page.

1For season rankings, when more than six IFSC World Cup events are held in a discipline, an athlete’s lowest score in that discipline is dropped in the final calculation.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang China Lead Speed

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Working Groups

Paraclimbing Strategic Plan Working Group

Maaike Romijn (NED) - Chair
Eugen Burtscher (AUT)
Sébastien Gnecchi (FRA)
Craig DeMartino (USA)

Director in charge: Sport Director

IFSC Solidarity Working Group

Anthony Seah (SIN) - Chair
George Stainton (RSA)
Pablo Hilewski (VEN)
Naomi Cleary (AUS)
Normunds Reinbergs (LAT)
Anna Tsyganova (RUS)

Director in charge: Administration Director

Governance Working Group

Leslie Baxter (USA) - Chair
Colin Knowles (GBR)
Pierre You (FRA)
Pete Torcicollo (USA)

IFSC Events Working Group:

Revision of YWCH format, IFSC Competition Structure and Ranking Systems

Wolfgang Wabel (GER) - Chair
Heiko Wilhelm (AUT)
Vincent Caussé (FRA)
Anne-Worley Moelter (USA)
Anthony Seah (SIN)
Charlotte Durif (FRA)

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Repeat Victories in China, First Gold Medal for Shikov

The IFSC World Cup season continued this weekend with the second stage of the China Tour. In the end, fractions of seconds in Speed and two thrilling final ascents in Lead decided the gold medals at IFSC World Cup Wujiang.

Janja Garnbret, Stefano Ghisolfi and Iuliia Kaplina topped another podium in China, and Aleksandr Shikov won his first IFSC World Cup at the sixth Lead and Speed event of 2017 in Wujiang.

The full competition recap, results, replays, highlights, photos and more can be found on the Wujiang event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang China Podium Lead Women

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang China Podium Speed Men

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang China Podium Speed Women

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One Year Until YOG Buenos Aires

Today officially marks one year to go until the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018!

Buenos Aires 2018 is the third edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games and will take place on October 6th to 18th. 40 of the best youth Bouldering, Lead and Speed athletes between the ages of 15 and 18 will compete for the first Olympic medals in the history of the sport. The event will feature almost 4,000 athletes in total, of equal numbers of men and women, from 206 countries and across 32 sports.

The first celebrations have already kicked off in the Argentinian capital, and athletes from around the globe have shared their enthusiastic video messages to mark the final countdown to these Youth Olympic Games. "I'm really excited to have qualified for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires 2018...I'm really looking forward to it, and see you there!" said youth Bouldering world champion Filip Schenk of Italy.

2017 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 1 One Year 2 Two Go Filip Schenk Italy

IFSC President Marco Scolaris also joined the campaign with his own message:

"This is an exciting time for sport climbing, the talented young athletes who will be its first Olympians and the climbing community worldwide. We are all working hard to prepare and cannot wait to showcase the best of our youthful, dynamic, vertical sport at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires."

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Job Opening: IFSC Communications Assistant

The IFSC is looking for a talented Communications Assistant to manage a variety of day-to-day tasks for the Marketing & Communications Department, as well as contribute to the organisation of IFSC events.

For more details, please click here.

Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “Communications Assistant Application” in the subject line. Deadline for submissions is Tuesday, October 24th.

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Wujiang Schedule Update

Please take note of the new schedule for IFSC World Cup Wujiang.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Wujiang China Schedule Change Update

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Student Athletes Ace European University Championship Test

Over 400 athletes from 64 universities representing 27 European countries participated in the 2nd European University Championships in Split, Croatia, on July 25-28.

The 1st European Universities Sport Climbing Championship was held in 2015 in Katowice, Poland. Dmitrii Fakirianov of Russia and Fanny Gibert of France performed best, and Marcin DzienskiThomas Joannes and Iuliia Kaplina also won gold medals.

2015 European University Sport Climbing Championship Katowice Poland Jennifer Wood LeadJennifer Wood (GBR) competes at the 1st European Universities Sport Climbing Championship.

After two intense days of sport climbing in Bouldering, Lead and Speed, Simon Lorenzi of Belgium and Jennifer Wood of Great Britain topped the Combined results this year. Both athletes soared highest in Lead and they placed second in Bouldering to Aleksandr Shikov and Ajda Remškar, respectively. In Speed, Kaplina and Shikov brought home the gold medals, and the Industrial University of Tyumen dominated the University Cup scorebard. For the full results, please click here.

Following this year's edition, Adam Roczek and Matjaz Pecovnik, the President and Secretary General of the European University Sports Association, thanked the IFSC for its contribution and devotion towards European universities sport development.

The women's Speed podium at the 2nd European University Championships. Left to right: Anna Tsyganova (RUS); Iuliia Kaplina (RUS); Daria Kan (RUS).2017 European University Sport Climbing Championship Split Croatia Speed Podium Women Kaplina Kan Tsyganova

2017 European University Sport Climbing Championship Split Croatia Lead Podium Men Lorenzi

The men's Lead podium at the 2nd European University Championships. Left to right: Sebastien Berthe (BEL); Simon Lorenzi (BEL); Igor Fojcik (POL).

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Second Stage of the China Tour

The Speed season concludes this month and Lead champions may also be determined at the upcoming IFSC World Cup events in Wujiang and Xiamen, the second stage of the China Tour.

Chongqing and Nanjing opened the Speed climbing season with record-breaking performances from Reza Alipourshenazandifar of Iran and Iuliia Kaplina of Russia. Now, the China Tour continues with the sixth and seventh IFSC World Cup events in Lead and Speed in the Southeast cities of Wujiang and Xiamen.

Tune-in to the IFSC homepage on October 8 and October 15 to watch the LIVE streaming. The competition preview, 2016 highlights, schedules, starters and more can be found on the Wujiang and Xiamen event pages, and chat with us on Twitter during the action by adding #IFSCwc to your tweets.

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IFSC at the International Paralympic Committee General Assembly

The IFSC was represented at the 18th General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee on the 7th-8th of  September by IFSC Secretary General Debra Gawrych. This was the first time the IFSC was present at the General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee since it received the status of “Recognised International Federation” in February 2017.

The Secretary General was happy to report a great deal of interest in sport climbing and developing sport climbing opportunities for para-athletes. Alongside the General Assembly, Debra Gawrych was able to attend several presentations including “How to produce lower cost events”, and gain information about budgeting in the para context. Inspired by other sports she has returned with several suggestions for the further development of Paraclimbing events.

The IFSC looks forward to further opportunities and exchange of ideas with the IPC and other federations to continue to develop sport climbing and competitions for para-athletes.

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China, Japan, Indonesia Medal in Tehran

The Asian Continental Championships took place in Tehran last month, and multiple IFSC World Cup athletes excelled. In the end, Japan won 10 medals, China and Indonesia won 3 medals, and Iran and Thailand each won 1 medal.

Japan dominated in Bouldering and Lead. Last year, legendary competitor Akiyo Noguchi claimed the title in both disciplines, but her teammate Aya Onoe started the Lead finals with an unbeatable high point this year. Mei Kotake fell just shy of Noguchi, matching the score of Elnaz Rekabi of Iran and winning Bronze on countback to semi-finals for an all-Japan podium. Noguchi was the only athlete to top every single problem to defend her Asian Bouldering title, and Onoe placed second with a quick top of the last problem in finals. Puntarika Tunyavanich rounded out the Bouldering podium, and Rahil Ramezani placed fourth. In Speed, YiLing Song of China was quick all day, but the Asian youth Speed champion could not catch Puji Lestari of Indonesia in the final match. Lestari registered the fastest time of the competition for female athletes (8.21 seconds). Her teammates Aries Susanti Rahayu and Santi Wellyanti placed third and fourth, respectively.

Kokoro Fujii and Yoshiyuki Ogata were the only athletes to top all four problems in the men's Bouldering finals, with Fujii edging the reigning Asian Bouldering champion by just one attempt. Their Japanese teammate Keita Watabe rounded out the podium with three tops for another sweep by Japan, and Tomoa Narasaki placed fourth by three attempts. The following day, Fujii soared past the previous high point in Lead finals for his second victory in two days. Ogata also added a second medal, falling just beneath the mark of HaiBin Qu. ZiDa Ma, Qu’s compatriot from China, placed fourth. In the men’s Speed final that concluded four days of sport climbing, world record holder Reza Alipourshenazandifar of Iran faced-off against former season champion QiXin Zhong of China. Both athletes performed flawlessly, registering times below six seconds, and Alipourshenazandifar claimed the victory in front of his home crowd with the fastest time of the competition for male athletes (5.62 seconds). Aspar Jaelolo won Bronze for Indonesia and Iranian Ehsan Asrar placed fourth.

For the full results, please visit the dedicated Tehran event page.

(c) Aya Onoe
2017 IFSC Asian Climbing Championship Tehran Iran Lead Podium Women Aya Onoe

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Spotlight Shines on IFSC Competitions in Edinburgh

The Paraclimbing Cup and IFSC Lead and Speed World Cup in Edinburgh received attention from two of the largest television networks and the Olympic Channel.

A video crew from CNN crossed the Atlantic Ocean to follow the performance of American paraclimbing athlete Justin Salas. Salas' story of how he lost his vision and became a paraclimbing champion is set to air on television and online in November as part of the series Fit Nation – Around the World in 8 Races. He placed second in the men's visual impairment B2 category last weekend at his first Paraclimbing Cup.

BBC also reported on the event in Edinburgh. Highlights of the Lead and Speed climbing aired on BBC News's Sportsday on Saturday and Sunday night, BBC Sport shared a video of Edinburgh native William Bosi on their social platforms, and BBC Scotland produced an inspiring video about British paraclimbing athlete Keith Lynch.

In addition, Lead semi-finals and finals and Speed finals were live streamed on the Olympic Channel website on Sunday. A news video which recaps the action was also produced and can be watched below.

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Adjusted Timetable at European Championship Perm

Following the technical meeting, the timetable for the European Championship has been amended.

On Friday, the starting time for qualifcations has been adjusted. The starting time for Saturday will remain the same.

Please visit the event page for the updated infosheet.

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Timetable Changes at the European Youth Championship Perm

The Technical Delegate of the European Youth Championship in Perm has advised the IFSC that there have been some schedule changes. Competitors and Team Officials are advised to consult the event page for the updated Infosheet.

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Asian Cup in Wanxianshan delayed

The Chinese Mountaineering Association advises all Asian Federations that the Asian Cup, originally scheduled for the 20th-22nd of October in Wanxianshan, China will be delayed until the 27th-29th of October.

 

The CMA appologises for any inconveniences and is committed to prepare a high quality event which will benefit the whole Asian climbing community. A new infosheet with updated information has been uploaded to the event page, which can be found here.

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CAC Makes Donation at the Edinburgh World Cup

Climbers against Cancer made a donation of Twenty-five thousand pounds to the BC Cancer Foundation at the IFSC Edinburgh Lead, Speed World Cup and Paraclimbing Cup on September 24th, 2017.

Climbers Against Cancer, or CAC, is a charity founded by avid climber, climbing official and IFSC honorary member John Ellison, who passed away in 2015. It is the official charity of the IFSC.
This was the second time that the charity has provided a donation to the Foundation. The first took place at the Central Saanich Youth World Climbing Championships in 2013, where Mr. Ellison himself presented the donation.
The BC Cancer Foundation supports research at the world-leading BC Cancer Agency. In December 2015, the month Mr. Ellison passed, they began phase 1 clinical trials on a drug that has the potential to cure the type of aggressive and terminal cancer to which he succumbed.
In Edinburgh, professional climber Shauna Coxey presented the check on behalf of CAC to Kimanda Jarzebiak. Ms. Jarzebiak, a manager of the Canadian climbing team, hosted the 2013 event, and is a volunteer with the Foundation.
The BC Cancer Foundation, based in British Columbia, Canada, is the largest funder of cancer research in the province. For further information about the research the foundation supports, please visit their website.
CAC was also present with a stall at the Edinburgh World Cup, selling their trademark colourful clothing to raise further funds for future donations to cancer research.
The donation highlighted the importance of funding cancer research, and how small efforts such as purchasing CAC merchandise, are part of a world-wide effort to find a cure.

 

 2492017CACdonation(Photo: Sytste Van Slooten) BMC Climbing Walls and Competitions Officer introduces Shauna Coxey acting on behalf of the CAC and Kimanda Jarzebiak, representing the BC Cancer Foundation.

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Memorable Climbing in Edinburgh

Lead climbing season leaders Janja Garnbret and Romain Desgranges returned to the top of the podium, Speed star Anouck Jaubert extended her winning streak, Ludovico Fossali won his first IFSC Speed World Cup and the best paraclimbing athletes in the world inspired in Edinburgh, Scotland, this weekend.

The massive Edinburgh International Climbing Arena was sold out on Saturday and Sunday, welcoming hundreds of fans to the second Paraclimbing Cup and fifth IFSC World Cup in Lead and Speed of 2017.

Competition recaps and results can be found on the dedicated Edinburgh event pages for Lead and Speed and paraclimbing.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Edinburgh Scotland Speed Podium Women

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Edinburgh Scotland Lead Podium Men

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Edinburgh Scotland Lead Podium Women

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Edinburgh Schedule Update

Lead finals at IFSC World Cup Edinburgh will now take place one hour later, at 16:30 (GMT+1). The full schedule can be found here.

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International Day of University Sport Held

Annually, the 20th of September marks the celebration of the International Day of University Sport (IDUS), “confirming the importance of sport in universities and the role of universities in the community as responsible actors for consolidating and developing quality physical and sport education”.


Member Associations and countries celebrated the day through hosting events and festivals promoting the role of sport in fostering inclusion and community and highlighting the role of sport in institutions of higher education.


Sport Climbing was included in the FISU World University Championship in Shanghai in 2016, bringing this thrilling sport and the highest calibre of athletes to a captivated audience. Multiple well-known competitors on the World Cup circuit are current or former university students and benefited from sport programmes alongside their studies. Winners at World University Championships Julia Chanourdie, Kokorin Stan and Anna Brożek will all be climbing at #IFSCwc Edinburgh this weekend.

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Gejo Welcomed by President of Serbia

Serbian athlete Staša Gejo and her father and coach Slobodan Gejo were welcomed to a reception in Belgrade on September 1st by the president of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić and the Minister of Sport, Vanja Udovicic. 

In order to further develop the sport in Serbia, the president granted funding for construction of competitive and recreational artificial rock walls in Belgrade, for all three sport climbing disciplines. The project aims to educate a broader society for sport climbing, organize training camps for advanced climbers, and later to host major international competitions in Belgrade, with the government of the Republic of Serbia as an organizing partner.

At 19 years old, Gejo is already the top-ranked sport climbing athlete from Serbia. She won the first gold medal in Bouldering at The World Games in Wroclaw this year, and last month she was crowned European bouldering champion in Munich after winning the historic superfinal, shown below.

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Top Lead and Speed Athletes Return to Scotland

7 years after the IFSC Youth World Championships in Edinburgh, top sport climbing athletes return to the capital city of Scotland for IFSC World Cup Edinburgh, the fifth Lead and Speed event of 2017. The event will take place on September 23-24 alongside the second Paraclimbing Cup of the season.

Edinburgh has consistently hosted top-notch events for rising youth stars since 2009. Young athletes from all over the world competed in Edinburgh in 2010 at the annual IFSC Youth World Championships. Now, many of those same athletes return to Scotland for IFSC World Cup Edinburgh. Altogether, 131 Lead and Speed athletes and 63 paraclimbing athletes have registered to compete at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena this weekend.

The competition preview, schedule, starters and trailers can be found on the Edinburgh event page, and starters and results for the Paraclimbing Cup can be found here. Tune-in to the IFSC homepage on September 24 to watch the action.

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IFSC Attends 130th IOC Session in Lima

IFSC President Marco Scolaris is in Lima, Peru, for the 130th IOC Session, taking place from September 13-16. The Session kicked-off with the opening ceremony yesterday in the Gran Teatro Nacional of the Peruvian capital. The members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were welcomed by IOC President Thomas Bach and President of Peru Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, and a special show was staged for the guests.

This year, the host cities for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad 2024 and the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad 2028 will be elected. The Session will also take stock at half time of the implementation of the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms. Last year, sport climbing and four other additional events included in the Olympic Agenda 2020 were approved at the 129th IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro. President Bach emphasised that with the reform programme, the IOC is “showing a sceptical world that we are making the Olympic Movement stronger, that we are living up to our values and responsibilities.”

A live broadcast of the Session on the Olympic Channel can be accessed from the IFSC homepage, and please find here the exact timings of the different events.

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Steps Taken Toward YOG Buenos Aires 2018

The IFSC Youth World Championships concluded with the Combined final in In Youth A, a major qualification event for Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. Out of 20 finalists per gender, 13 male and 13 female athletes qualified for selection to these Games, in accordance with the rules listed in the qualification system, to be announced after the confirmation from the National Olympic Committees.

Speed finals took place on Saturday and results were determined by time, with two heats per athlete. Georgiy Morozov of Russia was the fastest male athlete, posting the only time below seven seconds (6.92). French star Sam Avezou joined the handful of athletes scaling the 15-meter Speed wall within 8 seconds, a group that also included Cristian Dorigatti of Italy and Chinese teammates DiChong Huang and YuFei Pan. Among female athletes, their compatriot YiLing Song registered the lowest time (9.05). Aleksandra Kalucka of Poland and Russian teammates Elena Krasovskaia and Luiza Emeleva also stopped the timer in under than ten seconds.

The Combined finals concluded today with the next rounds in Bouldering and Lead. Most finalists flashed the first problem, leaving the remaining three problems to determine the results. Half of the athletes maintained friction on the volumes of M2 to the top, including Nathan Martin of France and Filip Schenk of Italy. Both athletes continued their streak of flashes on the next problems, sticking the one-handed dyno of M3 and keeping their composure on the walk across M4 for a perfect scorecard. Martin maintained an edge in the Combined with a better Speed performance. For the female athletes, again almost every athlete topped the first problem and multiple finalists fought past the ladder of blocks on F2. Brooke Raboutou and Ashima Shiraishi of the United States joined three other stars at three tops after flashing the following power problem. Only Austrian Sandra Lettner topped all four problems, showing a diverse set of strength and technique on the last problem to take the lead in the Combined. Valentina Aguado of Argentina was the only other athlete to top F4 and placed second in Bouldering.

The towering Lead wall in Innsbruck was the final challenge for the best Youth A sport climbing athletes in the world. Shuta Tanaka of Japan set a high point on the burly last route which no finalist could match, finishing sixth in the Combined results. Avezou marched to within a few holds of Tanaka’s mark, taking the provisional lead in the Combined. When Keita Dohi of Japan fell short, Schenk needed second place or better to win the Combined. He climbed strong to equal Avezou’s score, but a slower time (3.58 minutes compared to 3.20) bumped him down to third in Lead and second in the Combined, handing Avezou the crown. Petar Ivanov of Bulgaria rounded out the podium with quality performances in all three disciplines. All eyes were on Lettner in the female final. She maintained her lead in the Combined, falling just beneath the high point of her teammate Eva Maria Hammelmüller. Raboutou matched Lettner, but again time separated the athletes (4.04 minutes compared to 3.45) and secured the Combined victory for Lettner. Shiraishi closed the competition with one hand slipping off the top hold for first in Lead, second in Combined, and Raboutou rounded out the podium in third place.

More highlights can be found on the event page, and please click here for the full Combined results.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Combined Youth A Podium Male

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First Combined Champions Crowned in Innsbruck

After a week of competing at the highest level in Innsbruck, 12 Youth B and 12 Juniors climbed on in the first Combined finals of the IFSC Youth World Championships.

Youth B athletes started the Combined finals, racing up the Speed wall for a chance to stand on the last podiums in Innsbruck. Semen Ovchinnikov of Russia was fastest in the quarterfinal and semi-final. He faced-off against Ryoei Nukui of Japan in the last match, slipping early to give Nukui the provisional lead in the Combined. In the final for the six female finalists, Futaba Ito and Natsuki Tanii of Japan matched each other step-for-step, with Tanii earning the victory by fractions of a second.

There were only tops in the Bouldering final for male athletes. Rei Kawamata of Japan rose to provisional first in the Combined with a perfect score of four flashes, conquering massive features and the dynos of M4 on the first attempt. Ovchinnikov required only one more attempt for his four tops to place second. The final for the female athletes started with a run-and-jump which every finalist completed. A steep F2 and the bolt-hole clusters of F3 troubled a couple athletes, but not Ai Mori of Japan. She was the only climber to flash every problem, including a grueling F4 with powerful roof moves. Tanii placed second by attempts for the provisional lead in the Combined.

On the Lead wall, Hidemasa Nishida set an unmatched high point to finish third in the Combined. Kawamata fell lowest but placed second with his Bouldering victory and Speed score, and Ovchinnikov became the first Combined champion in Innsbruck by scoring well across all three disciplines. Ito, Mori and Tanii closed out the Youth B action. Ito fought the pump to within a few moves from the top for third place, Mori impressed with the first top for second, and Tanii concluded the round with a final top to surpass Mori in the Combined rankings.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Combined Youth B Podium Female

The nonstop action on Saturday continued with the Combined finals in Juniors. American Kai Lightner squeezed past Kai Harada of Japan by five hundredths of a second in a quick small final. Yoshiyuki Ogata got off to a good start in the big final but his Japanese teammate Meichi Narasaki, the only finalist to climb below eight seconds, finished strong to place first. Claire Buhrfeind, one of the Speed favorites, fell in the female quarterfinal against Aika Tajima of Japan. Tajima was bested in the small final by Laura Stöckler, racing in front of her home crowd. Her compatriot Franziska Sterrer slipped against Speed standout Iuliia Panteleeva of Russia in the big final. Panteleeva had been fast throughout the round and secured an early lead in the Combined.

Narasaki and Ogata matched their superb Speed results in Bouldering as the only finalists to top the first three problems, with Narasaki placing first by attempts. Harada and Lightner couldn’t solve the slab of M1 but maintained strong positioning in the Combined after cruising past the powerful and dynamic moves of M2 and M3. The first problem proved the difference maker for the female finalists when everyone solved the jump start of F3 and failed to top F2 and F4. Stöckler flashed the tenuous slab problem and placed first, followed by Panteleeva who solved the concluding match perfectly but found one less bonus hold. Margo Hayes of the United States also topped and finished in third place by attempts.

Lead climbing under the lights concluded the first day of Combined finals in Innsbruck. William Bosi of Great Britain fought to a high point which stood for most of the round. Ogata later surpassed Bosi’s mark, leaving a small margin of error for Narasaki. First in Bouldering and Speed, Narasaki needed fourth or better to win the Combined. He did exactly that, battling fatigue after a week of intensive sport climbing for the victory. For the female athletes, Buhrfeind set a formidable mark, but Stöckler stuck the crux dyno and continued onward for the Combined victory in front of a roaring home crowd.

Combined finals in Youth A have already started, and the climbing in Innsbruck concludes on Sunday. Click here for the Combined results, and visit the Innsbruck event page for more information.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Combined Junior Podium Female

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Combined Junior Podium Male

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Japan, USA Unstoppable in Lead

American and Japanese athletes continued to dominate in Lead climbing at IFSC Youth World Championships Innsbruck, claiming every gold medal.

Youth A winner Shuta Tanaka of Japan was first to power past the steep mid-section of the male athletes’ route and stick the signature dyno before the upper panel. He put on a show for the Friday night crowd, waving for applause after the move. Runner-up Nathan Martin of France fell trying to complete the jump to the jug, leaving the final climb for Filip Schenk. Schenk’s feet spun off the wall midway up the route, and a strong fight from the young Italian was not enough for a spot on the podium. Mikel Asier Linacisoro Molina earned Spain a second medal in Lead climbing with a strong performance of his own.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Lead Youth A Podium Male

On the finals route for the female athletes, beefy features at the middle of the route drained the energy out of the finalists, making the small undercling to start the upper panel even more challenging. Nolwenn Arc of France fell at the following move, and American Brooke Raboutou stormed into provisional first place after reaching the slopey penultimate hold. Bouldering champion Ashima Shiraishi ended the final by matching her teammate’s high point for gold, extending her winning streak at the IFSC Youth World Championships to a perfect six victories.

The Juniors final followed, bringing 12 male athletes and 8 female athletes up nearly the same lines, with a few modifications for the older climbers. Also, Bouldering champion, Claire Buhrfeind carried her rope to the same spot as her American teammates to stand atop the podium. Aika Tajima of Japan fell moving past the undercling for second place, and Heloïse Doumont of Belgium matched on the signature hold to round out the podium.

Taito Nakagami of Japan was first out on the finals route for the male athletes and fell two moves before the jump, which his compatriot Meichi Narasaki completed later on for second place. Kai Lightner of the United States fell just before the jump to take third place above Nakagami by one move. Last to climb, Bouldering champion Yoshiyuki Ogata pleased the crowd by rising past Narasaki’s high point for another Japan victory. The Lead climbing victories propelled Japan to first place in the medal table with 17 medals and the most gold (6), and the United States rose to second place in gold (5).

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Lead Junior Podium Male

Six male athletes and six female athletes in Juniors will be competing in the Combined finals this weekend. Buhrfeind was the only athlete in Innsbruck to place first in Bouldering, Lead and Speed among athletes who competed in all three disciplines. She will climb with teammate and Lead finalist Margo Hayes and Tajima, as well as Bouldering finalists Iuliia Panteleeva of Russia and Austrian Laura Stöckler. Franziska Sterrer will also represent Austria. Male Lead finalists Narasaki, Ogata, Lightner and Yannick Flohé of Germany qualified, in addition to all-around standouts Kai Harada of Japan and William Bosi of Great Britain. With IFSC Youth World Championships Innsbruck serving as a major qualification event for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, 20 male athletes and 20 female Youth A athletes advanced to the Combined finals. Schenk and Shiraishi currently lead after their outstanding Bouldering and Lead performances.

Tune-in to the IFSC homepage to watch the LIVE streaming of every Bouldering, Lead and Speed round of the Combined finals on September 9-10. The schedule, Combined rankings and single discipline results, highlights and more can be found on the Innsbruck event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Lead Youth A Podium Female

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Innsbruck Schedule Update

Changes have been made to the schedule for Saturday and Sunday, September 9-10, at IFSC Youth World Championships Innsbruck 2017.

To view all the schedule changes, please click here. The live streaming schedule has also been updated on the Innsbruck event page.

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4 More Medals for Japan, Dynamic Top for Duffy

Talented Youth B athletes put on the first display of Lead finals at IFSC Youth World Championships Innsbruck. After inspiring performances from the world’s top youth sport climbers, Japan claimed 4 medals to match Russia’s total of 13, and Colin Duffy won the third gold medal for the United States.

13 male athletes joined 8 female athletes in the finals after six ties in semi-finals for the eighth spot. Two aesthetic lines with a diverse set of movements and holds challenged the young finalists. Saki Kikuchi of Japan set the first high point, falling between two slippery pinches early on the upper panel. Her teammate Futaba Ito, crowned Bouldering champion earlier this week, wowed the crowd by pushing through the crux section and just sticking the back-hand to the finishing hold for the first top. Camille Pouget of France matched Kikuchi’s mark, leaving two Japanese athletes to decide the podium. Natsuki Tanii looked undaunted by the pressure and calmly marched to the top to join Ito on the podium. Ai Mori, who set a commanding high point in semi-finals, duplicated the feat, skipping a move at the crux and keeping it together for the top and gold medal.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Lead Youth B Female Ai Mori

On the finals route for the male athletes, multiple finalists struggled to surpass a difficult crux sequence of open handholds and slippery screw-on footholds. Zander Waller of the United States was the first athlete to connect all the moves, falling at the tiny crimps before the top hold. Hidemasa Nishida of Japan fought the pump to attempt the dynamic last move. American Colin Duffy followed and looked confident the whole way, dangling from one arm low on the route and completing the concluding dyno for a medal and wild applause. That medal turned to gold when Alberto Ginés López of Spain peeled off the final hold. Ginés López finished in second place over Nishida by countback to semi-finals, setting a new bench mark for Spain at the IFSC Youth World Championships.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Lead Youth B Male Colin Duffy

With their strong performances in Bouldering as well as Lead, Japanese athletes Ito, Tanii, Mori and Kikuchi all advanced to the Youth B Combined finals on Saturday. Lead finalist Luce Douady of France will join them, alongside her teammate Nailé Meignan who just missed the finals cut in Bouldering, Lead and Speed. For the male athletes, Bouldering winner Rei Kawamata, Ginés López, Nishida and Duffy all advance, and they will be joined by Bouldering medallists Ryoei Nukui of Japan and Semen Ovchinnikov of Russia.

We will be LIVE for Youth A semi-finals and Youth A and Juniors finals in Lead on Friday at the IFSC homepage. The schedule, results, replays, photos and more can be found on the dedicated Innsbruck event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Lead Youth B Podium Female

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High demand for IFSC World Cup Edinburgh

Hosts to the IFSC World Cup and Paraclimbing Cup, which will take place on September 23-24 at Edinburgh’s International Climbing Arena at Ratho, are reporting huge demand for tickets.

Tickets for Sunday’s finals and weekend tickets are now sold out with only a limited number of tickets for Saturday’s qualifications rounds remaining. Spectators are encouraged to buy the remaining tickets now to see some of the best sport climbers and paraclimbers in the world compete. Tickets can be purchased here.

Over the weekend, 77 athletes are already registered to compete across Lead and Speed categories. In the Paraclimbing Cup, registration is now closed with 63 athletes taking part in one of 9 categories. 13 athletes are from the UK, including Keith Lynch of Great Britain.

This is the first time the IFSC World Cup has been held in Edinburgh since 2003 and the first time a Paraclimbing Cup has been held in Scotland. Edinburgh also hosted the IFSC Youth World Championships in 2010.

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Welcome to our New Staff!

The IFSC welcomes Silvia Verdolini, who is joining the Sport Department as Sport Officer. Under the direction of the Sport Director and with the help of the IFSC Technical Commissions, she will coordinate and oversee the different Sport programmes (regulations changes and improvements, consultative groups, etc.).

Although she is Italian, Silvia's passion for science has taken her abroad for the past ten years. After completing her Bachelor's degree in Astrophysics in Italy, she spent a year in California for her Masters, then did a PhD in The Netherlands. After that she worked in Science Education and Public Engagement in India, South Africa, Malta, and UK.

Some say that people’s identity are determined by what they love: in this case Silvia's identity is determined not just by science, but also a mountain to climb, a good book, and a loud dinner table.

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Speed Victories Move Russia to First in Medal Race

The Speed climbing continued today at IFSC Youth World Championships Innsbruck and Russian athletes excelled, bringing Russia's medal count to 13, the most so far.

Youth A provided the audience with the first action on Sunday, as nearly 200 climbers attacked the distinctive red route in the hopes of a podium. YiLing Song of China set the lowest time of the day for the female athletes (8.63), earning her a spot in the final run. Aleksandra Kalucka of Poland answered with her own personal best time of the day (8.67) to win Gold after a slip from Song midway up the route. Russian Polina Aksenova completed the podium when her compatriot Elena Remizova false started.

111 competitors started in the men’s final. All three medallists set times under seven seconds, with JinXin Li of China besting American Noah Bratschi in the small final. In the last match, Russian teammates Georgiy Morozov and Sergey Rukin swept up the wall, and Rukin’s smooth run of 6.53 seconds was enough to win the gold medal over Morozov.

The following day, Milosz Bujak of Poland was among the fastest in Youth B finals but slipped low down the route in the semi-final against Russian Anton Kulba. Italian Jacopo Stefani and Kulba both stumbled in the big final, and Stefani recovered faster to claim the gold medal. Evgeny Kuzin of Russia finished two hundredths of a second quicker than Bujak in a tight small final to round out the podium.

Russia dominated the female final, with only Russian athletes advancing to the semi-final. Polina Kulagina advanced over Valeriia Slobodchikova with a clean run, and Daria Potapova bested Kamilla Kushaeva in the rerun following a tie between the teammates. Kushaeva rebounded in the small final for Bronze, and Kulagina set the first time under nine seconds (8.84) to win gold over Potapova in the big final.

 

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Speed Podium Youth B Male

Elizaveta Ivanova of Russia was quick all day in Juniors, registering the best time in qualifications (8.57) and more times below nine seconds in finals. She committed a costly false start in the final race against her teammate Daria Kan, who claimed the gold medal and scored the lowest time for female athletes in Innsbruck (8.34). Ekaterina Barashchuk made it an all-Russian podium after a slip from Claire Buhrfeind of the United States, who followed up her first place in Bouldering with fourth place in Speed.

The male final saw many upsets, with IFSC World Cup competitors Kostiantyn Pavlenko of Ukraine – who posted the best time in Innsbruck (6.37) - and Gian Luca Zodda of Italy missing out on the semi-final, as well as the quick Iranian athlete Ehsan Asrar. Carlos Granja of Ecuador and Korean Seungbeom Lee had no times above seven seconds, and Granja bested Lee in a very close big final for gold. American Michael Finn-Henry was also flawless in the small final, claiming the Bronze medal over Lev Rudatskiy of Russia.

12 days of nonstop sport climbing at the IFSC Youth World Championships continue with Lead climbing on Tuesday. We will be LIVE for semi-finals and finals on Thursday and Friday on the IFSC homepage. The schedule, results, replays, photos and more can be found on the dedicated Innsbruck event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Speed Podium Junior Female

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Speed Podium Junior Male

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Tuesday (5th) Warm up for Youth A Lead competitors

Warm up will be availiable for Youth A lead competitors from 8 am tomorrow morning (Tuesday, September 5th) behind the outdoor Lead competition wall. Access will be granted exclusively to Youth A climbers for warm up.

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Schedule Change for Speed Finals

The Youth B and Juniors Speed finals will be delayed 1 hour and will now begin at 18:00 GMT+2 on Monday, September 4.

 

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5 medals for Japan in Youth B Bouldering

As the rain let up and the teperatures dropped the Bouldering mats welcomed the finalists of Youth B tonight. The conditions seemed perfect for Team Japan who managed to secure five of the six spots on the podium.

The last medals in Bouldering were awarded tonight in Youth B. Again, slab problems began the round. All the male finalists topped, and Thomas Podolan of Austria took an early lead with a quick ascent. Power moves on poor footholds stumped everyone on M2, and four athletes were tied at two tops apiece after solving the compression moves of M3. Podolan wasfirst to stick the beginning dyno of M4, but couldn’t mantle to the top hold and finished in sixth place. Rei Kawamata of Japan breezed through the dyno and flashed the problem to take the gold medal. Russian Semen Ovchinnikov and Kawamata’s teammate Ryoei Nukui also completed the problem to place second and third, respectively, by attempts. Hidemasa Nishida finished in fourth place, topping after time expired.

In the female final, Canadian Indiana Chapman flashed the opening slab. It was her only top and earned her fourth place, the best Bouldering finish ever for a Canadian athlete at the IFSC Youth World Championships. Futaba Ito of Japan took the lead with a flash of F2, a lead that she never gave up. Ito was the only finalist to stick the dyno beginning F3 and promptly continued to the top. She then powered past the steep features of F4 on her first attempt to make it a sweep of all four problems for the gold medal. Her teammate Natsuki Tanii also finished with a flash to place second, and Saki Kikuchi rounded out the podium to give Japan all three medals.

Complete results and the full replay can be found on the Innsbruck event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships Innsbruck Austria Bouldering Youth B Female Podium

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Youth A Race up the Speed Wall

The athletes from Youth A provided the audience with the first taste of speed for the Youth World Championships as the youngsters launched themselves up the 15 meter high wall.  Competition was delayed as nearly 200 climbers attacked the distinctive red route in the hopes of speeding their way to the podium.

In the women’s competition, YiLing Song from China set the lowest time (8.63) of the day in the quarter final, earning her a spot in the final run of the day. Her competitor Aleksandra Kalucka responded in their matchup for the gold, hitting her personal fastest time of the day (8.67) and leaving YiLing, who finished with 10.52 after a slip midway up the route, to take silver. The podium will be completed by Polina Aksenova (RUS) after a false start from her compatriot and challenger Elena Remizova (RUS) left her in fourth.

111 competitors started in the men’s competition. The podium all made set final times under seven seconds, with JinXin Li (CHN) besting Noah Bratschi (USA) with 6.35 in the small final. Noah did not seem disappointed however, finishing with 7.06, his best time of the day. In the big final, compatriots Greorgiy Morozov (RUS) and Sergey Rukin (RUS) swept up the wall. Sergey’s smooth run in 6.53 was enough to take the gold from Greorgiy who finished in 6.84 seconds.

Complete results and the full replay can be found on the Innsbruck event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships Innsbruck Austria Speed Youth A Female Podium

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Delayed start for Youth B Bouldering Finals

The Youth B Bouldering finals will have a delayed start today, Sunday 3, 2017.

Presentation will take place at 18:15, climbing will commence at 18:30.

 

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Junior Boulderers Claim their Titles in Innsbruck

A tense evening of climbing with few tops decided the Junior Bouldering Final in Innsbruck with Japan and USA claiming four of the six available medals.

Johanna Holfeld (DEU) and Iuliia Panteleeva (RUS) started strong, managing the first problem, a technical slab, by carefully balancing across and securing the crimpy final holds. Johanna’s flash of the boulder was enough to put her ahead of Iuliia and secured her the third place on the podium. Maya Madere and Claire Buhrfeind from the USA were the only two women to claim two tops, as none of the women were able to complete the final move in problem two. Claire was temptingly close though, sticking the dynamic jump from a dual texture hold and managing to get one hand on the top. In the end both Claire and Maya topped the compression boulder 3 and boulder 4, which required a high level of precision. Claire required less attempts then Maya for both boulders, giving her the gold. Austrian Laura Stöckler finished the night by also topping the fourth problem in front of her home crowd, putting her into fifth place.

The men’s competition also opened with a challenging slab which ended up only seeing three tops as the moves up the arête and across to the final hold stumped several climbers. A flash from Yoshiyuki Ogata (JPN) put him in a fantastic position for the rest of the competition and helped see him through to a gold medal once he found a top on problems three and four. A physical second boulder proved to be even more challenging than the slab, with only Meichi Narasaki (JPN) finding the top through the red volumes and two small crimps before the final hold. After failing to do boulder one, this success proved vital for Meichi, securing him second place with three tops, but two tries more than Yoshiyuki. After a difficult start Jan Luca Posh (AUT), burst back onto the scene and took third by flashing both boulder 3 and 4, finishing with two tops. Kai Lightner (USA) also topped the final two problems, but took two more attempts, resulting in 4th place.

Complete results and the full replay can be found on the Innsbruck event page.

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Superb Finish in Youth A Bouldering

The first finals at IFSC Youth World Championships Innsbruck 2017 in Youth A Bouldering concluded in exciting fashion.

Despite rain in the early days of the event, a large crowd turned out for the action at Kletterzentrum Innsbruck, also streamed LIVE for thousands of fans on the IFSC YouTube channel. The first two problems for the men saw only tops, with Filip Schenk of Italy taking an early lead with two flashes. M3 proved more challenging, requiring tricky footwork to exit a compressed start. Keita Dohi of Japan and Bulgarian Petar Ivanov worked hard to complete all the small sequences, and Schenk again wrapped up the series on his first attempt, finding a toehook to smoothly match on the slippery final hold. The podium came down to the final problem. Dohi's teammate Mizuki Tajima flashed for third place, requiring one less attempt to complete his three tops than Ivanov. When Dohi topped as well, Schenk needed one final top to win. He duly did so, ending the evening with a perfect score of four flashes.

The male final ran alongside an equally exciting final for the female athletes. Luiza Emeleva jumped into an early lead with the only flash of F1, which most finalists topped. The long, strenuous second problem with massive features on a steep roof stumped most of the field, but not back-to-back Youth B champion Ashima Shiraishi of the United States. She scored the sole top, and only her teammate Brooke Raboutou also reached the bonus hold. All three athletes topped F3, and the podium again came down to the last problem. Emeleva and Raboutou secured spots on the podium with quick tops, and Laura Rogora of Italy flashed for fourth place. Last on the mats, Shiraishi flashed alongside Schenk for two superb double flashes to end the round and win the first Gold medals at Innsbruck.

Complete results and the full replay can be found on the Innsbruck event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Bouldering Youth A Final Podium Male Men

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President Scolaris Declares Innsbruck Open

On Wednesday night, roughly one thousand athletes and spectators assembled at the outdoor area of the Kletterzentrum Innsbruck to attend the opening ceremony of the IFSC Youth World Championships.

IFSC President Marco Scolaris declared the competition open in the presence of the president of the KVÖ, Eugen Burtscher, and Innsbruck and Tirol government officials. The prominent entertainers Roodixx, the Trachtenverein Jenbach and the Austrian musical duo Harfonie provided a fantastic atmosphere for the sport fans, who were warmly greeted by Josef Geisler (LH- deputy of Tyrol) and Christoph Kauffmann (Vice- mayor of Innsbruck).

President Scolaris said the following after the opening ceremony: "The opening of the IFSC Youth World Championships was a touching moment, although we have organised this event since 1992! These championships remain our highest celebration of our youth sport climbers. This year we are experiencing something truly special in this impressive venue: not only do we get to witness a fantastic competition, but at the same time top athletes and the public of Innsbruck train and practice indoors. We can clearly see the sense of community which will take us forward as we embark on our Olympic journey."

The IFSC Youth World Championships take place every year and gather hundreds of the most elite sport climbing athletes between the ages of 14 and 19. This year, there are 1,172 athlete registrations across all categories - representing 50 countries and 5 continents – and climbing will take place over 12 days in Bouldering, Lead, Speed and the Combined. Please visit the Innsbruck event page for more information.

2017 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championship Innsbruck Austria Opening Ceremony Japan Bouldering Lead

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IFSC Youth World Championships Open For Hundreds in Innsbruck

Tonight, the IFSC Youth World Championships officially open in Innsbruck, Austria, welcoming hundreds of elite athletes from around the world to the biggest stage for young sport climbers.

The IFSC Youth World Championships take place every year and gather hundreds of the most elite sport climbing athletes between the ages of 14 and 19. This year, there are 1,172 athlete registrations across all categories - representing 50 countries and 5 continents – and climbing will take place for 12 days on the brand-new walls of Kletterzentrum Innsbruck.

This year, the Combined results will be the focus. In addition to medals in Bouldering, Lead and Speed, 20 female and 20 male Youth A athletes, and 6 female and 6 male Youth B and Juniors athletes, will compete in the Combined on the last weekend. Sunday will also serve as the major qualification event for Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, with 13 female and 13 male Youth A athletes to be recommended for selection.

Watch the world’s best young sport climbing athletes compete in semi-finals and finals at Innsbruck from September 1st-10th, LIVE on the IFSC homepage. The competition preview, schedule, results, 2016 highlights and more information can be found on the Innsbruck event page.

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Watch Innsbruck YWCH LIVE


With 1172 athletes registered and running over eleven days, the Innsbruck Youth World Championships are the biggest event in the 2017 calendar. There are several ways in which fans at home can follow all of the action, as the competition will be streamed and broadcasted around the globe.


The IFSC will livestream semifinals and finals of each round and age category on its YouTube Channel from Friday, September 1st. The Olympic Channel will also LIVE stream Semifinals and Finals, bringing the event to sports fans beyond the climbing community.

In addition, TV in Japan will provide extensive coverage of the competition. On Saturday September 9th, AbemaTV, free internet TV will live-stream the Youth B Women’s Boulder and Youth B Women’s Lead finals. Youth B Women's Speed Finals, which take place earlier that day, will be recorded and broadcasted in between the Boulder and Lead segments. This program will be co-produced by Sky-A (CATV/CS channel), which will broadcast the program on the same day. The program will be shared with all the major Japanese TV networks as news material, and will be covered in news programs promptly after the event.

Finally, Japanese national television NHK will produce recorded program for the entire Youth World Championships, including the combined events. This will be a 2 hour-long highlights program summarizing the event, to be broadcasted on NHK BS channel later this month.

For a full schedule of the event, please visit the event page. To preview the action, watch the event trailer here.

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Hard Fought Returns to the Top at Arco

Veteran Lead athletes Jain Kim and Jakob Schubert won their first gold medal of the season at IFSC World Cup Arco, and Speed standouts Vladislav Deulin and Anouck Jaubert returned to the top of the podium.

Arco, Italy, continues to attract the most elite athletes in sport climbing. In a competitive field, athletes worked hard for a spot on the podium at the fourth IFSC World Cup of the Lead and Speed season.

A competition summary, pictures and highlights can be found on the Arco event page, and full replays will be uploaded to the IFSC YouTube channel as soon as it is possible.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Arco Italy Women Podium Speed Lead

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Arco Italy Men Podium Lead Speed

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Arco Italy Women Podium Lead Speed

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Olympic Channel One-Year Old

On the 21st of August, the Olympic Channel celebrated its one-year anniversary. Launched at the conclusion of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the channel has helped display the best of sport. In one year, the Channel can be proud of more than 6,000 videos representing all Olympic sport disciplines and 206 countries, 30 original series, partnerships with 54 international sport federations and organizations and availability in 11 languages.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The launch of the Olympic Channel was a significant milestone for the entire Olympic Family creating a legacy for years to come. It provides us with a new way to engage younger generations and fans with the Olympic Movement, and to get the couch potatoes off the couch. The Olympic Channel’s impact is key to reaching our target audiences through compelling and entertaining content 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

The IFSC collaborates with the Olympic Channel to provide coverage of sport climbing at IFSC events, bringing the sport to a wider audience. Watch the latest news video of finals at IFSC World Cup Munich here.

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Sport Climbing extensively broadcast during Munich World Cup

Climbing at the IFSC Bouldering World Cup in Munich was broadcast by numerous TV around the world, the most coverage ever for an IFSC World Cup event.

IFSC World Cup Munich was shown to a multitude of viewers in Japan. The finals were broadcast live on NHK and Sky A, and Sky A distributed the live program to all the major TV stations in Japan as news material. The newspapers Sankei Sport and Nikkei also produced articles on the event.

In Germany, Bayerischer Rundfunk live streamed the complete finals on its internet channel. Bayerischer Rundfunk also aired highlights from finals in its news program Rundschau Magazin on Friday and Saturday and highlighted climbing of Jan Hojer and Alexander Megos in its sports program Blickpunkt Sport. Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk also covered the climbing in its news program. Sat1 Bayern and München TV recapped qualifications on Friday, and RTL broadcasted parts of the show in Sport Aktuell.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Munich Germany German

In parallel, the Olympic Channel live streamed the entirety of both semi-finals (including the additional semi-finals of the European Bouldering Championship) and finals on their website. In addition, the global digital platform highlighted the performances of Munich finalists and the ambience at Olympiapark in a news video, also shared on social media.

The IFSC news edit was also distributed to Reuters, Eurovision and SNTV, leading TV agencies which serve stations around the globe. In Switzerland, SRG aired highlights of IFSC World Cup Munich on their news program.

Last but not least, on the IFSC YouTube channel the live streaming of finals received more than 89,000 views on Saturday, the most views ever recorded for a single live streaming of an IFSC World Cup event. To watch all the videos, please visit the Munich event page on the IFSC website.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Munich Germany Japan

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Lead and Speed Stars to Climb in Arco

Multiple stars will compete at IFSC World Cup Arco this week, the fourth Lead and Speed event of 2017.

Arco, Italy, has gathered top sport climbers for decades and this year welcomes a renowned group of Lead and Speed athletes for its 7th year of IFSC events.

Please visit the Arco event page for the competition preview, schedule, starters, 2016 highlights and more.

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Try LUXOV Touch® during the Youth World Championships

LUXOV Touch® during the Youth World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria
As an official partner of the IFSC, Luxov will be at the youth world championships to present its latest innovation, the LUXOV Touch® climbing holds system.

« Measuring time! Brand new holds for new challenges and new records! »
During the competition, a LUXOV Touch® bouldering wall will be installed in the climbers’ warm-up area, and two challenges will be available: the Speed Challenge and the X-second Challenge.
For the Speed Challenge, the rules are simple: touch all the holds on the wall in as short a time as possible. Precise to the hundredth of a second, the LUXOV Touch® system can time the speed of the circuit up to the last hold.
For the X Second Challenge, the order in which to touch the different holds and how long they are held for, are imposed on the climber, failing which the overall time doesn’t register. The participant who touches all the holds in the right order and for whom LUXOV Touch® registers a minimum time for each hold (say, 2.5 seconds) without letting go, will be added to the winners’ list.

For both of these challenges, a screen will display the exact time it takes to complete the circuit, and the length of time each hold is held. You set the pace, LUXOV Touch® measures it with precision!

The LUXOV Touch® bouldering wall will be in place from August 30 to September 3, 2017. The young climbers can come and try to win the different challenges (and lots of goodies) each day, as the circuits will be changed from day to day.

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Thrilling End to European Championships

The European Climbing Championships concluded on Saturday in thrilling fashion, and the final medals in Bouldering and the Combined were awarded.

This year, the European Bouldering Championship coincided with IFSC World Cup Munich, where numerous star European athletes competed. Tied after the extended IFSC World Cup Munich semi-finals, which served as the European Bouldering Championship finals, Slovenia's star Janja Garnbret and recent The World Games winner Stasa Gejo faced-off in an historic single-problem superfinal. Going attempt-by-attempt with the first high point winning, Gejo completed the early dyno for the European title. Both athletes showed great sportsmanship, raising each other's arms after the exciting conclusion. Petra Klingler joined them on the podium, topping three problems in one less attempt than season Bouldering champion Shauna Coxsey.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Munich Germany European Bouldering Championship Stasa Gejo

Jan Hojer energized the home crowd all weekend long, and he topped three problems in just seven attemps to lead the men's field. His German teammate Alexander Megos, who last competed in IFSC World Cup Munich 2012, finished in second place and was the only male athlete to top the challenging third problem. Anze Peharc of Slovenia won Bronze, requiring just one less attempt to reach three bonus holds than his Slovenian teammate Jernej Kruder.

After strong performances at the European Lead and Speed Championships held on June 30 - July 1 in Campitello di Fassa, Italy, Garnbret and Hojer topped the Combined podium. Romain Desgranges and Anak Verhoeven were the Lead champions, and Iuliia Kaplina and Marcin Dzienski won in Speed.

Please visit the event page for the complete results, a full replay of the action and a highlight video of the superfinal.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup European Bouldering Championship Jan Hojer

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Bouldering Champions Crowned in Munich

Jongwon Chon clinched the season Bouldering title in semi-finals of IFSC World Cup Munich, joining Shauna Coxsey atop the season podium, and Janja Garnbret and Jan Hojer excelled in finals to win the seventh and final IFSC Bouldering World Cup of 2017.

The first problem of the women’s final was powerful, with slaps on large features and a crux dyno. Great Britain’s Shauna Coxsey, who clinched the season Bouldering title at IFSC World Cup Navi Mumbai, and Akiyo Noguchi of Japan flashed the problem. Slovenian Janja Garnbret took the lead on W2, solving a cumbersome start and dramatically sticking the final move for her second straight top. W3 featured another challenging start, which only The World Games champion Stasa Gejo conquered. Garnbret secured the victory in Munich by working through the dynamic crux of the final problem for her third top. She placed second in the women’s season Bouldering rankings. Coxsey flashed W4 for a Silver medal, and Noguchi placed third in Munich and third in the season rankings with her quick ascent of W1.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Munich Germany Janja Garnbret

The men’s final began with a technical slab. All the finalists topped the problem, including Korean Jongwon Chon who had clinched the season Bouldering title in semi-finals. Jan Hojer of Germany took the lead with the sole top of M2, a powerful and dynamic problem. Every finalist connected the precise moves and stuck the concluding lateral dyno of M3. Needing one final top to secure the victory, the home crowd went wild when Hojer matched on the last hold. Tomoa Narasaki of Japan placed second in Munich and second in the men’s season Bouldering rankings. His teammate Taisei Ishimatsu placed third by one attempt. Russian star Aleksei Rubtsov missed the finals cut but placed third in the rankings.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Munich Germany Jan Hojer

Japanese athletes competed exceptionally all season long and defended first place in the Bouldering team rankings with over twice as many points as the next country. Great Britain and Slovenia, also strong teams in 2017, placed second and third, respectively.

Please visit the Munich event page for the complete results, photos and highlights.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Munich Germany Bouldering Men Podium Season

 

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European Bouldering Championship Begins

The last stage of the European Climbing Championships 2017 started today in Munich, Germany, where the final medals in Bouldering and the Combined will be awarded.

This year, the European Bouldering Championship coincides with IFSC World Cup Munich, where numerous star European athletes are competing. Russia’s Aleksei Rubtsov has made the most IFSC Bouldering World Cup podiums for the men this year (4), and he is a strong contender for the European title. Slovenian Janja Garnbret is also on the start list and, like so often this year, will compete with season Bouldering champion Shauna Coxsey of Great Britain. Be sure to follow the progress of Stasa Gejo of Serbia as well, recent winner at The World Games in Wroclaw.

More athletes will compete from the host country than from anywhere else, with Alma BestvaterDavid FirnenburgJan Hojer, and Monika Retschy at the forefront of a large German team of 32 athletes.  The French team will also be well represented, with 2016 Munich finalists Manuel Cornu and Mickael Mawem climbing alongside Jeremy BonderFanny Gibert and Alban Levier.

The European Lead and Speed Championships were held on June 30 - July 1 in Campitello di Fassa, Italy. Romain Desgranges and Anak Verhoeven won in Lead, and Iuliia Kaplina and Marcin Dzienski won in Speed.

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Timetable Update: Munich WC Qualifications

Following the Technical meeting, all participants are advised that the World Cup schedule has had to be adjusted.
The Men's isolation opens at ...and closes at.. Climbing will start at ... The schedule for the women remains the same.

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Reminder for Participants: Friday Timetable for Munich World Cup

All athletes and Team Officials taking in the Munich World Cup are reminded to check the updated info sheet (last updated 14.08) for the Munich World Cup.

On Friday, the isolation zone for the men will open at 5.30 in the morning, and close at 6.30. Qualification for the men, will then start in two groups at 7 am. Isolation for the Women opens at 16.00 hrs (4pm) and will close at 16.30 hrs (4.30 pm). Climbing will begin at 1700hrs (5pm).

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Final Showdown of the Best in Bouldering

After Lead and Speed climbing in July, hundreds of the best Bouldering athletes in the world will compete this week in Munich, Germany, the 7th and final IFSC Bouldering World Cup of the 2017 season.

Munich has become a staple in the IFSC season, hosting Bouldering events every year this decade. This year, 292 athletes from 47 countries are registered to compete in the famous Olympiapark for another decisive event.

Please visit the Munich event page for the competition preview, schedule, starters, 2016 replays and highlights and more information.

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Monthly Executive Board meeting held

The monthly Executive Board teleconference took place on August 18th. The agenda included an update on the events in the past month, updates and discussions around the organisation of the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and continuing growth of the IFSC.

The Executive Board approved the Continental Membership of the Cambodia Climbing Association, to be ratified in the Plenary Assembly in Innsbruck March 2018. In addition, the  Board was also informed about the hiring of an additional employee, a Sport Officer, who will join the team in September.

The next Executive Board Mmeeting will take place on September 20th.

 

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Looking to the Future in Briançon

The Briançon Lead World Cup, a staple event in the IFSC calendar, provided a perfect backdrop for a meeting between IFSC President Marco Scolaris, Vice- President Treasurer and Finances Pierre-Henri Paillasson, President of the French Federation (FFME) Pierre You and local organisers.

After almost 25 years, the organisers continue to develop their event and seek to reach broader audiences, in part in memory of their “patron” Philippe Ligerot, who was killed two years ago in an avalanche. Proposals to develop the event included the relocation of the wall and a possible permanent infrastructure, to offer additional climbing opportunities to the thousands of climbers who come every year from all Europe to visit the endless crags of the region.

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Available Live: European Youth Bouldering Cup

IFSC Europe and Bulgarian Federation would like to inform you that there will be online streaming of the European Youth Cup Boulder in Sofia. The event has its own dedicated YouTube Channel, which will go live to show the young talent on display on August 5th and 6th.

We hope that this stream will allow friends and family members who could not attend to take part in the action and cheer on the young climbers. You can access a list of the registerd athletes here.

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A Privilege for Sport Climbing

The closing ceremony of The World Games 2017 took place on Sunday, ending ten days of sports competitions at the highest level in Wroclaw, Poland.

The World Games takes place every four years and gathers the most elite athletes. This year, 3251 athletes from a record number of countries (111) took part in the Games. The event sold more than 160,000 tickets and could be watched world-wide on 130 TV stations and on the Olympic Channel. Sport Climbing was among the featured medal sports. It was the first time all three disciplines were present, with the debut of Bouldering. There were 72 athlete registrations representing 23 countries and all 5 continents across Bouldering, Lead and Speed. More facts and figures on The World Games 2017 can be found here.

2017 IFSC The World Games Wroclaw Poland Bouldering Bassa Mawem France

On the first day, 19-year-old athletes Stasa Gejo of Serbia and Yoshiyuki Ogata of Japan topped every problem. Iuliia Kaplina of Russia set a women's world record on the Speed wall (7.32 seconds) on the second day, and Reza Alipourshenazandifar was awarded IWGA Athlete of the Day after racing to the first Gold medal for Iran. Lead concluded the Sport Climbing in Wroclaw, with Anak Verhoeven of Belgium and Keiichiro Korenaga of Japan winning the Gold medals on the third day. In the end, Japan tied Russia for most medals won (4), and France finished with three athletes on the podiums. Please visit the dedicated Games page on the IFSC website for the full medal table.

2017 IFSC The World Games Wroclaw Poland Marco Scolaris Debra Gawrych Edyta Ropek Arkadiusz Kaminski

IOC President Thomas Bach attended The World Games in Wroclaw, and he gave high praise for Sport Climbing after visiting the venue during men's Bouldering qualifciations. From the IFSC, President Marco Scolaris, Secretary General Debra Gawrych, Sport Director Jérôme Meyer and Event Officer Alessandro Di Cato all attended. Following three days of memorable Sport Climbing at one of the most significant events in sport, Marco Scolaris said the following:

“It was truly a privilege to work with the International World Games Association and the Organising Committee and City of Wroclaw to host such an outstanding event, which presented the best of Bouldering, Speed and Lead climbing. We’re happy to have brought Sport Climbing to the very heart of the city of Wroclaw, as a true urban sport.”

Full replays from the Olympic Channel of Bouldering, Lead and Speed finals can be watched on the Wroclaw event page.

2017 IFSC The World Games Wroclaw Poland Lead Climbing

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Urban Cluster Concept a Success at The World Games

IFSC President Marco Scolaris and Secretary General Debra Gawrych deemed the “Urban Cluster” concept, in which sport competitions take place in the heart of the city, a complete success at The World Games in Wroclaw.

At the event, Sport Climbing was featured on the central Nowy Targ, an arrangement which received significant positive feedback from the Polish Sport Ministry, the Wroclaw Organising Committee and other World Games organisers. The IFSC was delighted that spectators were moved to discuss developing permanent climbing facilities as well as consider the opportunity of opening the walls to the public after future competitions.

Many notable actors in sport including IOC President Thomas Bach attended the competition on Nowy Targ. Representatives of the Polish Sport Ministry and the Polish National Climbing Federation were also in attendance, and Athlete Edyta Ropek was recognised as the most decorated woman in climbing for Poland. She presented the silver medal at the awarding ceremony for the men’s Speed competition. Both the IFSC and the athletes were thrilled at this warm reception.

President Scolaris and Secretary General Gawrych were particularly pleased as the same concept is to be used at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. “The World Games in Poland showed how well the urban cluster can display a sport to a large audience,” President Scolaris said. “We are very confident and excited to see the same concept applied in the Youth Olympic Games and Olympic Games: imagine sport climbing being side by side with skateboarding, basketball 3 on 3, BMX freestyle: what a blast!”

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Innsbruck YWCH Team Accreditation Opens

The accreditation system for the Innsbruck Youth World Championships is now open on the official event webpage.

National Federations are advised that in addition to the registration on Egroupware, all Athletes, Coaches and Team Officials are required to register on the accreditation portal. A guide to the accreditation process has been sent to all National Federations and is also available here.

Registration on both Egroupware and the Innsbruck accreditation system will close on August 25, 2017.

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Desgranges Wins in France, Garnbret Remains Unbeaten

Janja Garnbret of Slovenia extended her streak of IFSC World Cup wins to three on Saturday, and Romain Desgranges of France concluded the climbing in Briançon with a victory in front of his home crowd.

Thousands of fans gathered in downtown Briançon, France, for the third IFSC World Cup of the Lead season. Despite rain in finals, the best Lead climbing athletes in the world put on an impressive show.

A competition recap, highlights, replays and more can be found on the Briançon event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Briancon France Women Final Janja Garnbret

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Briancon France Men Final Romain Desgranges

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Schedule Update: Briançon

Due to weather, the Lead finals at IFSC World Cup Briançon will now take place at 20:00 GMT+2.

Please stay tuned for any additional updates.

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The World Games Sports Impress IFSC delegation

IFSC President Marco Scolaris and Secretary General Debra Gawrych used the opportunity of The World Games in Wroclaw to meet with and discover additional sports.

The IFSC executives were treated to the chance of shooting arrows at the archery venue with World Archery Secretary General Tom Dielen and 1st Vice President Mario Scarzella, as well as attended impressive sporting displays in Gymnastics, Flying Disk, Roller Sports, Wakeboard and Water Ski, Power Lifting and Karate.

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IFSC Youth World Championships 2017 Continues to Meet Targets

Organisation of the IFSC Youth World Championships in 2017, held in Innsbruck, Austria, is making rapid progress.

After the new venue, Kletterzentrum Innsbruck (KI), was inaugurated in May, the first competitions have already been staged, and organisers at Austria Climbing continue to work with the IFSC in the final run-up to the Youth World Championships. This international competition will be held August 30 to September 10th and attract young climbing stars from across the globe. Additional documents for National Federations regarding the combined format and the registration process are available, and athlete registration is open.

Watching will be representatives from the 2018 Youth World Championship Organising team from Central Saanich, Vancouver Island, Canada. Event Organizer Kimanda Jarzebiak attended The World Games and met with the IFSC in preliminary meetings, in anticipation of next year's event. The IFSC and Austria Climbing will also welcome Kimanda Jarzebiak and Chloe Mandell (Marketing and Production Manager) at the IFSC Youth World Championships in September, as the nature of the Youth World Championships evolves.

More information is available on the Austria Climbing website, where media registrations are also currently open.

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IFSC Lead World Cup Returns to France

After a thrilling show of Sport Climbing last weekend at The World Games 2017 in Wroclaw, Poland, the world’s best Lead athletes return to France for the third IFSC Lead World Cup of the season in Briançon.

Briançon has been gathering top Lead athletes for the IFSC World Cup since 2011, and several thousand fans regularly attend finals. This week the commune in southeast France welcomes a new talented group of The World Games champions, IFSC World Cup season champions and rising stars.

Please visit the Briançon event page for the competition preview and more information.

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Preparation for Olympic Games continue

Recent weeks have seen several organisational and logistical meetings with IOC bodies for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. Most recently, the IFSC delegation met with representatives of Olympic Result and Information System (ORIS) at The World Games 2017 in Wroclaw. Sport Director Jérôme Meyer and Event Officer Alesandro Di Cato attended the meeting, in which the two organisations discussed the different needs of the three Sport Climbing disciplines in the combined format.

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3 Years Until Tokyo 2020

With three years to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, a flag tour festival was held in Tokyo’s Citizen’s Plaza in Shinjuku. Around 5000 spectators attended, including Japanese Olympians and Paralympians.

The event, co-hosted by the Tokyo Organising Committee, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Olympic Committee and the Japanese Paralympic Committee, featured a projection mapping display with a video light show projected onto the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly building. The show was accompanied by music showcasing attractions of Tokyo and the power of sport, giving an indication of what people can expect from the Games in three years time.

Projection mapping skills were also demonstrated at IFSC World Cup Hachioji-Tokyo in May. Profiles of athletes were shown on the Bouldering walls, and a spectacular light show opened the event. Sport Climbing is one of five additional events to be added to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and will also be featured at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018.

The light show at Hachioji-Tokyo can be watched below, and please click here for a full summary of the flag tour festival.

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Alipourshenazandifar Athlete of the Day

Reza Alipourshenazandifar of Iran was declared Athlete of the Day by the International World Games Association (IWGA) at The World Games 2017.

Each day of The World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, IWGA jury experts select one female and one male athlete for the Athlete of the Day award. Reza Alipourshenazandifar was given the prized nomination in the third series of selctions, the day after he won the men's Speed event. It was the first Gold medal for Iran in the history of The World Games.

2017 IFSC The World Games Wroclaw Poland Speed Climbing Reza Alipourshenazandifar

Alipourshenazandifar is at the moment the fastest Speed climbing athlete on earth. Not only did he win The World Games title, he also owns the men's Speed world record of 5.48 seconds. The 23-year-old faced his final race on Saturday alone - his competitor Danyil Boldyrev had a false start - but he was able to keep himself together despite the situation and finish with the fastest time of the competition (5.57). 

Watch the historic victory below, and please visit the Wroclaw event page for a full summary of the Sport Climbing action in Wroclaw.

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Korenaga, Verhoeven Climb Highest at The World Games 2017

A packed crowd watched the final round of Sport Climbing at The World Games 2017 in Wroclaw, Poland, featuring the most elite Lead climbing athletes from around the globe. Keiichiro Korenaga of Japan and Anak Verhoeven of Belgium both matched the high points in finals and won on countback to qualifications.

There were several early falls in Lead finals for the men, with most athletes falling near 22 moves. Yuki Hada of Japan was one of the athletes who broke the barrier, setting the high point at 39+. His teammate Keiichiro Korenaga followed in kind, leaving only Romain Desgranges left to climb. The Frenchman also fell on the 23rd move, crowning Korenaga the victor on countback to qualifications earlier in the day when he climbed two moves higher than Hada. The 21-yearold is currently ranked fourth in the IFSC World Cup rankings for Lead and continues to solidify his presence on the world stage. Like his teammate Ogata, Korenaga qualified for The World Games 2017 as an Asian Continental champion. PanAmerican Continental champion Sean McColl of Canada also performed well, surpassing the early crux and falling just a few moves shy of the high point for Bronze.

2017 IFSC The World Games Wroclaw Poland Lead Climbing Podium Men

There were many strong performances in the women’s Lead final, with six athletes falling around move 39. Julia Chanourdie of France was third to climb and set the high point at 39+, but many finalists were to follow. Slovenian Janja Garnbret fell at the same spot, as well as Anak Verhoeven of Belgium. Korean Jain Kim climbed last and completed the same number of moves, but she failed to initiate positive movement to the next hold like the others. The tie-breaker again went to qualifications, where Verhoeven climbed five moves higher than Garnbret and six moves more than Chanourdie. Verhoeven began her 2017 season with a victory at the European Championships, and she has yet to miss a podium this IFSC World Cup season.

Japan tied Russia for most medals in Sport Climbing when Korenaga and Hada stood on the men’s Lead podium, bringing the total to four. Korenaga’s victory also gave Japan their second Gold medal in Wroclaw, making Japan the only team to win two Sport Climbing events. France finished with three medals.

Complete results, pictures and more can be found on the Wroclaw event page.

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Kaplina Sets New World Record, Iran Wins First Gold

The world’s fastest Speed climbing athletes raced at The World Games 2017 in Wroclaw today, the second day of Sport Climbing action. Iuliia Kaplina of Russia broke her own world record, dropping the mark from 7.38 seconds to 7.32 seconds, and Iranian Reza Alipourshenazandifar registered multiple times below 5.70 seconds on route to winning the first Gold medal for Iran at The World Games.

Russian Speed athletes have been outstanding this IFSC World Cup season, placing two athletes on every podium. They continued to compete well on the world stage in Wroclaw today, earning three medals. The host country was also well represented in finals, with four Polish athletes climbing. Marcin Dzienski just missed wearing a medal and finished fourth, and Aleksandra Rudzinska placed fifth.

Iuliia Kaplina of Russia continues to lower the women’s Speed world record. She erased her own mark at the first IFSC World Cup of the Speed season in Chongqing, then made it two records in one week at IFSC World Cup Nanjing. Now, she dropped the mark again when it mattered most. Racing against 2016 and 2017 rival Anouck Jaubert of France in the final match, both athletes put together flawless ascents. Jaubert was quick all day and approached the previous world record of 7.38 seconds (7.42), but Kaplina won Gold by setting the new women’s Speed world record of 7.32 seconds. In the small final, Anna Tsyganova earned the last spot on the podium by besting Russian teammate and former season champion Mariia Krasavina.

2017 IFSC The World Games Wroclaw Poland Speed Climbing Podium Women

Reza Alipourshenazandifar has been one of the fastest Speed athletes at IFSC World Cup events in 2017. He set the latest men’s Speed world record at Nanjing (5.48), and the leader of the IFSC World Cup rankings was again a top performer today. The Iranian registered no times above 5.80 seconds, and he won the first Gold medal for his home country at The World Games. Ukranian Danyil Boldyrev was also fast in Wroclaw and placed second after a false start in the last match. Stanislav Kokorin of Russia joined them on the podium, edging Marcin Dzienski in a close small final.

Complete results, pictures and more can be found on the Wroclaw event page.

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IOC President Praises Sport Climbing

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Dr. Thomas Bach visited the Sport Climbing venue yesterday during men's Bouldering qualifications of The World Games 2017. IFSC President Marco Scolaris and IFSC Secretary General Debra Gawrych, along with the most elite Bouldering athletes, welcomed the IOC President on the Market Square in Wroclaw.

2017 IFSC The World Games Wroclaw Poland Men Bouldering Qualifications President IOC Thomas Bach Mickael MawemWroclaw finalist Mickael Mawem of France shakes hands with IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach alongside IFSC President Marco Scolaris.

After an exciting show of Sport Climbing and speaking with several athletes, Dr. Thomas Bach gave high praise for the sport in an interview with the International World Games Association:

"Sport Clilmbing is also a sport on the Olympic program in Tokyo 2020. Why? You can see here because with climbing you can address (or we all together can address) the challenges of modern sports. This means we have to go where the people are: to the urban centres. This urbanization of sport can be achieved very well with climbing and different other sports. You see the positive result already here in the preliminaries...The athletes I had the opportunity to talk with this morning are very happy with the quality. And this is what it is all about. If the athletes are happy we all can be happy."

Please click here to access the full interview.

Jan Hojer of Germany, Silver medallist at Wroclaw, laughs with IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach.
2017 IFSC The World Games Wroclaw Poland Men Bouldering Qualifications President IOC Thomas Bach Jan Hojer

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Gejo and Ogata Awarded First Medals in Wroclaw

Today the first Sport Climbing medals at The World Games 2017 in Wroclaw were awarded in Bouldering to Stasa Gejo of Serbia and Yoshiyuki Ogata of Japan.

Yoshiyuki Ogata was the star of the Bouldering final for the men. Qualifying for The World Games 2017 as a winner of the Asian Continental Championships Duyun 2016, the 19-year-old from Japan topped every problem and was the sole athlete to link all the powerful lateral moves of M2. Most finalists topped M1 and M4, and Jan Hojer of Germany earned the Silver medal by adding a successful walk across the volumes of M3. Russian Aleksei Rubtsov completed the podium with two quick ascents, successfully wrestling with the spherical features of M4 in one less attempt than Mickael Mawem of France.

Stasa Gejo of Serbia stole the show in the women’s Bouldering final. Qualifying with her strong performance at the IFSC World Championships Paris 2016 and also 19 years old, Gejo claimed her first Gold medal outside of youth events. She also topped every problem, including a flash of W3. Miho Nonaka of Japan came in second with three tops, and Fanny Gibert of France placed 3rd with two flashes, one attempt less than Akiyo Noguchi of Japan.

The competition results, pictures and more can be found on the Wroclaw event page.

2017 IFSC The World Games Wroclaw Poland Bouldering Men Podium

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The World Games 2017 Opens

The World Games are here!

On Thursday, July 20, the 10th edition of The World Games 2017 opened in Wroclaw, Poland. IFSC President Marco Scolaris and IFSC Secretary General Debra Gawrych attended the Opening Ceremony, along with IFSC Sport Director Jérôme Meyer and IFSC Event Officer Alessandro Di Cato.

IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach delivered the keynote address before a sold-out crowd at the Wroclaw Stadium after the welcome speeches of Jose Perurena, President of the International World Games, and Rafał Dutkiewicz, Mayor of the city of Wroclaw.

2017 IFSC The World Games Opening Ceremony IOC Thomas BachIOC President Dr. Thomas Bach speaks during The World Games 2017 Opening Ceremony. (c) International World Games Association

Dr. Thomas Bach said: “The next few days will be a celebration of sport and its values. The World Games are a confirmation of the power of sport to unite us all. In sport, everyone is equal, no matter who you are or where you come from. Sport has the power to bring together all people."

The competitions begin today, with the first Sport Climbing medals to be awarded in Bouldering. Tune-in for the Olympic Channel streaming at www.ifsc-climbing.org,and find the Sport Climbing schedule, results and more information on the Wroclaw event page.

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Streaming of Sport Climbing at The World Games

Sport Climbing starts tomorrow at The World Games 2017 in Wrooclaw, and much Bouldering, Lead and Speed action will be streamed on the Olympic Channel here and can also be accessed from the IFSC homepage.

Please find below the streaming schedule for Sport Climbing. All times are local (GMT+2):

Friday 21st July

11:30-13:15     Women’s Bouldering Qualification (LIVE)
16:00-17:30     Men's Bouldering Final (LIVE)
22:30-23:00     Women's Bouldering Final (DELAYED)
23:30-24:00     Women's Bouldering Final - continued (DELAYED)

Saturday 22nd July

22:30-23:00     Speed Finals (DELAYED)
23:30-24:00     Speed Finals - continued (DELAYED)

Monday 24th July

01:00-03:00     Lead Finals (DELAYED)

The competition schedule, starters, results and more information for Sport Climbing can be found on the event page. Click here for the full schedule of The World Games events on the Olympic Channel.

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The World Games Around the Corner for Sport Climbers

The 10th edition of The World Games opens tomorrow in Wroclaw, Poland. More than 3,000 athletes from 31 sports and 111 countries will take part in the event, including 66 Sport Climbing athletes representing 23 countries and all 5 continents who will compete this weekend on July 21st-23rd.

The World Games takes place every four years and gathers the most elite athletes. Lead and Speed climbing have been showcased since 2005, and this year Bouldering will make its debut. The climbing will start with Bouldering on Friday, followed by Speed and Lead on Saturday and Sunday. World, season, continental and youth champions will all be present.

The World Games 2017 in Wroclaw can be watched around the clock on the Olympic Channel. The schedule, starters, results and more information for Sport Climbing can be found on the event page, and please click here for the full list of qualified athletes.

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Garnbret Repeats, Bombardi Wins First Gold

Marcello Bombardi of Italy won his first IFSC World Cup, Japan returned to the podium in Lead and Janja Garnbret made it back-to-back victories to start the Lead season at IFSC World Cup Chamonix.

Fans were rows upon rows in front of the climbing wall in the city centre of Chamonix, France, for the 2nd IFSC Lead World Cup of 2017. Always an exciting atmosphere, world-class Sport Climbing athletes put on another thrilling show under the lights this year for an energized audience at the Lead rematch.

A competition recap, highlights, replays and more can be found on the Chamonix event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chamonix France Lead Janja Garnbret

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chamonix France Lead Marcello Bombardi

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Executive Board addresses European Bouldering Championships

The monthly Executive Board teleconference was held on July 12th. IFSC President Marco Scolaris, Vice-President of Sport/Events Kobinata Toru, Vice-President Treasurer and Finances Pierre-Henri Paillasson and President of the Athletes’ Commission Sean McColl attended the Chamonix Lead World Cup. This occasion also offered the backdrop for additional meetings, including the Executive Board Teleconference.

Board members addressed the pressing issue of the format of the Munich Bouldering World Cup and the European Championships, due to be held at the same time next month. Following a proposal from the Athletes, the Board validated a decision to allow additional European climbers to climb following the World Cup semi-final. The rankings of the extended semi-final will be used to determine the results of the European Bouldering Championship.

Other topics addressed were continued coordination with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Committee and the IOC, and the proposed calendar of the 2018 season. The next Executive Board meeting will be held on August 18th.

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Youth Olympic Games Workshop in Buenos Aires

Sport Director Jerome Meyer was in Buenos Aires this week for an IOC workshop. The workshop, organised to develop the “Urban Park” at the Youth Olympic Games in 2018, brought together directors from several sports, local organising committee, and the IOC. Mr. Meyer also met with representatives of the Argentinian National Federation, notably President Mariano Rodriguez Giesso , and Secretary for Climbing Martin Lascano Gonzalez.

Jerome Meyer meets with Martin Lascano (2nd from left) and the FASA team

Jerome Meyer meets with FASA President Martin Lascano (2nd from left) and the team.

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2 Golds for France, Russia and Slovenia Crowd Podiums

Reza Alipourshenazandifar registered no times above six seconds, Anouck Jaubert returned to the top and Romain Desgranges and Janja Garnbret won the first Lead event of 2017 at IFSC World Cup Villars.

After rain last year in the mountain village of Villars, Switzerland, the sun shone bright this weekend for the world’s best Sport Climbing athletes. It was the third Speed and first Lead events of the 2017 season, and familiar faces were smiling on the podiums at the end of each day.

A competition recap, highlights, replays and more can be found on the Villars event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Lead Janja Garnbret Slovenia

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Lead Romain Desgranges France.jpg

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Speed Anouck Jaubert France

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Speed Reza Alipourshena Iran

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Speed Switzerland Podium Women

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Men Podium

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars Switzerland Lead Podium Women

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Asian Youth Championships Underway

Climbing has begun for the Asian Youth Championships 2017 in Singapore!

The annual event attracts the world's best Bouldering, Lead and Speed athletes under the age of 20 from the continent of Asia. This year, there were 427 registrations across all categories, the largest number ever for the Asian Youth Championships.

The event this year will act as the first qualifying event for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. The top-6-ranked athletes per gender in the Youth A category will qualify for the final round of the Combined discipline. The best ranked athletes per gender at the Combined discipline will be allocated one 1 quota place (respecting the maximum quota per gender per National Olympic Committee).

Find the competition preview, LIVE streaming links, schedule and results on the dedicated Singapore event page.

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Highest and Fastest, Lead and Speed are Back

With a break in the IFSC Bouldering World Cup before the final event in Munich, the rope climbing returns with the first Lead and third Speed events of 2017 at Villars, followed by a rematch in Lead at Chamonix.

Chamonix, France, is a staple in the IFSC World Cup series, and last year Villars welcomed top Sport Climbing athletes for a thrilling debut. This year, a new cast of world-class Lead and Speed athletes head to the renowned mountain villages to kick-off the second half of the 2017 IFSC Calendar.

Find a competition preview, schedules, starters, 2016 highlights and more on the Villars and Chamonix event pages.

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IFSC at the European Championships

The European Championships in Lead and Speed were held on the first weekend of July in Campitello di Fassa, starting off the month with an exciting competition. The event also provided the backdrop for meetings between IFSC President Marco Scolaris, and IFSC European Council President Wolfgang Wabel. Topics included the development of the European council and the upcoming joint event in Munich, which is both a World Cup and a European Championship.

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IOC Coordination Commission and Athletes Visit Proposed 2020 Site

The IOC Coordination Commission of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and local Olympic hopefuls visited the proposed site of the “urban cluster”. Coordination Commission chairman John Coates, expressed his approval for the location and suggested that following the competition, the site could be opened to the public in order to allow them to try the activities.

Sport Climber and 2016 Bouldering World Cup Season winner Tomoa Narasaki joined Mr. Coates to view the proposed site. The site, suggested to host Sport Climbing and Skateboarding, could also host the newly added discipline of BMX cycling and 3x3 Basketball. All of these sports have a large, young fan base, and opening up the site to youngsters similar to the way done in Nanjing 2014 could help inspire a new generation of athletes. John Coates suggested that there would be no better way to fulfil the Tokyo 2020 vision.

For more, please read the Olympic News here or the Inside the Games article here.

2017 IFSC Tokyo 2020 Olympics Urban Sport Venue Tomoa Narasaki

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IOC Coordination Commission and Athletes visit Proposed 2020 site

The IOC Coordination Commission of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and local Olympic hopefuls visited the proposed site of the “urban cluster”. Coordination Commission chairman John Coates, expressed his approval for the location and suggested that following the competition, the site could be opened to the public in order to allow them to try the activities.

Sport Climber and 2016 Bouldering World Cup Season winner Tomoa Narasaki joined Mr. Coates to view the proposed site.

The site, suggested to host Sport Climbing and Skateboarding, could also host the newly added discipline of BMX cycling and 3x3 Basketball. All of these sports have a large, young fan base, and opening up the site to youngsters similar to the way done in Nanjing 2014 could help inspire a new generation of athletes. John Coates suggested that there would be no better way to fulfil the Tokyo 2020 vision.

For more, please read the Inside the Games article here.

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IFSC Staff visit IOC Lausanne Offices

IFSC staff including Sport Director Jerome Meyer and Administration Director Francesca Jengo attended several meetings at the IOC offices in Lausanne on Wednesday 28th of June. These meetings were aimed at ensuring full coordination between the IFSC and the IOC in the run up to the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires 2018.

Meetings included discussions around Sport Climbing’s presence at the Youth Olympic Games as well as coordination with representatives from the IOC Sustainability Commissions and the Olympic Solidarity. Meetings provided additional information on the resources available to Athletes and National Federations through the National Olympic Committees and the IOC. Meetings on Sustainability opened doors and ideas for future projects within the IFSC to further work towards Environmental and Sustainability goals.

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Villars Media Accreditations

Speed returns and Lead climbing makes its 2017 debut next week in Villars, Switzerland, and members of the media are encouraged to attend the event.

Event media may apply here for media accreditation at IFSC Climbing World Cup Villars, taking place on July 7th-8th. Upon completing the form, the submission will be reviewed and an email granting/denying accreditation will be sent within 24 hours. Registration will be closed 1 week before the event for TVs and 2 days for other media.

Press badges and jackets may be picked up in the media corner of the competition venue starting at 8am on July 7th.  For any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Sport Climbers Active on Olympic Day

It was Olympic Day on Friday, June 23, and the Sport Climbing community joined in the celebration.

Since the first Olympic Day in 1948, the event has developed into the only annual worldwide celebration of the Olympic Movement and is a day to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. In addition to the multitude of activities organized by 108 National Olympic Committees so far across all five continents, the Olympic Movement’s digital platforms have all been in Olympic Day mode in order to reach out to its millions of fans.

Sport Climbers around the globe shared photos and videos of their #OlympicDay sporting moments on social media as well. At IFSC World Cup Navi Mumbai, athletes and organisers in India kicked off the weekend of Bouldering by together forming the olympic rings with hoola hoops.

Reigning Combined world champion Sean McColl of Canada, President of the IFSC Athletes' Commission, shared a video of his indoor climbing to commemorate the occasion, and Lead star Stefano Ghisolfi of Italy shared a previous climbing achievement in Xiamen, China.

2017 IFSC IOC Olympic Day Stefano Ghisolfi

For more information on this year's Olympic Day, please visit the IOC website here.

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Coxsey Season Champion, Wins in India with Chon

Shauna Coxsey clinched first place in the IFSC Bouldering World Cup season rankings and Jongwon Chon again joined her atop the podium at the sixth IFSC event of 2017 in Navi Mumbai.

Despite downpours outside, fans of Sport Climbing travelled this weekend to the CIDCO Exhibition Centre in Navi Mumbai, India, to witness another spectacular show of elite Bouldering. It was the second to last event of the 2017 season, with thrilling moments lasting until the very last second.

A competition recap, highlights, replays and more can be found on the Navi Mumbai event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Navi Mumbai Bouldering Finals Akiyo Noguchi

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Navi Mumbai Bouldering Finals Aleksei Rubtsov

 2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Navi Mumbai Bouldering Finals Jongwon Chon

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Navi Mumbai Bouldering Finals Miho Nonaka

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Navi Mumbai Bouldering Finals Shauna Coxsey

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Navi Mumbai Bouldering Finals Rei Sugimoto

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Position as IFSC Sport Officer Available

As the IFSC continues to grow the organisation is seeking additional staff, and is now accepting applications for the position of Sport Officer.

The successful candidate will report to the Sport Director and ensure the different Sport programmes (regulations changes and improvements, consultative groups) are conducted within the defined schedule and in collaboration with the other IFSC stakeholders (e.g. Event Officer, Technical Delegates, Administration Department, etc.).

This is a full-time position is based at the IFSC headquarters in Torino, Italy with travel to events (often at weekends) when necessary. The successful candidate will be fluent in English, IT literate and be able to work independently.

Please click here for a complete job description. Interested candidates should send all application materials to the IFSC Office (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) no later than 13th of July 2017.

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Schedule Update: IFSC World Cup Navi Mumbai

Please take note of the following changes to the schedule for IFSC World Cup Navi Mumbai.

Women's Qualifications on June 24th will now take place at 15:00. On June 25th, Semi-Finals will take place at 9:00 and Finals at 17:15. All times are local (GMT+5:30).

For the complete schedule, please visit the Navi Mumbai event page.

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Second Issue of IFSC Newsletter Released

Following the successful launch of the IFSC newsletter the second issue has been released.  This issue collects information on the decisions made at the Plenary Assembly, the Buenos Aires Youth Olympics qualification system and the beginning of the 2017 world cup circuit. Any stakeholders who wish to receive the newsletter are asked to kindly email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that they can be added to the mailing list. 

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Innsbruck Media Accreditation Opens

The media accreditation process is now open for IFSC Youth World Championships Innsbruck 2017.

The IFSC Youth World Championships this year will take place in Innsbruck, Austria, from August 30 to September 10, and representatives of the media are now encouraged to apply for accreditation.

To apply for a press-accreditation at the event, please complete the form here. Press accreditations grant use of the press center, free entry to the Opening Ceremony and all competitions, and free shuttle service from the Olympiaworld to the venue at Kletterzentrum Innsbruck.

For any questions, please contact IFSC press officer Joseph Robinson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Staff Day Held

IFSC Staff met in Aix-le-Baines on Monday, June 19th for a mid-year meeting regarding internal organisation and communication. One-on-one and group meetings were held to strengthen an understanding of achievements and needs for development. Discussions also helped to re-align staff and confirm internal strategy for the upcoming months.

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Preparation Meetings for Tokyo 2020 Continue

President Marco Scolaris and Vice-President of Sport Kobinata Toru met in Turin for a two-day meeting on June 17th and 18th. The meetings focused on preparation of the calendar in the upcoming years, as well as addressing key issues in relation to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

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Decisive Bouldering in India

Five IFSC Bouldering World Cups are completed, and elite sport climbers now head to Navi Mumbai, India, for the decisive penultimate event, where season podium placements could already be decided.

Navi Mumbai hosted the first ever IFSC Climbing World Cup in India last year, bringing star athletes from around the globe to India’s West Coast. This weekend, the event is the 6th stop of the Bouldering season, revealing much about the final rankings.

The competition preview, schedule, starters and 2016 replays and highlights can be found on the Navi Mumbai event page, and please click here for the official press release.

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Monthly Executive Board Meeting Held

The monthly Executive Board Teleconference in June took place on June 15th. Topics discussed included updates on developments regarding Tokyo 2020, alignment on the Continental Youth Championships and other qualifying events for Buenos Aires and an initial assessment of the applications for the 2018 event Calendar. In addition, Honorary Member Helmut Knabl was appointed to coordinate the Masters and Promotional events calendar.

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IFSC Officials Visit IFSC Vail World Cup

President Marco Maria Scolaris, Secretary General Debra Garwych and Marketing and Communications Director Anne Fuynel attended the Vail World Cup, hosted in the framework of the GoPro Mountain Games.  Officials met representatives from the United States Olympic Committe.  In addition, the World Cup offered an opportunity for the IFSC delegates to both see the World Cup in the United States and attend several organisational meetings.

Meetings around the World Cups focused on aligning the goals of USA climbing and the IFSC, furthering the development of Sport Climbing in USA, and strengthening relationships between the two organisations. The Vail World Cup has been a consistent event on the IFSC calendar.

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Chon and Coxsey Win at Vail, More Medals for Japan

Jongwon Chon topped all the finals problems, Shauna Coxsey returned to the top and team Japan crowded the podium again with four medals at IFSC World Cup Vail 2017!

Thousands of fans gathered outside in front of the climbing wall in Vail, Colorado, for the fifth IFSC Bouldering World Cup of the season. The athletes did not disappoint, with the podium placements coming down to the last problems of the final round.

A competition recap, highlights, replays and more can be found on the Vail event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Vail Bouldering Women Podium

 

 

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Tokyo 2020 Event Programme Confirmed

The Tokyo 2020 event programme was confirmed at an Executive Board meeting of the International Olympic Committee Friday, June 9th, 2017.

President Thomas Bach and members of the Executive Board confirmed a programme which focuses on youth, increasing gender equality and emphasising an urban sporting culture. Overall, the event programme will grow by 15 events. Central to the decisions about which events to include was gender equity, as the IOC works towards equal representation from men and women sportspeople in the Olympics. The program in 2020 will feature new women's events and team events in existing sports, including triathlon, swimming and fencing.

Commenting on the decision, IOC President Thomas Bach said “The fascinating new events that we approved today, together with the five new sports that were added to the Tokyo 2020 programme last year, represent a step-change in the Olympic programme. I am delighted that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will be more youthful, more urban and will include more women”, Bach added.

The IFSC welcomes this announcement and especially the youth-focused and urban-based additions to the event programme.

The full press release can be read here.

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First Successful LIVE streaming in China

For the first time at the IFSC World Cup Chongqing and IFSC World Cup Nanjing, the IFSC were able to successfully LIVE stream to YouTube.

This is a major step forward in the development of the sport. The IFSC is now able to offer a LIVE experience to its international community for all streamed IFSC events, including IFSC events in China. Fans can enjoy more world class Sport Climbing action in the moment, improving the attractiveness of IFSC events for stakeholders. The IFSC World Cup events in Chongqing and Nanjing were also streamed LIVE in China on www.cmaol.com with a Chinese commentary, for a full Chinese experience!

IFSC Vice President of Communication Li Zhixin (CHI) said, “I am very glad to see that IFSC World Cups were live streamed in China this season, and it is significant to promote our sport to the world. In recent years, CMA uses its own platform to live stream World Cups organized in China, and it made a breakthrough progress this year, for example Nanjing World Cup, 2 days’ live streaming received nearly 2.6 million views. At last I sincerely hope that more and more people can enjoy climbing with live streaming, and wish Sport Climbing a bright future!”

Altogether, the Bouldering and Speed events in China last month earned about 64,000 views during the IFSC LIVE streaming. Total views of all videos for the events reached about 500,000 by the 10th of May on the IFSC YouTube channel. Subscriptions to the channel also increased during the two weeks of the event: about twice as many fans subscribed in comparison to last year.

Tune-in to the IFSC homepage in October for information about LIVE streaming of the next IFSC World Cup events in China, Wujiang and Xiamen!

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Speed World Cup in Chamonix Cancelled

The IFSC Speed World Cup, originally scheduled for July 12-13th, has been cancelled.

Due to unforeseen financial circumstances, the FFME has regretfully informed the IFSC that it will not be able to host the Speed World Cup in Chamonix. The organisers advise all National Federations and Competitors that the Lead World Cup will continue as planned. It is possible that the timetable for the lead competition will be adjusted. Should there be any changes these will be made available as soon as possible.

An email update has been sent to all National Federations and the event has been removed from the calendar. Any questions or concerns can be directed to the IFSC office.

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Entre-Prises: Long-Time Partnership Continues

Working together since 2007, the IFSC and Entre-Prises have renewed their partnership.

Entre-Prises (EP), world leader in climbing walls and IFSC Official Climbing Wall Supplier, has supported the development and promotion of Sport Climbing since the early days of the IFSC and has been a major IFSC partner since 2011. After a decade, the relationship now continues with the renewal of an exclusive deal as the Official Climbing Wall Supplier until Tokyo 2020.

Get more information in the following press release and about Entre-Prises company on the dedicated page.

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Crossing Oceans to Boulder

With the close of the Asia Tour last month, top Bouldering athletes from all five continents pack their shoes and chalk bags and travel to Vail, United States, for the fifth IFSC event of the 2017 season.

Vail, Colorado, has welcomed the world’s leading Bouldering athletes to the IFSC World Cup stage for a decade now. This year, the renowned mountain town in the United States welcomes a new cast of rising stars and veteran sport climbers for its tenth event.

The competition preview, schedules, starters and 2016 highlights can be found on the Vail event page, and please click here for the official press release.

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Arnold Classic Africa 2017

Arnold Schwarzenegger had this to say when he visited the Bouldering wall: “Sport Climbing is a sport that requires full body conditioning, flexibility and strength”. He was impressed with the climbing ability as a problem was demonstrated to him.

Sport Climbing was introduced to the International Arnold Classic by Sport Unplugged, the South African National Climbing Federation (SANCF) and Gauteng Climbing for the first time in Johannesburg South Africa at the Arnold Classic Africa from the 6th to 8th, May 2017.

The Inaugural 2017 Sport Unplugged Arnold Trifecta Climbing Competition on Saturday consisted of competing on three Boulders, a Dyno Comp and a problem on the MOON Board. The Dyno Comp proved to be a favourite with the crowd and the MOON Board gave the athletes and the public climbs of hard core finger strength requiring technique. Whilst showcasing the sport, four of the routes were made easy for the public to experience first-hand the fun, thrill, strength and flexibility of Sport Climbing.

George Stainton, founder of Sport Unplugged, said that he was blown away with the success of showcasing the sport to the public and, as Sport Climbing is now at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, he sees the sport growing from strength to strength.

For more information about the event, please visit the websites of SANCF, Sport Unplugged and Arnold Classic Africa.

2017 IFSC Climbing Bouldering Arnold Classic Africa 2017 22017 IFSC Climbing Bouldering Arnold Classic Africa 2017 42017 IFSC Climbing Bouldering Arnold Classic Africa 2017 3

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A Grand Show of Bouldering

The final round of IFSC World Cup Hachioji-Tokyo 2017 gathered Sport Climbing fans from around the world for a grand show of Bouldering, and multiple distinguished guests attended the event.

Tickets were sold out on Sunday, with 2,340 spectators inside the Esforta Arena Hachioji, and the IFSC was proud to host a number of notable persons: Koichi Hagiuda, Executive Board Member Tokyo 2020 and Member of the House of Representatives; Takayuki Ishimori, Mayor of Hachioji City; and Koji Murohfushi, Sports Director Tokyo 2020.

Representatives of the Japan Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association (JMSCA) and the IFSC also watched the exciting action, including JMSCA President Kuniaki Yagihara, IFSC President Marco Scolaris, IFSC Sport Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru, IFSC Sport Director Jérôme Meyer, and IFSC Marketing and Communications Director Anne Fuynel.

Online, the LIVE streaming of finals reached more views on YouTube than any single streaming for an IFSC World Cup event. The grand finale was also broadcast on NHK BS1 and Sky A, bringing top Sport Climbing action to more viewers in Japan.

Click here to watch the full replay of finals, or get a feel for the inspirational strength and technique of the world's best Bouldering athletes by watching the highlights below.

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Workshop at Olympic Channel Headquarters

The Olympic Channel invited International Federations to attend a workshop yesterday at their Madrid headquarters, and the IFSC was pleased to participate.

The IFSC had the opportunity to be provided with the most recent updates on the Olympic Channel and to share best practices with them and other international sports federations of sports at the Summer Olympic Games. Ideas were also exchanged on how to best collaborate together to improve the quality and relevancy of video production, increase coverage worldwide and much more.

The IFSC experienced first-hand an impressive place and team (100 employees and 27 nationalities) which is actively producing, sharing and spreading Sport Climbing around the world to new audiences. In just 8 months, the fast-growing platform has already reached 2.31 million fans on Facebook, 1.7 million subscribers on YouTube and 1.1 billion video views.

Click here to watch the latest Sport Climbing news on the Olympic Channel for IFSC World Cup Hachioji-Tokyo.

2017 IFSC Olympic Channel Madrid Headquarters Workshop22017 IFSC Olympic Channel Madrid Headquarters Workshop32017 IFSC Olympic Channel Madrid Headquarters Workshop4

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New Event in China

The IFSC is pleased to announce a new Sport Climbing event for this exciting 2017 season!

Thanks to the joint effort of the IFSC and the Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA), the IFSC China Open is now confirmed for November 17th-19th, 2017.

The event will take place in Guangzhou, one of the most influential international metropolises in China. In 2016, Guangzhou hosted the IFSC Youth World Championships, an annual event gathering top young athletes from around the world in all three Sport Climbing disciplines.

The IFSC China Open will showcase Boulder, Lead and Speed as well. A combined ranking under the Olympic format will be calculated. For each discipline, the following athletes will be automatically selected to the Event:
• 10 best athletes of the World Ranking
• 2 best Chinese athletes (selected by the CMA)
• 8 athletes selected for the finals rounds from the Open event held the previous day

Please stay tuned to the dedicated event page for further updates.

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Preparation Meetings with the Tokyo Olympic Organising Committee

The first preparation meeting between TOCOG (Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games), the IFSC and the JMSCA - Japanese Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association - took place in Tokyo on May 8 and 9. The IFSC team was led by IFSC President Marco Scolaris and the JMSCA delegation was headed President Mr. Yagihara Kuniaki, while IFSC Vice-President Mr. Toru Kobinata attended the meeting in his function of Sport Manager for the TOCOG Sport Department for Sport Climbing.

The two-day meeting included an inspection to the Odaiba area for the preparation of the Sport Climbing Event to be held at Tokyo 2020. Representatives visited the venue and met the main authorities to discuss the progress made and developments still ongoing.

IFSC Sport Director Jerome Meyer, Marketing and Communication Director Anne Fuynel, Technical Delegates Christophe Billon and Graeme Alderson, who previously attended the Bouldering World Cup in Hachioji, attended the meeting as well, while on the JMSCA side Vice-Chairman Yoshio Ogata, Secretary General/Director Hitoshi Onodera, and Yuji Hirayama, from the JMSCA Sport Climbing Commission joined also the meeting.

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4 Medals for Japan, Garnbret and Rubtsov on Top

Japanese athletes earned 4 medals in front of their home crowd, Janja Garnbret won her second Gold of the season and Aleksei Rubtsov returned to the top at the fourth IFSC Bouldering World Cup of 2017.

Tickets were sold out and fans were waiting outside the entrance of the Esforta Arena Hachioji on Sunday morning for the opening of the fourth IFSC Bouldering World Cup in Hachioji-Tokyo, Japan. In the end, two regular finalists won Gold, and Japanese athletes delighted with many strong performances.

A competition recap, highlights, replays and more can be found on the Hachioji-Tokyo event page.

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Large Crowds for Sport Climbing in Hachioji-Tokyo

The Opening Ceremony of the fourth IFSC Bouldering World Cup took place yesterday, and a large crowd arrived to the Esforta Arena Hachioji to kick-off a weekend of world-class climbing.

IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris attended the Opening Ceremony in Hachioji and was joined by the Mayor of Hachioji, Takayuki Ishimori, and the President of the Japan Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Association, Kuniaki Yagihara.

Tune-in to the IFSC homepage at 14:30 (GMT+9) for the LIVE streaming of Finals!

 

Top to bottom: Takayuki Ishimori, Mayor of Hachioji, and Kuniaki Yagihara, President of the Japan Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Association, speak during the Opening Ceremony for IFSC World Cup Hachioji-Tokyo 2017 on Saturday.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Hachioji Tokyo Opening Ceremony Mayor2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Hachioji Tokyo Opening Ceremony JMA President

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Bouldering on NHK and Sky A

IFSC World Cup Hachioji-Tokyo will be broadcast in Japan on NHK and Sky A!

Starting at 7:00pm (GMT+9) on Sunday, May 7th, NHK BS1 and Sky A will broadcast the grand finale of the fourth IFSC Bouldering World Cup of 2017, bringing the best climbing in Hachioji-Tokyo to more fans of Sport Climbing. NHK G (terrestrial) will also broadcast the full replay of finals on Tuesday, May 9th, at 1:45am.

In addition, NHK BS1 will also be producing a TV program called Sports Innovation with Hachioji World Cup. Sports Innovation is a TV series which analyzes sports using a scientific approach. This is the second-time Sport Climbing will be included, and this edition will analyze the complex movements of the elite Bouldering athletes competing this weekend with 3D data of the walls and holds.

NHK acquired terrestrial and BS rights in 2016, broadcasting programmes of the IFSC climbing season mainly on its NHK BS satellite channel. NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) is Japan's only public broadcaster.

Get excited for the upcoming action by watching NHK’s teaser for IFSC World Cup Hachioji-Tokyo here.

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More Records Broken in China!

Reza Alipourshenazandifar and Iuliia Kaplina set new Speed world records and won Gold at IFSC World Cup Nanjing this weekend, and Shauna Coxsey and Keita Watabe topped the podium in Bouldering.

After the first stop of the Asian Tour at IFSC World Cup Chongqing last weekend, the best Bouldering and Speed athletes in the world travelled east to Nanjing, China. The temperatures were high again this weekend, but the athletes rose to the challenge!

A competition recap, highlights, replays and more can be found on the Nanjing event page.

 2017 IFSC World Cup Nanjing Bouldering Podium Men

2017 IFSC World Cup Nanjing Speed Podium Women2

2017 IFSC World Cup Nanjing Speed Podium Men2

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Sport Climbing's Best on Olympic Channel

Visit the Olympic Channel to watch crux moves, thrilling tops and world record races of the world's best Sport Climbing athletes!

With cooperation of the IFSC, the Olympic Channel continues to bring exciting moments of Sport Climbing to a new audience.

Current coverage on the Sport Climbing page includes highlights of IFSC events, a dedicated section for the IFSC World Championships in Paris last year, in-depth athlete spotlights and more. On social media, the Olympic Channel has showcased rising stars and key moments, including the Facebook video of Marcin Dzienski's victory in Paris that has reached over 5.7 million views.

More videos are on the way, and current projects include an inside look at climbing in Japan, inspiring stories of IFSC competitors and Sport Climbing athletes to watch for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 and Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Watch their trailer for IFSC World Cup Hachioji-Tokyo below, and follow the Olympic Channel on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube for all the latest action!

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Chongqing Makes History!

Last weekend in Chongqing, for the first time in IFSC history, an IFSC World Cup in China was streamed LIVE on the IFSC YouTube channel!

This is a major step forward in the development of the sport. The IFSC is now able to offer a LIVE experience to its international community for all streamed IFSC events, including IFSC events in China. Fans can enjoy more world class sport climbing action in the moment, improving the attractiveness of IFSC events for stakeholders. IFSC World Cup Chongqing was also streamed LIVE in China on www.cmaol.com with a Chinese commentary, for a full Chinese experience!

The same solution will be used for the upcoming IFSC World Cup in Nanjing, and for other IFSC events held in China. The IFSC worked hand in hand with the CMA (Chinese Mountaineering Association) to find a reliable and sustainable solution.

Tune-in to the IFSC homepage on April 30th for LIVE semi-finals and finals of IFSC World Cup Nanjing!

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World Record, First-Time Wins at Chongqing!

Iuliia Kaplina broke her own Speed world record this weekend in Chongqing, China, and her Russian teammate Vladislav Deulin stood atop the Speed podium for the first time. Decorated athlete Janja Garnbret won her first Gold in Bouldering, and Jongwon Chon returned to the top of the podium.

The bustling municipality of Chongqing welcomed a strong and fast group of elite sport climbing athletes to its Climbing Park for the first IFSC Speed World Cup and second IFSC Bouldering World Cup of 2017.

A competition recap, highlights, replays and more can be found on the Chongqing event page.

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chongqing Bouldering Men Podium

 2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chongqing Speed Finals Iuliia Kaplina

2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup Chongqing Speed Finals Vladislav Deulin

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LIVE Streaming for Chongqing!

After the successful test of a new solution today, the IFSC is pleased to announce there will be LIVE streaming on YouTube of IFSC Climbing World Cup Chongqing!

Please tune-in to the IFSC homepage on Sunday to watch the Bouldering Semi-Finals at 9:30, Speed Finals at 14:30 and Bouldering Finals at 18:00 (GMT+8). More information about the event can be found on the Chongqing event page.

Join us in the chat on Twitter by adding #IFSCwc to your tweets!

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Strength and Speed in China!

This month, more than 100 of the best Sport Climbing athletes will put on a display of speed and strength at the heart of two thriving Chinese municipalities.

China has been hosting world-class international Sport Climbing events for years, and the Asia Tour is now a staple in the IFSC World Cup series. Chongqing and Nanjing again host the first stage this year, welcoming multiple season champions for back-to-back Bouldering and Speed events.

The IFSC has been working hard to bring LIVE streaming of its Chinese events to fans on YouTube, and on Saturday a new solution will be tested for IFSC World Cup Chongqing. Please stay tuned to the IFSC homepage for updates on the LIVE shows!

The competition preview, schedules, starters and replays can be found on the Chongqing and Nanjing event pages, and please click here for the official press release.

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Climbing to Peace

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) took place on April 6, and the sport climbing community continued their support for the Peace and Sport movement.

The IDSDP is the annual UN-recognised celebration of the contribution of sport and physical activity to education, human development, healthy lifestyles and a peaceful world. This year sport leaders, and governmental and non-governmental organizations engaged in an unprecedented number of concrete transformative actions and sport-based initiatives. More than 630 projects in 180 countries from five different continents were registered on the www.april6.org platform.

In addition, the 2017 #WhiteCard campaign successfully portrayed the universality of sport and brought together diverse groups of people. Altogether, more than 43 million people were reached with the campaign and inspired by the values of sport. National Federation members of the IFSC held up white cards at the IFSC Plenary Assembly in Quebec, and IFSC athletes raised their own white cards during the opening ceremony of the first 2017 IFSC World Cup in Meirengen, Switzerland.

2017 IFSC Peace and Sports International Day of Sport for Development and Peace Climbing Life 3

IFSC athletes raise their white cards at IFSC World Cup Meiringen 2017.

Each year, the IFSC highlights participation in the movement on the Climbing Life facebook page as well. The theme this year was "we can't stop the earthquakes, but we can stop the wars." Following the destructive earthquakes in Italy, the IFSC showcased The Sport Science University of Perugia, Italy, which provides lessons with partner universities around the world about the role of sports teachers in integration and peace processes, and which also opened graducation sessions on April 6 with a presentation on Peace and Sport and collaboration projects.

"Climbing Life is a symbolic event that gives people the opportunity to share their experiences, to join new friends, to know that there is a day and forum for Peace and Sport, all without costs," said IFSC Honorary Member Paola Gigliotti. "Moreover, it is real work that involves a lot of sport friends, and every year we await April 6 as a present that we both receive and give."

IFSC staff and the IFSC Executive Board hold up their white cards at the 2017 IFSC Plenary Assembly. 
2017 IFSC Peace and Sports International Day of Sport for Development and Peace Climbing Life 4

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IFSC Official Statement

It was made a mistake and we apologize for that.

The live streaming for IFSC will remain free of charge, the same as it was at the 1st World Cup in Meiringen, Switzerland and in previous years.

The deal - despite having been announced - has not been signed and thus has not been concluded.

Any possible future variation of this policy will be discussed inside the IFSC and subject to the approval of our key stakeholders.

Let's keep climbing together.

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Monthly Executive Board meeting

The Monthly Meeting of the IFSC Executive Board takes place today at 14:00 GMT+2, and among the topics to be discussed is the IFSC live streaming strategy.

Please visit the IFSC website at 15:00 for an official statement. A press release will follow tomorrow.

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New IWGA Website

In the run-up to The Worlds Games 2017, the International World Games Association has updated its website.

The new website is specifically planned to serve before and during The World Games as a user-friendly place to find all necessary information for the athletes, officials, federations, spectators and media. While The World Games are on, it will be easy to follow the results, photos and videos via one webpage.

Check out the new page here!

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Coxsey Repeats, Fujii Back on Top

Shauna Coxsey bounced back from her 2016 injury with a sweep of all four finals problems at IFSC Bouldering World Cup Meiringen, and Kokoro Fujii returned to the top of the podium with three crucial bonus holds.

After hosting the first event last year, Meiringen opened 2017 with another fantastic show of sport climbing. Elite athletes from around the globe pushed themselves to the limit until the very end, giving an exciting window into their form this season.

Highlights, replays, results and more can be found on the Meiringen event page.

 

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Live Streaming Talks Continue

The monthly meeting of the IFSC Executive Board takes place on Wednesday, and IFSC live streaming strategy will be among the discussions.

IFSC athletes put on another spectacular show of sport climbing for the first 2017 IFSC World Cup in Meiringen, and preparations for the next events continue this week.

Various possibilities for the live streaming of IFSC events will be discussed throughout the week with the stakeholders to make sure the IFSC continue to promote both Athletes and Events in the best way.

More to come in the coming days.

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Meiringen Live Streaming on IFSC YouTube Channel

IFSC Bouldering World Cup Meiringen will be live streamed on the IFSC YouTube channel and on the IFSC homepage.

FloSports will give a full refund to those who have already subscribed.

Tune-in April 8 at 11:00 for Semi-Finals and 18:30 for Finals (GMT+2), and enjoy the first IFSC World Cup of the 2017 season!

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Meiringen World Cup Free of Charge

The IFSC is entering into a partnership with FloSports, that would grant this young company live streaming rights.

FloSports formulated an offer to consumers, that is now under review, considering comments and recommendations that were received. FloSports made a first reformulation of their offer, that will guarantee a free of charge view of the upcoming event in Meiringen. In the next days, further talks will occur in order to provide the best possible offer for the next months.

For the free trial of IFSC World Cup Meiringen, please stay tuned for further details.

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IFSC and FloSports Sign Online Streaming Deal

The IFSC has signed a 3-year deal with US-based streaming company Flosports to bring IFSC Climbing World Cup events to its Floclimbing platform.

FloClimbing, which is a subscription based online service, will offer all of IFSC’s events in 2017-2019, starting with this weekend’s IFSC Bouldering World Cup event, which takes place in Meiringen, Switzerland, plus original documentaries on the sport’s iconic athletes, as well as technique breakdowns, breaking news, highlights, interviews and more.

Please click here for the complete press release. For more information on watching IFSC events on FloClimbing, please see below.

How To Watch IFSC World Cup - Meiringen

On TV:Available on Roku and Apple TV 4 -- Download the FloSports app now.
Streaming: Only on FloSports with a PRO subscription. A yearly PRO subscription provides access to ALL FloSports sites.Join Now

Archived Competition Footage

During the weekend, archived footage from the competition will be stored in a video library for FloPRO subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

Join FloPRO now for access to the best climbing content on the planet! Get live streams, original documentaries, technique videos and more.

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IFSC Confirmed as ASOIF Associate Member

The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) General Assembly today confirmed the IFSC as an Associate Member.

The meeting was headed by President of the ASOIF Francesco Ricci Bitti and took place during the Sport Accord Convention in Aarhus, Denmark. This move, following the addition of Sport Climbing to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, allows the IFSC to continue to build relationships with other International Federations and voice its views and concerns on topics of International Sport and the Olympics.

The International Federations of the other four additional sports in Tokyo; the International Surfing Association, World Karate Federation, International Softball Federation and the International Baseball Federation; have also been approved as Associate Members.

The IFSC looks forward to fruitful collaborations with the ASOIF.

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Olympic Channel to Broadcast World Games

The Olympic Channel and the International World Games Association (IWGA) today announced a cooperation agreement which includes media rights to The World Games 2017.

As part of the agreement, the Olympic Channel will live stream daily coverage from the 10th edition of The World Games, which take place 20-30 July, in Wroclaw, Poland.

“We are excited to work with the International World Games Association to showcase their premier event,” said Mark Parkman, general manager of the Olympic Channel. “The World Games are a great way to provide additional exposure to these growing sports and introduce new sports to our audiences.”

For the full announcement, please click here.

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Sport Accord Convention Underway

This week, the IFSC joins over 100 international sports federations and association members for high-level talks and networking in Aarhus, Denmark, host of the 2017 SportAccord Convention.

The SportAccord Convention is the world’s premier and most exclusive annual event at the service of sport. It is focused on driving positive change internationally and dedicated to engaging and connecting; rights holders, organising committees, cities, press and media, businesses and other organisations involved in the development of sport.

IFSC President Marco Scolaris, Sport Director Jérôme Meyer and Administration Director Francesca Jengo are participating at this year's edition, which includes specifically designed conferences and workshops, the Annual General Meeting of the IWGA, and General Assemblies and Working Meetings of ARISFASOIF and SportAccord.

For daily event updates, please click here.

2017 Sport Accord2

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Meiringen Media Accreditations

Media representatives, don't forget to register for accreditation before it's too late!

IFSC Climbing World Cup Meiringen is fast approaching, and event media are encouraged to register for accreditation online. Upon completing the form, the submission will be reviewed and an email granting/denying accreditation will be sent within 24 hours.

As a reminder, registration will be closed 1 week before the event for TVs and 2 days for other media. For any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Qualified Athletes for The World Games

Dozens of Sport Climbing champions will be in Wroclaw on July 21st-23rd for The World Games 2017. Find out who made the cut!

Athletes were selected from a variety of IFSC and continental events, and an additional quota was alloted to Poland, the host nation. For the complete list, please click here.

Among the qualified athletes looking forward to Wroclaw is Janja Garnbret, a reigning world champion, youth world champion and IFSC Lead World Cup season winner!

2017 IFSC World Games Wroclaw Qualified Athlete Janja Garnbret

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IFSC Officials Meet in Torino

IFSC Officials came together last weekend for their first official meeting since the Olympic announcement.

Meeting in Turino, the Judges, Routesetters and Jury members met to discuss changes in rules and regulations, progress in ongoing Sport Projects, and to outline the goals for the future.

An additional space was also provided for Routesetters and Judges to exchange thoughts on the 2016 season and discuss the technical changes being implemented this year.

 

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Bouldering is Back!

Raw fingers and exhausted muscles, dynamic and technical crux moves, screams of effort and tears of joy, it all returns next week at the first IFSC Climbing World Cup of 2017! The best Bouldering athletes from around the world will put their off-season training to the test in Meiringen, Switzerland.

Meiringen opened 2016 with a spectacular show at the Haslital Climbing Center, with the mountains of the Swiss Alps surrounding. This year marks the first season after Olympics inclusion for Sport Climbing, heightening the anticipation even more for the debut. How will things change? Which athletes will come back stronger than ever? Meiringen is the first test!

Visit the event page for a competition preview, 2016 highlights and more.

More information can be found in the official press release.

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IOC Announces New Initiative on Gender Equality

On March 16 Thomas Bach announced a “major review project regarding Gender Equality in the Olympic Movement”. The project, a joint endeavour by the IOC’s Women in Sport and Athletes’ Commissions will be conducted by a working group and assess the state of Gender Equality in the Olympic Movement using five themes.

These five themes are: Sport, Portrayal, Funding, Governance and Human Resources.

Marisol Casado, the Working Group Chair for the Project, believes “by having the IOC, the IFs and the NOCs working together on this project, we will share best practices as well as address the obstacles facing gender equality in sport to produce solutions. I am confident our recommendations will make significant advancements”.

The IFSC is a young organisation which is proud of the gender equity displayed both in its events and in the staff and board.  Athlete numbers are approximately even and the IFSC has comparatively high female representation on the Executive Board (20%) when considered along other Olympic Federations.  It also publically demonstrates its commitment to gender equity through its logo, adopted in March 2015, which consciously pairs two colours traditionally associated with the sexes. However, the IFSC Executive Board recognises that there is still a significant journey ahead, especially considering female representation in National Federation decision making bodies, in Coaching and in Route setting. To this end a workshop was held at the IFSC Plenary Assembly in Quebec on March 10th, considering these topics and providing participants with a step-by-step plan to address the issues they identified within their own federations.

The IFSC welcomes the work being done in the IOC, and hopes that this is the beginning of a fruitful exchange of ideas and strategies to strengthen the role of women in sport.

 

For the full press release regarding the IOC project, please click here.

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A Debrief from the President

IFSC President Marco Scolaris shares on the positive ambience, Olympics discussions, Board elections and more of the 2017 IFSC Plenary Assembly.

"This year’s Plenary Assembly in Quebec was exactly what we envisioned," said the IFSC President. "Climbing Escalade Canada (CEC) and the Fédération Québécoise de la Montagne et de l’Escalade (FQME) did a fantastic job, organising all aspects of the event and one of the best PA ever. Our President of the PanAmerican Council, Maria Izquierdo, and her team were the perfect hosts."

Regarding the Olympics, Mr. Scolaris said, "It was the 10th anniversary of the founding of the IFSC, and we celebrated with the richest discussion on the Olympics. We were glad to take decisions together on two key topics: the Olympic Format to be adopted and the main concept of the Qualification System approved at the PA, which will be worked on with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) once they release their Qualification Principles. This concept is that Athletes will qualify through Combined (Olympic format) events only."

The IFSC President also shared his thoughts on the IFSC Executive Board change: "It was a pleasure to recognize this devotion [of Helmut Knabl] during the PA, which voted to present him with the title of IFSC “Honorary Member.” Now filling his position [as IFSC Vice-President Sports/Events] will be Kobinata Toru of the Japanese Mountaineering Association (JMA), who has already contributed in so many ways...We also welcomed new President of the Oceania Council, Romain Thevenot: his enthusiasm will surely boost the growth in this region."

Please click here for the complete press release.

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New Board Elected, Olympic Selection Events Confirmed

At the beginning of March 2017 a new board was elected for the Pan-American Council. The board now comprises:

Maria Izquierdo President
Secretary general: Chris Danielson
Members at large Marcello Romillo and Martin Lascano Gonzalez.

In addition, it was confirmed that the Pan-American Youth Championships will be held in Montreal in September 2017. This will be a qualifying event for the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games in 2018.

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IFSC Welcomes New Staff

The IFSC is pleased to welcome Alessandro Di Cato, who is joining the Sport Department as Event Officer. He will be reporting to the Sport Director and overseeing the coordination of IFSC Departments and other IFSC internal and external stakeholders in the run up to Events.

Alessandro is Italian and will be based at the IFSC headquarters in Torino. After earning his Master’s Degree in Economics and Management, he gained experience studying and working abroad for the past three years, most recently in France for Systemd. In that time, he supported various facets of IFSC operations and attended multiple IFSC events.

Francesca Jengo, Director of Administration comments, "The IFSC is confident that Alessandro’s contribution will help the organisation continue to grow and develop at a time where it faces new and Olympic challenges".

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Helmut Knabl Appointed Honorary Member

At the Plenary Assembly this year, Helmut Knabl resigned from his position as Vice-President of Sports and Events.

A dedicated climber and mountain rescue officer, Helmut has been climbing since his early teens. He is a professional teacher at the Sport Climbing school in Imst and has worked closely with his community to promote sustainability and safety in climbing and to host a wide variety of events, including four Youth World Championships (1997,2001, 2006 and 2011). Tirelessly devoted to the sport,  he was thanked by President Marco Scolaris with a plaque of recognition. In addition to this Austria Climbing President Dr. Eugen Burtscher proposed and the Plenary Assembly voted to present him with the title of “Honorary Member” of the IFSC.

Speaking after this honor, it was clear that this is not the end of Helmut’s relationship with climbing. Although he will no longer represent the sport in the same way, he hopes to continue to contribute. "I have given many hours to serving the IFSC and Sport Climbing, but what they have given me is even greater. The relationship has changed, but it is never over."

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1st Meeting of New IFSC Board and Councils

Sunday 14th saw the first meeting of the new IFSC Executive Board after the elections at the Plenary Assembly for the term 2017-2021.

President Marco Maria Scolaris (ITA), Secretary General Debra Gawrych (USA), Vice-President Finances Pierre-Henri Paillasson (FRA) and Vice-President Communications Li Zhixin (CHN) were re-elected. Kobinata Toru (JPN) was elected Vice-President Sport/Events as Helmut Knabl stepped down after many years of dedicated service to the IFSC and the sport. Helmut Knabl was subsequently awarded with Honorary Membership of the IFSC for his tireless work to promote Sport Climbing.

Previously Continental Councils had elected Anthony Seah (SIN) for another term as President of the IFSC Asian Council, Wolfgang Wabel (GER) as President of the IFSC European Council and Maria Izquierdo (CAN) as President of the IFSC PanAmerican Council. In January, the Oceania Council had elected Romain Thevenot (AUS) President of the IFSC Oceania Council. Sean McColl (CAN) had been elected to continue serving as President of the IFSC Athletes Commission at the World Championships in Paris in September.

Further changes happened within the Continental Councils. The IFSC Oceania council not only chose a new president but also grew the council from three to six members. Other new members on the Oceania Council include Naomi Cleary (AUS) as Secretary and Sarah Hay (NZD) and Pierre Caubert (New Caledonia) as Ordinary Officers.

The Asian Continental Council elected Somboon Uthaiviankul (THA) as 1st Vice-President and Rasip Isnin as Vice-President of Projects. The work of the Council continues to be supported by a strong sport department, which is now composed of Okano Hiroshi (JPN), Zhao Lei (CHN), Artimes Fashadyganeh (IRI), Stanley Yeo (SIN) and Maman Hermansyah (INA).

Both the PanAmerican Council and the European Council had their Plenary Assemblies and hosted elections alongside the IFSC Plenary Assembly in Quebec. The Pan-American Council elected Chris Danielson as Secretary General and added Marcello Romillo and Martin Lascano Gonzales (both ARG) as Members at large.

In Europe, Maiike Romijn (NED) joins the Executive Board as Secretary General, Alain Carriere (FRA), Arkadiuz Kaminski (POL) and Vincenzo Adinolfi (ITA) were elected Board Members.

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Quebec Continues the Adventure

Olympic Format discussions, talks about the future of Sport Climbing in Canada, gender equality workshops and more took place this week at the 12th annual IFSC Plenary Assembly in Quebec City.

Hosted by Climbing Escalade Canada (CEC) and the Fédération Québécoise de Montagne et d’Escalade (FQME), this year’s meeting brought together about 100 delegates representing 44 National Federations to prepare for 2017 and discuss key topics for our sport.

During the press conference following the Plenary Assembly on Saturday, initial information was announced on the Olympic Format for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018. For the full announcement, please click here.

Please click here for the official IFSC press release.

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New Workshops Popular in Quebec

The IFSC Executive Board continues its meeting today while Delegates of the National Federations discuss Gender Equity and National Federation’s Olympic futures.

National Federation Workshops continued in the morning with an interactive meeting on Gender Equity in Sport. The workshop was led by Guylaine Demers, PhD, prominent researcher, writer and advisor on issues of women in sport and Maaike Romijn, Board member of the Dutch Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (NKBV). The speakers focused on identifying problems and developing solutions within different levels of Climbing organisations. Participants left the workshop with the first steps of a personal action plan, and with many new ideas of how organisations can promote or achieve higher female representation in leadership and coaching positions.

Continental Council meetings were followed by a workshop led by Jean-Laurent Bourquin, a Sport Executive with more than 25 years of experience of which 17 years were gained within the IOC. An expert in cross-cultural management at the highest level of Sports Organisations, Mr. Bourquin focused on the opportunities that come with the inclusion of Sport Climbing in the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and the support which is available from National Olympic Committees.

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Meetings start in Quebec

The IFSC Executive Board convene in Quebec today while 44 National Federations participate in a series of events and workshops. The Annual Plenary Assembly will be held on Saturday. Prior to this Delegates will be able to build meaningful relationships, engage in discussions and learn from presenters through planned workshops.

While the Executive Board meets today, the National Federations take part in two workshops, “Organising an International Event” and a networking event.

Kobinata Toru, Vice President East Asia of the IFSC Asian Council, will lead the first workshop with Kynan Waggoner, Chief Executive Officer at USA Climbing and Vincent Caussé, Director of Competition Department at the FFME. The three experienced individuals introduce three different approaches used in different countries to organise international competitions. Presenter Vincent Caussé says, “With this workshop we are trying to share practical information and our experiences; it is very interesting to see how each country has a different approach to organising events.” Kynan Waggoner adds, “It is an honour to present alongside Kobi and Vincent today”.

At 16.00 Delegates are welcomed to a networking event which allow delegates of National Federations to discuss common issues or concerns, approaches to organising events, etc. This will be run by Fréderic Marois, Sustainable Energy Advisor with the local government in Québec. The IFSC is strongly interested in providing a space for individuals from different organisations across the world to connect and feels that this is a great opportunity for everyone to exchange their ideas and experiences.

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Walter Sieber to Attend Plenary Assembly

Walter Sieber, Board Member of the Canadian Olympic Committee and member of the International Olympic Committee's Program Commission, will be in Quebec City on March 11th to make an address during the IFSC Plenary Assembly and attend the following press conference.

For more information or to register for the press conference, please contact Aurélie Suberchicot at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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CCTV5 to show 2016 Season Highlights

The Chinese broadcaster, CCTV5, will broadcast IFSC 26 minute highlight programs of the 2016 season starting from this week.

These highlights showcase 2016 IFSC competitions with a special focus on the World Championships held in Paris last September and the Youth World Championships held in Guangzhou last November.

Thanks to the Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA), this new broadcaster increases the reach of the programs to 131 different countries. 

Highlights programs are each 26 minutes long and are produced monthly between May and December. CCTV5 is the first channel in China to show the highlights, and increases the reach of the programs to 131 different countries. CCTV5 is part of the national broadcasting network and the main sports broadcaster in China. It covers a wide range of sports and competitions around the globe. 

The IFSC is very proud of this development and hopes that this coverage will help attract more people to the sport.

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Austria, Russia Excel in Sochi

Russia finished with 4 medals and Austria claimed 3 at the 3rd CISM World Winter Games 2017.

The Winter Military World Games is a multi-sports event organised for military athletes once every four years. This time, the event was held in Sochi, Russia, from February 22nd to February 28th, providing an early look into the form of Bouldering, Lead and Speed athletes before the IFSC Climbing World Cup season.

Austrian climbing stars Jessica Pilz and Jakob Shubert dominated in Lead, Pilz and outsider Vadim Timonov took home Gold in Bouldering, and Speed world champion Anna TsyganovaSergei Luzhetskii and Frenchman Guillaume Moro raced to victories in Speed.

For the full summary, please visit the official event page.

2017 IFSC CISM World Winter Games Anna Tsyganova Russia Podium

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2017 Media Registration Opens

The IFSC is pleased to welcome media to a new season of competition climbing!

The 2017 season starts in less than 6 weeks, and the IFSC has officially launched the media accreditation process. Local and international media are encouraged to apply.

All media at IFSC events may register via the online media accreditation form. This form has been redefined and simplified for ease of use, and new events are on the schedule.

Each media will receive an email confirming the application has been received, and another email granting/denying accreditation. After confirming an accreditation, the IFSC will send further information as the events approach. Registration will be closed 1 week before the event for TVs and 2 days for other media.

For the full press release, please click here.

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Gender Equality through Sport

The United Nations in Geneva and International Gender Champions host a workshop today in preparation for a Women in Sport Celebration. Anne Fuynel, Director of Marketing and Communications will represent the IFSC and join delegates from other sports organizations in contributing ideas and experience towards the event and towards development strategies.

Along with many other sports organizations, the IFSC has expressed its commitment to the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development. One of the key goals of this Agenda is Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. Working towards this aim, there will be a workshop focusing on this topic in the scope of the 2017 IFSC Plenary Assembly.

The IFSC is proud of an unusually high percentage of female athletes and female representation on the Executive Board and in the staff. It strives to empower women both in competition and within the organization.

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World Class Climbing

The 3rd CISM World Winter Games open today, and soon elite Sport Climbing athletes will be testing their strength, speed and stamina.

The Winter Military World Games is a multi-sports event organised for military athletes once every four years (one year prior to holding the Winter Olympic Games). This year, the event will be held in Sochi, Russia, from February 22nd to February 28th.

Starting on Friday, twelve thousand fans will be able to watch world class Bouldering, Lead and Speed climbing inside the Bolshoi Ice Dome of Olympic Park. Among the competitors will be Russian athlete Anna Tsyganova, the reigning Speed world champion.

Please visit the official event website for more information, and stay tuned to the IFSC event page for updated results.

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IFSC launches Newsletter

Stay up to date! In order to inform members, stakeholders and other interested partners about the happenings in the IFSC, the IFSC launched a Newsletter this February.

This newsletter will be available quarterly and the first edition features extended comments from President Scolaris and Secretary General Debra Gawrych on the 10 Year Anniversary of the IFSC.

Read the first edition here and subscribe by clicking the button in the top left corner.

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Issue 1 - Sport Climbing Around the World

More athletes than ever participated at IFSC events last year from all over the globe. The IFSC Climbing and Paraclimbing World Championships in Paris saw 533 athletes register from 53 countries spanning all 5 continents, and the IFSC Youth World Championships in Guangzhou had even greater participation. Season winners of the IFSC Climbing World Cup series give a good feel for the spread of the competition…athletes from six countries claimed 8 titles in 2016!

Slovenia

IFSC Janja Garnbret Domen SkoficJanja Garnbret (Lead + Combined)
Domen Skofic (Lead)
Slovenia topped the National Team Ranking in Lead, and these two athletes led the way. Janja was especially busy as she won one medal after another, including Gold at Guangzhou and Paris!

 

Japan

IFSC Tomoa Narasaki

Tomoa Narasaki (Bouldering)
Team Japan was particularly strong during the Bouldering events this year. Tomoa’s superb season was further recognized through a nomination for the Sahi Bikku Sports Award, a distinguished honor also given to medalists from the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics Games!

Great Britain

2017 IFSC Digimag 1 Shauna

Shauna Coxsey (Bouldering)
Shauna reminds us that a key element of training and recovery is having fun, like performing acrobatic antics with teammate Leah Crane. We wonder if this personality came across in her meeting with the Queen, when she received an MBE for her contribution to Sport Climbing!

Poland

Marcin Dzienski (Speed)
After being dubbed “the Usain Bolt of Speed Climbing” by the Olympic Channel, Marcin practically shot to fame overnight. Of course, winning in Paris in front of thousands also helped!

Russia

2017 IFSC Digimag 1 Iuliia

Iuliia Kaplina (Speed)
Iuliia not only became the season Speed champion, she was also awarded a Master Event title and travelled across the world.  Her joy in discovering new things is infectious and uplifting!

Canada

IFSC Sean Mccoll

Sean McColl (Combined)
The IFSC Athletes’ Commission President is well known as an advocate for all Sport Climbing disciplines. He is also a social media expert and Ninja Warrior in training!

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Issue 1 - Spotlight on Edinburgh

Edinburgh hosts its first IFSC World Cup since 2003 on September 23-24th this year and takes on a double challenge, featuring both Lead and Speed.


Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, affectionately known as ‘Ratho’ by climbers, is set in an old quarry used to make the paving stones of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Modern climbing walls have been set against the rock faces and roofed over to dramatic effect. Many top Sport Climbers know and love EICA Ratho as they have grown up taking part in the IFSC European and Youth World competitions that Edinburgh has been hosting since 2005. Now it is time to get serious with the First Senior World Cup since 2003.

There are some top local contenders; Edinburgh resident William Bosi learned to climb at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena recently came overall 2nd in the 2016 Youth World Championships in China, and will be competing for Team GB. Shauna Coxsey is also likely to make an appearance as she applies her incredible strength and technique to the Lead and Speed disciplines, broadening her skillset in preparation for Tokyo.

Other Scottish climbers such as Jonathan Stocking were podium finishers in British Lead Climbing Championships and should make the team selection for the World Cup, adding to the local faces at the competition.

Nic Crawshaw

Event Organizer


Edinburgh Figures:

+EICA Ratho Opened in 2003.

+Highest wall is 28 m.

+About 62 outdoor sites.


Learn More:

www.facebook.com/EICA.Ratho

www.twitter.com/eicaratho

www.edinburghleisure.co.uk

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Issue 1 - Plenary Assembly in "La Belle Provence"

The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) will hold its 12th Plenary Assembly on March 11th in Quebec City, at the Delta Hotel. This event, organised in collaboration with Climbing Escalade Canada (CEC) and the Fédération Québécoise de Montagne et d’Escalade (FQME), will be combined with the European, Asian and Pan American General Assemblies on March 10th 2017.

Apart from the major events that are the ISFC’s and the European and Pan-American Continental Councils’ assemblies, a new formula is being proposed this year with a series of workshops and conferences for the directors and administrators of the National Federations. Topics include the organisation and promotion of major events, equity in sports (specifically climbing), and the challenges and opportunities coming with the Olympics. Presenters will include Kimanda Jarzebiak, communications consultant and principal of Ascent Public Affairs, and Guylaine Demers, professor at the Department of Physical Education of Laval University, who specialised in equity issues in sport.

Climbing Escalade Canada (CEC) is the federation responsible for climbing competition in Canada. The official Canadian IFSC member since April 2016, the CEC has developed a new structure and orientation for competitive Sport Climbing in Canada. It works closely with provincial federations, including the FQME, Quebec’s provincial federation created in 1969.


Quebec Figures:

+About 15,000 climbers currently climbing in Quebec Provence.

+20 dedicated climbing centres, of which 4 opened in 2016.

+About 62 outdoor sites


Learn More:

www.fqme.qc.ca

www.climbingcanada.ca

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Issue 1 - Letter from the Secretary General

2017 IFSC Digimag 1 DebbieEarly 2007, the members of the founding International Federation of Sport Climbing gathered in Frankfurt, Germany to vote in the new charter, by-laws and statutes of the new IFSC. We had all been involved for varying lengths of time: some from the very beginning of the ICC (International Council for Competition Climbing) and some, like myself, becoming involved later.

What impressed me most at the beginning of the IFSC was that we were transitioning from the fight for independence as a sports federation to a newer more stable functioning international governing body. This would take different skills, different roles and offer new opportunities that would eventually lead to realization of full Olympic participation as a medal sport.

In just 10 years, we rose from a new federation to become an Olympic sport, thanks to the vision of President, Marco Scolaris, the entire IFSC Executive Board, staff, athletes, member federations, event organisers, officials, volunteers, sponsors and media. It was a joint effort.

A look on our website shows current athletes and champions, as well as past and brings back wonderful memories of World Championships and Youth World Championships. Take a look at them.

And a special tribute to devoted supporters of climbing who left us this past year; John Ellison, founder of CAC (Climbers Against Cancer – www.climbersagainstcancer.org ), the IFSC Official Charity, and Susi Knabl.

Debbie Gawrych

IFSC Secretary General

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Issue 1 - Letter from the President

presidentOn January 27th, 2007, 57 National Federations unanimously founded the International Federation of Sport Climbing and now in 2017 we take a moment to celebrate our 10th anniversary.


That day in 2007 was not the beginning of international climbing competitions, but it was when we started our real climb. These ten years have brought us further, faster than anyone could have imagined and climbers will take part in the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, and in the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018. 

Participation in the Olympic Games gives Sport Climbing dignity and recognition, opening the door for IFSC National Federations to work with National Olympic Committees. Soon we will be able to develop the sport in those areas of the world where it has not been possible so far, with the support of the IOC Solidarity programs.

As we celebrate we take a look back at the events and people who made the past ten years such a success. The first World Cups and youth events organized under the IFSC name took place in the spring in 2007, starting off a series which has reached from Europe across the globe. Over the years, more and more events have been added to the calendar: championships, continental and promotional events.

We also created a new adventure, paraclimbing competitions. Ours is a sport for all and everyone: at the wall and at the crag, at the World Championships and in life, we are one family, one sport and one world. These competitions help display the talents of many more athletes, who impress us again and again. Across the world people are inspired by climbers’ passion for their sport. They recognize that Sport Climbing can offer so much, serving as a social tool to make our society active in a better world. Spectacular, clean, young, fresh and dynamic: this is Sport Climbing.

Now we take a little rest celebrating our 10th anniversary, before we move in to our 11th year of life. The 2017 season is very promising and the Olympic Games preparation has started. This is the next route to climb and we want to be ready.

World up, keep climbing!

Marco Maria Scolaris

IFSC President

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Save the Date!

IFSC President Marco Scolaris will be discussing the Olympic format and more at the press conference following the Plenary Assembly in Quebec City on March 11th.

"We are very excited for this next adventure," says the IFSC President. "Together, we have created new opportunities for our sport, and now we continue to prepare for the next steps, in Quebec and beyond."

Please click here for more information about the press conference.

 

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China Open Talks Continue

Following the highly successful Guangzhou Youth World Championships, the IFSC was pleased to host visitors from Guangzhou on the 20th of February.

The visitors included Mr. Pan Houtong, Director of Sports Industry Department of Guangzhou Sports Administration, Mr Cai Chenglin, Director of Guangzhou University Town Sports Centre, Mr. Lin Wuxiong, Deputy Director of Guangzhou Sports Lottery Management Centre and Mr. Xu Wenhai, Deputy Director of Guangzhou Shamian Sports Club. These representatives, who had worked and supported the Guangzhou Youth World Championships came to Italy to learn more about the development of Climbing Competitions.

The IFSC continues to work with officials in China towards delivering a Chinese Open climbing event, with discussions centering around Guangzhou as a possible location.

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Olympic Channel in Six New Languages

Featuring Olympic stars and stories from across the globe and continuing the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round, the Olympic Channel is now available in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese and Latin American Spanish in addition to English.

The launch of the six additional languages yesterday on the Olympic Channel represents the first non-English languages to be added to the global digital platform. The Olympic Channel also plans to release four additional languages in the coming months including Arabic, Japanese, Korean and Russian versions.

“This is a great way to reach more people around the world and to tell the great Olympic stories in a way that connects directly to them,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “The launch of the Olympic Channel platform in multiple languages ensures that more fans around the world will be able to discover and explore stories that will help them to connect with their favourite sports and athletes in their own language.”

Please click here to watch videos of Sport Climbing athletes and events on the Olympic Channel, including Petra Klingler's emotional victory last year at the IFSC Climbing and Paraclimbing World Championships in Paris.

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IFSC at the Interational Forum for Sport Integrity

President Marco Scolaris, Sport Director Jerome Meyer and Director of Administration Francesca Jengo participate in the II International Forum for Sports Integrity in Lausanne today.

The Forum was opened by the IOC President, Thomas Bach and gathers IOC members, NOC and IF Presidents and leaders, Government and National authorities, betting operators and experts. The meeting will centre around two panel discussions focusing on the prevention of manipulation of competitions and supporting ethical conduct.

The panel discussions, followed by an active discussion including all participants, will allow different organizing bodies of sport to discuss strategies and implementation practices in order to insure sport competitions free of manipulation and corruption.

President Scolaris recalls that the IFSC has been proactive introducing since many years provisions in the Statutes and in its regulations to preserve the integrity of our sport. “We need to be vigilant and provide our organization with all necessary tools to protect our sport and the athletes" said President Scolaris, "that’s why we are here”.

 

Read the full IOC Press Release here.

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The IFSC joins the IPC Family

The IFSC is honored to announce that the International Paralympic Committee has granted it the status of “Recognized International Federation”.

The IFSC has been hosting paraclimbing competitions since 2006, when the first international event saw athletes from four National Federations compete in Ekaterinburg, Russia.  The movement has grown in recent years, with a regular circuit being added to the IFSC calendar from 2010 and World Championships taking place from July 2011. It has become tradition that the Paraclimbing World Championships run alongside the World Championships, promoting athletes with a disability on the same stage as other athletes. Proud of the growth of the paraclimbing community and the standard of competitions, the IFSC remains dedicated to developing and strengthening the competitions and support available to athletes.

“The IFSC is delighted with this development and looks forward to working with the IPC, matching Sport Climbing’s potential for growth with the Committee’s expertise,” said IFSC President Marco Scolaris, “Climbing is a sport for all and for everyone; we all climb on the same holds. We hope that this recognition opens the door to and inspires many more athletes with disabilities.”

2017 IFSC IPC Paraclimbing Olympics Female News

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Registration for 2017 Athletes Licenses Open

National Federations are advised that from today Athletes and Team Officials can apply for Licenses for the 2017 season. Please visit the Athletes License page for further information including rules, guidelines and the updated License forms.

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IOC President to attend World Games

Dr. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has confirmed that he will be present at The World Games Opening Ceremony in Wroclaw on July 20th, 2017.

In his letter to IWGA President José Perurena, President Bach states that he will also attend several sports events during his stay. The Sport Climbing event will take place on July 21st-23rd and includes Bouldering, Lead and Speed climbing.

After receiving President Bach’s letter, IWGA President Perurena said: “I want to thank IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach for his enormous support for The World Games, and I am delighted that he has accepted my invitation to join us in Wroclaw…This means that we have to deliver an outstanding event. We want to prove that our sports are on the same level as those on the Olympic programme.”

For the complete announcement, please click here.

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A Decade of Growth for Sport Climbing!

This week, we celebrate ten years of hard work for the furtherance of our sport and values!

For the past ten years, the IFSC has devoted itself to the development, regulation and promotion of Sport Climbing competitions around the world. So many National Federations, event organizers, officials, sponsors, media and fans have contributed to the successful growth of the organization and our sport. Most especially, such would not be possible without the dedication of the international athletes, who form the heart of our organization.

Defining moments along the way, key figures and quotes from IFSC athletes can be found in the official press release here.

Please also enjoy the short video below highlighting this incredible journey together!

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Plenary Assembly Agenda

The 2017 Plenary Assembly will be taking place in Quebec City on March 11, 2017, and the Olympics are among the planned discussions.

Besides general talks on Olympic status, the new Format and qualification process for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 will be the focus of these discussions.

This year's edition will see as well the election of the new Executive Board and Statutory Commissions of the IFSC for the next 4-year term. Also on the agenda, among other topics, are general sport rules, upcoming events and the 2017 Calendar, memberships, paraclimbing developments, finances, updates from continental councils and marketing and communication.

Before the proceedings, additional workshops and meetings have been planned for representatives of National Federations from the 9th of March, allowing the further exchange of knowledge and ideas.

For information about the venue, schedule and logistics, please click here.

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Planning for the Future

On January 17th and 18th the IFSC President Marco Scolaris, IFSC Secretary General Debra Gawrych, and IFSC Vice President Treasurer and Finances Pierre Henri Paillasson met with IFSC staff in Torino, Italy. This meeting occurred in the frame of the usual annual auditing made by IFSC auditor Andrea Barabino.

It was an opportunity to take a review of the past year from a broader perspective and map out the primary strategy and aims for 2017, to be later discussed inside the EB. Feedback on the 2016 season from continental councils, organizers, athletes, officials and National Federations was analysed, ahead of the Executive Board meeting and the Plenary Assembly in Quebec City in March. Attention was also dedicated to new members and membership issues.

The IFSC is committed to providing athletes with top-level events to demonstrate their skills all over the world. The 2017 World Cup season is set to do just that, while Youth Competitions will be crowned by the Youth World Championships in Innsbruck this September. The IFSC also looks forward to participating in the World Games in Wroclaw this July.

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Position as IFSC Event Officer Available

With the growth of IFSC events, the organisation is seeking to expand its staff through the addition of an Event Officer.

The successful candidate will report to the Sport Director and oversee the coordination of IFSC Departments and other IFSC internal and external stakeholders in the run up to Events. This includes the supervision of the event application process, the development of the event calendar, and assisting with relevant documentation and communication.

This is a full-time position is based at the IFSC headquarters in Torino, Italy with travel to events (often at weekends) when necessary. The successful candidate will be fluent in English, IT literate and be able to work independently.

Please click here for a complete job description. Interested candidates should send all application materials to the IFSC Office (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) no later than 31st of January 2017.

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IFSC in Japan

Director of Marketing & Communications Anne Fuynel visited Tokyo, Japan at the end of January to work on the 2017 season and focus on TV exposure within the country. As representative of the IFSC, Anne met with the JMA as well as several interested and partnering organizations. These included Synca, the agency which currently holds TV and online rights of IFSC events in Japan.

In addition Anne attended a local event organized by the Japanese company AU, which promoted Sport Climbing welcoming the public, and especially kids, to try routes for themselves.

The IFSC is confident that through events like these and productive collaboration in Japan Sport Climbing will continue to grow dramatically.

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International Intern Wanted

Systemd, media partner of the IFSC, seeks a dynamic and talented intern to assist in marketing and communications.

Systemd is a consulting firm which develops brand strategies and events of the Outdoor Sports industry. The international communications assistant will work at Systemd headquarters in Montemlian, France, and the internship will primarily focus on subsets of IFSC website and social media management, as well as event coordination.

Please click here for a complete summary of the position. Interested and qualified candidates should send application materials to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before March 1, 2017.

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IFSC Adds Innovative Partner

The IFSC is very pleased to announce that the brand new climbing holds manufacturer Force Climbing will strengthen the pool of partners supporting the development of both the IFSC and Sport Climbing.

Only recently launched, the Canadian climbing holds manufacturer is already establishing itself in the climbing industry and is now officially an IFSC Main Partner in the holds category. This promising start-up will be present throughout IFSC events and activities of 2017 and will also have strong representation on IFSC social media as it releases “revolutionary climbing holds.”

“Force Climbing is absolutely thrilled and humbled to have partnered with the IFSC. Supporting the efforts and movements the IFSC has brought to the sport has moved and inspired us to join forces," says Terry Ziolkowski, Force Climbing President. "Partnerships run deep throughout the climbing world, and with this partnership we feel there is much that can be accomplished. Looking forward to what will come over this next year."

For the full press release, please click here.

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IFSC Shows Muscle at Obstacle Course

Last weekend, IFSC staff joined colleagues from Systemd and OBS Medias to conquer the Fisherman’s Friends Strongman Run in Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland.

Hosted in one of the 2017 IFSC Climbing World Cup cities, the race required competitors to traverse a steep 12km course and climb past numerous obstacles. After more than three hours of hard work and dramatic falls in wintery conditions, all the IFSC team successfully made it over the finish line.

This team building weekend helped the group continue to prepare for the season ahead, which everyone is looking forward to with utmost enthusiasm!

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Olympic Preperations Continue

Sport Director Jerome Meyer and Marketing and Communications Director Anne Fuynel met with the Olympic Broadcasting Services yesterday to discuss the presentation of Sport Climbing at Buenos Aires 2018 and Tokyo 2020. This meeting focussed on diverse and innovative ways to display the sport both in reality and TV. It focused on the presentation options possible through technologies more frequently used for other sport types.

"The IFSC is striving to give the best quality and innovative competition during the Olympic Games," said Anne Fuynel.  "We are aware that the standards for sport presentation are very high and we will be fully dedicated to work with OBS and provide the best possible show to the public onsite and on TV. "

The IFSC continues to look forward to the collaboration with Olympic bodies in preparation for both the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires and the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

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IFSC Promotional Event: Kailas Just Climb Cup 2017

The annual highlight in the Hong Kong climbing industry – KAILAS JUST CLIMB CUP 2017 has been confirmed! The bouldering competition will be held in Central Atrium, Olympian City 2 on 7th – 8th January, 2017.

Mark the dates now! JUST CLIMB CUP is a local bouldering competition being planned and organized by Just Climb Climbing Gym and supported by the IFSC Asian Council as part of the Asia Open Series. Since its first debut in 2011, the competition never fails on surprising climbers with ever-improving scale. The contest aims at consolidating regional climbers and providing a professional competing platform for all climbers to interact with each other so to activate the climbing industry and that the general climbing standard can be enhanced and improved.

KAILAS JUST CLIMB CUP 2017 is going to be held on 7th – 8th January, 2017 in Central Atrium, Olympian City 2. The World Champion (2014/Lead) – Jain Kim and President of ACC Athletes Commission – Jabee Kim have been invited as Star Athletes. IFSC international route setter – Hiroshi Okano has been invited as the Chief Route Setter of the competition.

With the attendance of world-class climbers and route setter, the KAILAS JUST CLIMB CUP 2017 will definitely be a marvellous event! Last but not least, KAILAS JUST CLIMB CUP 2017 has been admitted by IFSC - ACC as the first promotional event on the competition calendar that competitors from all over the world are welcomed! Apart from being an audience and enjoying a breathtaking competition for free, the general public can actually be part of the event by having a hands on top-rope climbing experience in the 2-day event! A 6m tall mobile climbing wall will be set up in the venue while anyone aged 4 years old or above are welcomed to climb under the guidance of instructors. “Best Climbing Shot” will be prepared for capturing your best climbing moment. Don’t you miss it!

More information justclimbcup.com.

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IFSC Continues Successful Collaboration with The World Games

The World Games and the IFSC successfully collaborated in 2016 to promote sport climbing and support the traditions and values of competitive sport.

The World Games seeks to promote physical and porting activities for the well-being of society and organises multi-sport events every four years. The IFSC was thrilled to see that several of the events of the 2016 calendar were shared and promoted over the World Games social media and the World Games Channel, which featured highlights, full replays, and interviews.

10 of the World Cups were featured on the World Games Channel with LIVE streaming and full replays, as well as the Paris World Championships and the Guangzhou Youth World Championships.

This collaboration will continue for 2017, and the Sport Climbing will be represented at the next World Games in Wroclaw in August.

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Initial Information for the 2017 Plenary Assembly

In a few days the registration for the 2017 Plenary Assembly, which will be held on March 11, 2017, will be opened.

All National Federations are welcomed to take part in the event, which is taking place in Quebec City, Canada. Additional workshops and meetings have been planned for representatives of National Federations from the 9th of March, allowing them to exchange knowledge and ideas.

Initial Information about the venue, the program, as well as transportation logistics can be found here, and will be updated as necessary.

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IFSC Continues Peace and Sport Efforts


The 9th Peace and Sport Forum in Monaco took place last month and the IFSC continued their participation in the annual event.

Hundreds of leading figures from numerous sectors convened on November 23rd-25th for workshops and sessions on how sport can help promote peace in the world. Altogether, 3,500 delegates from 115 nations attended.

2016 IFSC Peace and Sport Forum Paola Gigliotti Rania Amro Elvani Palmares
Rania Amro Elwani, Champion for Peace and Olympic swimmer from Egypt; Paola Gigliotti


"This year was very important for our Federation, which obtained the positive Olympics result," says IFSC Honorary Member Paola Gigliotti, representing the IFSC at the Forum since 2010. "Our active involvement in Peace and Sport activities added to the success of 2016. As put best on their website, 'the positive results generated by the Peace through Sport movement demonstrate that sport can make a valuable contribution to inspire and motivate the global community to act for peace.'"

For more information, please find a summary on the Peace and Sport website. The next Forum will take place on December 6th-8th, 2017, in Monaco.


Paola Gigliotti; Prince Albert II of Monaco
2016 IFSC Peace and Sport Forum Paola Gigliotti Prince Albert II


Dora Pallis, Deputy Director of International Olympic Truce Centre in Greece; Paola Gigliotti
2016 IFSC Peace and Sport Forum Paola Gigliotti Dora Pallis

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Sport Department Discusses Olympics

IFSC Vice President Sports/Events Helmut Knabl, IFSC Sport Director Jerome Meyer and directors from a variety of commisions met in Torino last weekend to discuss and review potential changes to IFSC event regulations.

Among the discussions were the formats of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, as well as proposals to adjust the Speed route. The annual meeting lasted three days, and conclusions will be presented to the IFSC Executive Board and Member Federations in March at the 2017 Plenary Assembly in Quebec City, Canada.

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Tokyo 2020 Venue Confirmed

International Olympic Committee (IOC) meetings continued, and yesterday the IOC Executive Board confirmed the location of Sport Climbing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

On August 3rd, the 129th IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro approved the addition of five sports for Tokyo 2020. Official documents of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee confirmed the location of all five additional sports, including Sport Climbing:

“Sport Climbing events will take place in Aomi Urban Sports Venue (Koto ward, Tokyo). This temporary facility will be the dynamic and innovative venue for the sport climbing and skateboarding competitions, Tokyo 2020’s newest and most youthful events. Situated in a spectacular location with Tokyo Bay as a backdrop, it will delight athletes, spectators and television viewers alike throughout the world.”

Please visit the Tokyo 2020 website for the complete press release.

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Sport Climbing at YOG 2018!

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board added Sport Climbing to the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Buenos Aires 2018!

IOC meetings are taking place this week in Lausanne, Switzerland, and yesterday the IOC Executive Board officially agreed to add three sports to the YOG Buenos Aires 2018 Sports Programme: Dance Sport, Karate and Sport Climbing. These sports are in addition to the 28 sports currently on the programme for the third summer of YOG. The Sport Climbing event will be a combined event of the three disciplines (Bouldering, Lead, Speed) for both males and females.

The official announcement of the decision on the IOC website states the following: "The three new sports reflect the IOC’s and Buenos Aires 2018’s shared goal of building youth engagement, and thus represent a mix of emerging, universal and urban sports with a significant youth appeal."

IFSC President Marco Scolaris added, "In the last months after Rio, far from the lights, we have worked hard on this and here is the result. We are very, very happy that Sport Climbing will also be included in the program in Buenos Aires at the Youth Olympic Games in 2018. Thanks to all the IFSC Team who supported this new climb and achievement. Keep climbing!"

For the full announcement, please click here. Please also find below a promotional video of young Sport Climbing athletes, presented to the IOC Executive Board.

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Event Organizer Meeting

On December 2nd-3rd, Event Organizers gathered in Torino for the annual meeting with the IFSC, with presentations given by President Marco Scolaris, Vice-President Sports & Events Helmut Knabl, Administration Director Francesca Jengo, Sport Director Jérôme Meyer and Marketing & Communications Director Anne Fuynel.

Topics covered included the IFSC situation after the Olympic decision, a general report on the 2016 season and 2017 calendar, new developments in sport rules, communication and marketing and various event organization topics. Apart from the general meetings, several individual meetings were held in the new IFSC office. Event organizers traveled from all over the world for the discussions, both from existing and new host locations. Altogether, 21 organizers attended the proceedings.

"This year was an incredible year for our sport, and our events would not be possible without the hard work of the organizers behind them," says Mr. Scolaris. "We are looking forward to working together for another great season in 2017."

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CAC Fights Lymphoma

During the IFSC World Championships Paris 2016, Climbers Against Cancer (CAC) gave a donation of 30 thousand euros to the Lymphoma Study Association (LYSA), the primary research body addressing Lymphoma.

The check was handed to Frédéric Peyrade and Corinne Haioun of LYSA on Saturday, September 17th, at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris. Shauna Coxsey, the IFSC Bouldering World Cup winner of 2016, presented the gift on behalf of CAC.

[translation] "On behalf of LYSA, we would like to extend a big thank you to Climbers Against Cancer for their generosity and actions in favor of research against Lymphoma," says LYSA in the official announcment of the donation on their website.

We continue to encourage donations to Climbers Against Cancer, the official charity of the IFSC. If you would like to make a gift, please visit the CAC website here.

2016 IFSC CAC LYSA Paris World Championships

 (c) LYSA

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JMA Name Change Confirmed

From April 1st, 2017 the Japanese Mountaineering Association will be officially renamed the Japanese Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association.

The JMA Plenary Assembly, held on the 13th of November 2016 has decided to change the Association’s name from the 1st of April 2017. The decision to rename the Association the Japanese Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association is made to support the growing trend of Sport Climbing in Japan for Tokyo 2020, in order to be recognised more easily by people who have interest in the sport, and in accordance with the suggestion of the IFSC.

The JMA was established in 1960, and as the Japanese day, "Names and natures do often agree". The JMA president Mr. Yagihara said, "organizations need to change themselves to adapt to the requirements of the times, we need to show that we are one of these". Vice President Mr. Ogata said "The JMA committed ourselves to improve Sport Climbing in Japan, as well as traditional mountain activity including the safety and the environment. It is definitely a pair of wheels for us."

The new logo for team Japan will be developed for the 2017 season.

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Revised Schedule Guangzhou World Youth Championships

Due to poor weather conditions, all Men's Bouldering Qualifications on November 10th at the Guangzhou World Youth Championships had to be canceled.

Changes have been updated in the infosheet and the revised schedule (as of 11.11.2016, 12:00) can be downloaded here.

As a final reminder for viewers, Bouldering Semi-Finals and Finals will not be LIVE this weekend. Please stay tuned for replays of Finals and highlights!

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Reserve Your Spot for Kranj!

Tickets for the seventh and final IFSC Lead World Cup of the season in Kranj, Slovenia, are now available online!

The conclusion in Kranj will take place on November 26th-27th. To make your reservation, please click here. Qualifications on Saturday are free of charge, and entrance to the entire event is free for children up to 12 years. Discounts are available for PZS and AS Klub members or by pre-ordering tickets before November 23rd. You can also purchase tickets at the seat of Planinska zveza Slovenije (PZS, Alpine Association of Slovenia) in Ljubljana during office hours and at Eventim sales points throughout Slovenia. For more information, please visit the event webiste here.

Join us for the last IFSC World Cup of 2016 and watch the world's best Lead athletes compete for the Overall podium!

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Agreement with Olympic Channel Signed

The Olympic Channel and the IFSC announced today that they have reached a new cooperation agreement.

In addition to broadcasting live events, the Olympic Channel team is working with the IFs to create innovative partnerships encompassing event coverage, highlights, magazine shows, news coverage and original programming as well as technical business solutions. Collaborations to broadcast live events on the Olympic Channel aim to complement the IFs’ current broadcast and distribution arrangements.

"We look forward to working with our IF partners to extend the reach of Olympic sports and athletes outside of the Games themselves" said Mark Parkman, General Manager of the Olympic Channel. "Since we launched the Olympic Channel just two months ago, our IF partnerships have already contributed greatly to our programming line-up through live events, social media content, promotion and more ensuring that fans will be able to continue their excitement of Rio and the Olympic Games all year long."

In September the Olympic Channel’s video featuring speed climber Marcin Dzienski's battle against Reza Alipourshenazandifar for the gold at the Paris World Championships went viral, introducing a whole new demographic to the discipline and reaching 5.6 million viewers on Facebook alone. You can watch this and many other videos by following the Olympic Channel on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, or log on to olympicchannel.com .

The complete press release can be found here.

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IFSC Welcomes Guests to Torino

On Monday, October 17th the IFSC was proud to host visitors from both the Japan Mountaineering Association and the Mongolian National Climbing Federation (previously Mongolian National Mountaineering Federation) at the administrative offices in Torino.

President Kuniaki Yagihara and Director Secretary General Hitoshi Onodera from Japan, and President Tulga Buya and Vice-President Zoljargal Banzragch from Mongolia were welcomed by IFSC Vice-President and Treasurer Pierre-Henri Paillasson. They held separate meetings on various topics including further development of climbing in the respective countries and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

2016 IFSC Welcomes Guests To Torino 1

From left to right Mr. Hitoshi Onodera (JMA Director Secretary General), Mr. Pierre-Henri Paillasson (IFSC Vice-President and Finances) and Mr. Kuniaki Yagihara (JMA President).

2016 IFSC Welcomes Guests To Torino

From left to right, Ms. Zoljargal Banzragch (MNCF Vice-President), Ms. Francesca Jengo (IFSC Administration Director), Mr. Pierre-Henri Paillasson (IFSC Vice-President and Treasurer) and Mr. Tulga Buya (MNCF President).

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IFSC is Bigger in Japan

The IFSC has strengthened its relationship with its historical partner in Japan, Synca Creations. With a new online media agreement, video delivered by internet or mobile technology are now broadcast in Japan unbundled from television, widening the IFSC broadcasting market.

The IFSC has been working with Synca Creations since 2013, and earlier this year the IFSC renewed the television agreement with its long-time partner. Soojun Bae, Director of Synca Creations, offered the following comment:

“It has been exciting to experience the growth of Sport Climbing all the way with the IFSC. This deal will bring us new opportunities which meet the increasing interest in this sport, especially after the IFSC World Championships this year where we had a Japanese world champion for the first time ever."

To access the complete press release, please click here.

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IFSC Calendar 2017: new World Cups scheduled

The IFSC is happy to announce that two additional World Cups have been added on the IFSC Calendar 2017: the Boulder World Cup in Mumbai (IND) and the Lead and Speed World Cup in Edinburgh (GBR).

Also, we would like to remind you that until October 30th we might consider further new candidates for the remaining 1Lead / 1 Speed slots.

 

 

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2016 Athletes' Commission Results

The 2016 Athletes' Commission elections were held at the IFSC World Championships in Paris.

The results are as follows:

President: Sean McColl CAN

Lead representatives: Delaney Miller USA and Jakob Schubert AUT

Speed representatives: Anna Tsyganova RUS and Dmitrii Timofeev RUS

Paraclimbing representatives: Frederik Leys BEL and Oriane Moreno Defourné FRA

Boulder representatives: to be appointed by IFSC President at the 2017 Plenary Assembly.

Congratulations to the re-elected and newly elected representatives. The IFSC Executive Board looks forward to working with these dedicated Athletes.

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Olympic Format and Paraclimbing Category Meetings

The IFSC would like to inform athletes and coaches of the following meetings to be held in the AccorHotels Arena.

The Olympic Format meeting will be held Friday September 16th, 2016 at 1430 hrs to 1530hrs. The location is the same as the Technical Meeting, Gate 35.

There will also be a meeting to discuss the new Paraclimbing classification system. This will take place Saturday 17th, at 1400hrs to 1500hrs. It will also be held in the same location as the Technical Meeting, Gate 35.

 

 

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Athlete Commission Elections in Paris

The Athlete Comission elections will be held in the AccorHotels Arena during the Paris World Championships.

Voting takes place on

  • Friday, September 16th, 2016  from 1100hrs- 1400hrs and 1630hrs- 1830hrs
  • Saturday, September 17th, 2016 from 0800hrs-1000hrs and 1530hrs- 1700hrs.

Only Accredited athletes will be able to vote at the gate used for Isolation. Results are expected to be published Saturday 17th of September at 1900hrs on the Official Board.

Official Release .

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Media Training Workshop Held in Paris

In the framework of the IFSC World Championships, the IFSC offered a Media Training Event in the Paris ArccorHotels Arena for National Federations and Athletes, with thirteen Federations and thirty people attending.

Featuring the guest speakers Sarah Pitkowski,a former tennis champion and TV commentator who now runs the communications agency 15Love, and Erik Bielderman,a sport journalist, consultant forl'Equipe 21, W9 and RTL, with thirty years of experience. The speakers presented information on the traditional medias, approaches to communicate with different mediums and good practices for social media.

The IFSC would also like to thank Shauna Coxey for giving her time and providing extra insight through her testimonial about the importance of learning to manage the media as an Athlete.

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LIVE International Delivery Commences

Starting with the 2016 IFSC World Climbing and Paraclimbing Championships in Paris, the IFSC will commence LIVE international delivery of its events.

The Finals on Saturday and Sunday will be broadcasted in Japan on SkyA. The deal, which was brokered by the IFSC's exclusive international media consultancy, Broadreach Media, is additional to the one struck earlier this year in Japan for delayed broadcast of all the IFSC's 20 annual televised events. Highlights of the IFSC World Championships will also be shown on terrestrial television in Japan via NHK, in Austria on ORF and in 135 other countries worldwide via "IFSC Climbing Monthly," the Federation's monthly climbing highlights show.

Marco Scolaris, President of the IFSC, offered the following comment: "Our launch of international LIVE broadcasting shows the rapid progress we are making, with Sport Climbing's fast and continued growth as an urban sport, with the boost of Sport Climbing's inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and with Japan's growing strength as an international force in Sport Climbing."

For questions regarding these developments, please contact the IFSC Media Team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Paris Media Accreditations Closed

Due to the high demand for Media Accreditations for the Paris World Championships, we will not be able to accept any more requests. We appologize for any inconvenience caused. Should you have any questions concerning this, please contact Communications Assistant Lisa Soennichsen.

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High Demand for Media Accreditations: Apply Soon

The IFSC is receiving a very high number of media accreditation requests for the Paris World Championships held from September 14th to 18th, 2016. Due to this, there are now only a limited number of accreditations still available.

Any media representatives who still require an accreditation are advised to submit their request before Friday, the 9th of September, or as soon as possible. Accreditation requests can be made here.

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Media Training Workshop for Federations and Athletes in Paris

Sport Climbing is booming, the Olympics beckon, and more athletes and National Federations are faced with interest from an enquiring media. How do we best explain and present our sport and competitions? What kind of best practices are used within organizations in responding to enquiries? And how do you use social media to become your own news source?

These are some of the topics which will be covered in an interactive workshop aimed at National Federations and Athletes who are just starting to make contacts with the media. The event will be held on September 13th, 2016 from 3.00pm to 5.00 pm at the AccorHotels Arena during the World Championships in Paris. Run in English, the speakers will take into account the differences between different press mediums and provide firsthand experience from both sides of the camera; Sarah Pitkowski is a former tennis champion and consultant for RMC/BFM TV, and is now in charge of the communications agency 15Love, while Eril Bielderman is a sport journalist, consultant for l'Equipe 21, W9 and RTL, who specializes in UK football.

These speakers will work with attendees in an interactive workshop, with practice interview scenarios and answering any and all questions. If you are an athlete, team official or representative of a National Federation and are interested in attending, please contact communications assistant Lisa Soennichsen  for more information.

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IFSC Awarded Climbing Ambassador 2016

On Friday evening in Arco, the IFSC received the Climbing Ambassador award at the 11th Arco Rock Legends celebration.

Soon after Lead Qualifications ended at the fifth IFSC Lead and Speed World Cup of the season, athletes and key figures of Sport Climbing gathered in Arco's Casino for the distribution of the annual Arco Rock Legends awards. The Climbing Ambassador by Dryarn® di Aquafil 2016 was given to the IFSC "for the work, passion and dedication it showed during all these years to valorize Sport Climbing, and for its great human and sporting values, making it fully recognized at the Olympics and in the great world of sports." IFSC President Marco Scolaris was present to accept the award on behalf of the IFSC.

Spanish climber Dani Andrada received the Wild Country Rock Award, and current IFSC Athlete Mina Markovic of Slovenia won the La Sportiva Competition Award. For a complete report by PlanetMountain.com, please click here.

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Paris World Championships: Athletes' Commission Elections and Paraclimbing Commission Elections

With regard to the Athletes' Commission Elections and to the Paraclimbing Commission Elections during the Paris World Championships 2016, we would like to remind you that the candidacy form is to be sent to the IFSC Office before the 1st September.

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Sport Climbing Celebrated in Rio

Austria Climbing and Art Roc joined forces to celebrate sport climbing’s inclusion at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games by opening a wall in Rio’s Sul shopping mall.

The 13-meter-tall wall allows visitors to get their first taste of the sport which will be featured alongside Skateboarding, Surfing, Karate, Baseball and Softball in the next summer Olympics. The Austrian Federation organised the construction of the wall and sent out five of its finest instructors to set the routes and help run courses with the public.

This is not a short lived project however: after the Games the wall will stay in Rio. It will be moved to a local favela and provide a new experience to locals, hopefully inspiring a whole new group of athletes.

Watch a video interview with the instructors of the Austrian Olympic Team Facebook, or read more on the Austrian Olympic Committee Website.

The official press release can be found here.

Der Präsident des Internationalen Sportkletterverbandes IFSC Marco Scolaris besuchte gemeinsam mit Tirol Werbung-Geschäftsführer Josef Margreiter (r.) und ÖOC-Generalsekretär Peter Mennel (l.) die Tirol-Kletterwand in Rio. ©ÖOC / Erich SpiessPhoto ©ÖOC / Erich Spiess

 

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Jobs

Vacancies at the IFSC:

IFSC Event Sponsor and Media Officer

The mission of the IFSC Event Sponsor and Media Officer is:
• To work with IFSC Event Organisers to provide media representatives with a high-quality experience at IFSC events,
• To support the management of media rights,
• To produce media and sponsors’ reports;
• To ensure IFSC sponsors a consistent visibility throughout the climbing season;
• To coordinate sponsors’ on–site activation along with the Venue Manager.

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter in English via e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “IFSC Event Sponsor and Media Officer Application” in the subject line no later than Sunday 14th April 2019. Applications in languages other than English will not be considered.

Find out more about the role here.


Member Federations Vacancies:

The IFSC is currently unaware of any vacancies within our Member Federations. If you would like to advertise a vacancy here, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Japanese Mountaineering Association proposes new name, new structure

In anticipation of the possible inclusion of Sport Climbing in the 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo the Japanese Mountaineering Association (JMA) is proposing major changes to its name and structure. The JMA would be responsible for joining the local Olympic Committee in overseeing the sport climbing competition and has therefore decided to make several changes.

The Association, founded 56 years ago, is suggesting changing its name to include a reference to the competitive aspect of Sport Climbing and restructuring in order to “provide guidance and spread correct climbing and mountain sports”. Renamed “Japanese Mountaineering Sport Climbing Association”, the organisation would aim to link traditional values of mountain climbing and modern competition climbing, which have often been seen as distinct and perhaps even incompatible. The sport has been booming in Japan, with over 600,000 climbing enthusiasts making a vibrant climbing scene. With the revised name and structure, the JMA would continue to support outdoor mountain climbing, while also responding to increased interest in sport climbing.

A final decision is expected at the end of August.

For a full translation of the information released by the Japan Mountaineering Association, download our translation.

 

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Munich Press Conference

On August 4th, stop by the Coubertin in Olympiapark at 10:30 (GMT+2) for the Munich World Cup press conference.

The seventh and final Bouldering World Cup of the season will take place in Munich on August 12th-13th, and the DAV has prepared an introduction to the heavily-anticipated event. Discover more about the upcoming finale and interact with IFSC athlete Alexander Averdunk and event organizers by attending the conference. To register, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Finally, please apply for your media accreditation for the competition here if you have not yet done so.

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BMC changes its name to ‘Climb Britain’

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) has announced that it launching a new era with a change of name. The IFSC member federation, which has been consistently represented in IFSC competitions, will from now on be ‘Climb Britain’, aiming “ to unite all members under one ‘Climb’ banner.”

The British Mountaineering Council has been representing the interests of hill walkers, mountaineers and climbers in Great Britain since 1944 and promises to continue to do so with its new name. Dave Turnbull, CEO since 2002 explained the change, stating “The word ‘climb’ is evocative, something ingrained in us as children when we climbed our first tree or hill.”

For more information, please see the BMC’s website.

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Villars World Cup: change

Please note that the warming zone will be at the Centre des Sports de Villars - Tennis couverts.

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Revised Chamonix Schedule

The Speed Finals in Chamonix will now take place at 13:00. Below is the revised schedule for today's events, subject to change with weather:

    Chamonix July 12th
  • 08:00-09:00 Isolation Lead Semis
  • 10:00-12:30 Lead Semis (LIVE)
  • 11:00 Warm-Up Speed
  • 15:30-16:30 Speed Finals (LIVE)
  • 19:00-20:00 Isolation Lead Finals Men
  • 21:00 Lead Finals Men (LIVE)
  • 20:00-21:00 Isolation Lead Finals Women
  • 22:00 Lead Finals Women (LIVE)
  • 23:00 Award Ceremony

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Speed Finals Postponed

Due to weather, the Speed Finals in Chamonix have been postponed. They will now take place on Tuesday, July 12th. The revised schedule will be determined tomorrow, and updates are expected at 08:00. Please stay tuned for further information!

 

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Susi Knabl Passes Away

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Susi Knabl from the IFSC family. Her battle with cancer ended peacefully yesterday morning.

“Yesterday, we lost a beloved member of the climbing community,” says Marco Scolaris, President of the IFSC. “Susi positively impacted the IFSC and Sport Climbing. She is dearly missed, and our thoughts and support go out to Helmut and the entire Knabl family.”

Susi assisted the IFSC with multiple affairs, she was a member of the Officials Commission as well as an IFSC Official on several IFSC competitions. Helmut Knabl, Susi’s husband, serves on the Executive Board of the IFSC as Vice-President Sport/Events. Both Helmut and Susi were involved with Climbers Against Cancer.

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Chamonix World Cup: Change

Please note that, further to some changes, the registration, the Technical Meeting, the photo shoot and the cocktails move from the Congress Center "le Majestic" to the E.N.S.A.

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Mid-Season Report 2016

The World Cup in Vail has ended and the Lead/Speed World Cup in Chamonix does not begin until July 11. In the meantime, our team remains hard at work.

Multiple projects have been initiated or finalized since the 11th Plenary Assembly of the IFSC in February, including a brand new mobile website and competition coverage expansion. These improvements would not be possible without the support of our devoted partners: DJI, Entre-Prises, Epic TV, Kailas, Luxov and Tenaya.

To discover all the changes, read the complete IFSC Mid-Season Report 2016.

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IFSC moves to a New Office

Sport Climbing is growing fast, and so is the IFSC. To face the increasing workload of the IFSC Departments we hired two new full-time resources in the last six months. Thanks to our new staff, the IFSC is now more structured and organized and is working to improve the quality of the services provided. Due to the growing team it was also necessary to move the IFSC Headquarters to a new seat.

We are happy to inform you that the new address is: Via Carlo Matteucci 4, 10143 Torino, Italy

All other contact information (phone, fax, email) and the legal seat remain the same. From today on, please use the new address for any communication and/or deliveries.

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IFSC Welcomes New Staff

lisaphotosmall.jpgThis week the IFSC has welcomed a new staff member to the Communications team. Lisa Soennichsen, with dual nationality from Germany and Canada, will be acting as Communications Assistant.  She speaks German and English fluently and joins to the IFSC after completing her Masters in International Relations in a joint programme between University College London and the Higher School of Economics, Russia. 
 
In addition, this week the IFSC communications agency System’D, owned by Pierre-Emmanuel Danger, is welcoming a new communications officer.  Joseph Robinson, coming directly from the USA, will be in charge of promotion of IFSC events.
 
In order to accommodate this new staff the IFSC is moving to the new office before the end of June.
 
We look forward to working with our new members and hope that this international team will help us climb to new heights.

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Reminder to Book World Championship Accommodation by June 30th

The IFSC World Championships take place from the 14th to the 18th of September in Paris, France. The FFME, responsible for organising the event, has requested that all National Federations with teams taking part in the event ensure that they have reserved accommodation online via Tourea Sports. The deadline for accommodation reservation is the 30th of June.

Non -accredited people attending also require tickets for the event, these can be purchased here.

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Automatic Speed Belaying System

The IFSC is calling for manufacturer of Automatic Belaying System to bid for a partnership and certification regarding the IFSC Speed Competitions and Speed World records.

Shall you be interested, please take note of the bid schedule and system requirements.

We would like to receive your proposal by the 22nd June at the latest, before the IFSC makes an arbitration early July. 

Automatic Speed Belaying System characteristics: please see here

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Shooting Chamonix

Please note that we will organize a shooting of all the international Lead and Speed athletes in Chamonix. These pictures will be included in the live streaming to better showcase each athlete.

We would like to ask the teams to be available either before the registration or between that and the Technical Meeting.

In addition, we would like to ask you to wear your team tops.

 

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IFSC World Cup Innsbruck: change in Provisional Programme

Due to the high number of competitors, please notice that on Friday 20th May the Women Qualification starts at 17.30, the Isolation Zone opens at 15.30 and it closes at 16.30. The latest timetable will be announced during the Technical meeting considering final start list.

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Follow the IFSC World Cup of Nanjiing

This weekend's Nanjiing speed competition will be available on the IFSC Youtube channel shortly after the end of the finals.

Stay tuned on IFSC social media and website for regular and updated information.
Watch all the videos on the IFSC Youtube channel.

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IFSC Solidarity Program 2016

Today the IFSC Solidarity Program 2016 was officially launched, supporting the athletes for the WCH 2016 in Paris

Thanks to the joint collaboration between the IFSC and the FFME, Organizer of the WCH, several Athletes from the five Continents will have the opportunity to receive travel and accommodation support for the IFSC World Championships in Paris. The aim of the project, in place since 2005, is supporting the smallest Federations and maximizing the countries representation at the WCHs, in accordance with the principle of universality.

National Federations wishing to apply for the Solidarity Program have time until May 16th , don’t miss this opportunity!
Feel free to contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details

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Coxsey repeats, Russia and Japan crowd podium

Russia won both Speed contests, Japan snagged three medals and Shauna Coxsey of Great Britain extended her World Cup winning streak to four on Sunday.

Chongqing, China, once again did not disappoint at the third Bouldering World Cup and first Speed World Cup of the 2016 season. On April 30th-May 1st, electric fans of sport climbing again flocked to Southwest China to witness spectacular performances by the world’s best climbing competitors.

Coxsey Remains Unbeaten in 2016

Only a handful of female Bouldering athletes have won Gold in four consecutive events, and Coxsey joined this elite group last weekend with her third victory of the season. The previous woman to do so was champion Akiyo Noguchi in 2014, who took five more attempts than Coxsey to top three problems at Chongqing. Her Japanese teammates Miho Nonaka and Mei Kotake also placed well, finishing third and fourth, respectively. On the men’s walls, nineteen-year-old Tomoa Narasaki picked up another medal for Japan and the first Gold of his World Cup career by sending three problems. Top-ranked Jan Hojer competed in his first finals round of the season and topped two problems for Silver. Jongwon Chon of Korea and Kokoro Fujii of Japan settled for third and fourth, respectively, after requiring more attempts to complete their two problems.

Familiar Faces in Speed Contests

Dmitrii Timofeev last won a World Cup in 2012 at Chongqing by racing to the top nearly a second faster than the strong Libor Hroza of the Czech Republic. This year, the Russian speed climber defeated Hroza yet again when his contestant twice miscued at the starting marks. Record-holder Danyil Boldyrev of Ukraine posted a whopping 5.87 in the Bronze medal match after missing out on the finals by a mere fraction of a second. For the women, current record-holder and top-ranked Iuliia Kaplina also brought home Gold for Russia by climbing one-and-a-half seconds quicker than Klaudia Buczek of Poland in the final set. Buczek’s teammate, Aleksandra Rudzinska, slipped past Purnamasari Ita Triana of Indonesia in a nail-biting consolation match to round out the podium.

Find all results, picutres and replays on the dedicated event page.

 

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Streaming of the Chongqing World Cup this weekend

This weekend's bouldering and speed competitions will be streamed and uploaded on the IFSC Youtube channel a few hours after each round.

Feel the excitement of this Chinese event without waking up too early! Highlights of the qualifications, replays of the bouldering semi-finals and finals, speed finals and award ceremony and event highlights will be available shortly after each round.

Keep an eye on IFSC Twitter, Facebook and website for regular and updated information.
Watch all the videos on the IFSC Youtube channel 

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Sport climbing's development in Japan

Just a day after the event at Kazo, the IFSC president had visited The Esforta Arena where 2017 IFSC Bouldering World Cup being planned to be held. It is located in Hachioji, Tokyo. The President had confirmed that the venue has enough capacities for the expected numbers of spectators with necessary facilities to make a big success in Tokyo as well as to show the value of the sport climbing to all who have expectations and interests.

The IFSC president also met a head coach of the JPN youth climbing team, Nishitani Yoshiko who is also one and only Doctor of Philosophy holder by climbing study in Japan. That day, she had sport climbing courses at Meiji University that has both Boulder and Lead wall as well. Each year the number of the students who take the sport climbing courses is increasing.
IFSC japan development

Recently, sport climbing education in Japanese Universities has been developed.  Meiji University is one of the most powerful universities that offer the sport climbing courses. Hopefully the development of the sport climbing education in University level would contribute to improve the performance of the sport climbing athletes.

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Patrick Baumann appointed president of SportAccord

At the General Assembly of SportAccord held at the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland on Friday, 22 April 2016, the Members decided by large majority to appoint Patrick Baumann as the new President of SportAccord.

The newly elected President will head up the SportAccord organisation which represents the union for both Olympic and non-Olympic international sports federations with immediate effect. Speaking of his newly appointed role as President, Patrick Baumann said: “It is a great honour to be appointed President of SportAccord and I am very much looking forward to the road ahead. There is much to be done, however, the message is clear. The membership wants to go back to a calm environment and to be able to grow the sports and speak with one voice.”

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Shauna Coxsey and Rustam Gelmanov on the top of Kazo IFSC podium

Shauna Coxsey of Great Britain stayed on top and Rustam Gelmanov earned another Gold for Russia at the second Bouldering World Cup of the 2016 season.


A great confirmation coming directly from the leader of the Women’s ranking : Shauna Coxsey. An impressive performance of the Britain’s athlete gives her the first place in Japan, while the local idol Noguchi Akyio that could not reach the Finals. Shauna leads the Finals since the beginning and, except a little trouble in the second bloc, she gives an impression of total dominance. Great job of Melissa Le Neve, who concludes the competition in the second place for the second consecutive time. The last stage of the podium is taken from Nonaka Miho, for the happiness of all the local Japanese people who were attending at the event.

Regarding the Men, the uncertain prevailed until the end of the Finals and the competition was really interesting. All the athletes who composed the podium last weekend in Meiringen didn’t reach the Finals, and the competition was really closed. The winner is Rustam Gelmanov, who after the small delusion in Meiringen offers a great performance, reaching the top of the podium. Second place for an interesting surprise, the Italian boulder Michael PiccolRuaz, followed from the Japanese Kokoro Fujii

All the information about the event here 

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Bouldering World Cup returns to Kazo, Japan

After Meiringen, the Bouldering World Cup will stop in Kazo, Japan, the 23rd - 24th April for the second event of the 2016 season.

With the close of a spectacular first round in Meiringen, Switzerland, the world’s best boulderers now set their sights on Japan’s main island of Honshu where they will face-off at the second Bouldering World Cup of seven to be held this season. 

Visit the dedicated Kazo event page before the rematch begins to access start lists and event information
Remember to watch the LIVE STREAMING of Semifinals and Finals on the IFSC website
Tweet with us during the competition through the official hashtag #IFSCwc

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Hotel modification IFSC World Cup Chongqing

Please note that, concerning the accommodation for the World Cup in Chongqing, the new hotel is Sport Hotel Chongqing 斯铂特大酒店. The address is: No.68 Erlang Kecheng Road, Jiulongpo District, Chongqing 重庆市九龙坡区二郎科城路6号.
The price and fee meals remain those mentioned in the Chongqing Infosheet.

For all other information visit the event page

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Coxsey and Rubtsov Top First Podium of 2016

On Saturday April 16th, Shauna Coxsey of Great Britain returned to her winning ways and Alexey Rubtsov of Russia snagged the second Gold of his IFSC career.

The best Bouldering athletes in the world competed in Meiringen, Switzerland this weekend at the first event of the 2016 Bouldering World Cup season. A spectacular finals round saw representation from a diverse set of nations. Only attempts and bonus holds distinguished the mostly new faces atop the men’s podium, while the results for the women were a bit more decided.

The men podium is composed from Verhoeven Jorg (NED) on the third place, preceded by Stranik Martin (CZE) for the second place. The winner, and the actual boulder leader of the season is Alexey Rubtstov (RUS) with 2 tops and 3 bonuses on the Finals.
For the women Shauna Coxsey starts the season exactly as she ended the last one, with a great victory. Second place for the French athlete Melissa Le Neve, followed from Megan Mascarenas (USA).

Check here to discover the complete results, pictures and replays of the event.

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Live streaming of the IFSC World Cup also on your website

The IFSC is pleased to announce the possibility to embed the live stream of the IFSC World Cup Kazo 2016 directly on your own website.

The utilisation of the embed codes will be the following:

Semi-Finals:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="/https://www.youtube.com/embed/f2evgYW99bk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Finals:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="/https://www.youtube.com/embed/jpG7NlG4gzo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Please, feel free to use them and check the Kazo event page for additional information.

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Welcome back to the IFSC World Cup

A historical 2016 season debuts in Meiringen, Switzerland with the first stop of the Bouldering World Cup tour. While the mountains beckon the elite, may the next chapter in climbing history begin! The 15th -16th of April the competition begins!

Top Bouldering athletes from around the world will open their chalk buckets and slip-on rubber shoes on Friday, April 15th. The competition in Meiringen, Switzerland is the first in a series of seven 2016 Bouldering World Cup events. 
Like last season, all dates, rankings and further information regarding the IFSC Climbing World Cup can be found on the IFSC website

Provisional Program (GMT+2):

Friday, April 15
10:00-14:30 Qualification Men – Boulder Arena, Haslital Climbing Gym
16:30-20:30 Qualification Women – Boulder Arena, Haslital Climbing Gym

Saturday, April 16
11:00-14:00 Semi-Finals Men and Women – (LIVE)
18:30-20:30 Finals Men and Women – (LIVE)
20:30 Awards Ceremony – (LIVE)

Tune in to IFSC website  for live streaming of the events if you cannot attend, and send live tweets with the hashtag #IFSCwc!
To access the Meiringen event page click here

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Job Offer IFSC Communications Assistant

The IFSC (International Federation of Sport Climbing) seeks to engage a Communications Assistant in order to support the fast development and increased exposure of Sport Climbing around the world.

The IFSC Marketing & Communications Department is aimed at providing a strategic corporate communications framework and consistent approach for marketing and communicating to its member national federations, the media, business, and other stakeholders. The IFSC Marketing & Communications Department is responsible for the promotion of Sport Climbing all around the world, mainly focusing on brand awareness and good reputation. The following activities are managed by the IFSC Marketing & Communications Department : corporate communications, events promotion, online communications, media relations, sponsorship activitiies, TV rights activities.

The Communications Assistant will be responsible for a variety of day-to-day tasks for the Marketing & Communications Department, as well as developing the media relations and contributing to the organization of the IFSC events. The employee in this position will report to the Director of Marketing & Communications. The resource will be based at the IFSC Headquarters in Turin, Italy.

Read the complete job offer here

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Six Partners to support the 2016 IFSC Climbing Season

The IFSC is very pleased to announce that a pool of six partners will support the 2016 IFSC Climbing Season. In addition to Kailas and Entre-Prises, two longtime partners, four new companies recently partnered with the IFSC: DJI, Epic TV, Luxov and Tenaya.

Anne Fuynel, Marketing and Communications Director of the IFSC, expressed the following sentiments about the impact of recent partnership developments: “We are very honored to renew our partnerships with Kailas and Entre-Prises. Both companies have been very supportive in our ambition to be part of the Olympic Games and have helped us developing the sport worldwide. We are also very pleased to welcome new innovative partners that all share the same values. It confirms that our sport is growing fast and gets the support of companies in and out the climbing community. Our sport attracts the young generation, the sport presentation has been improved in order to attract a broader audience and deliver an exciting experience. All these innovative partners will support us in our quest to reach a new step.”

Read the complete IFSC Partners 2016 Press Release

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IFSC World Championships 2016: the teaser is now released

The FFME (Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade) presented today the official teaser of the World Championships 2016. Want to have a look?

Watch the official teaser here. Romain Desgranges, Anouck Jaubert, Alban Levier, Sean McColl, Nicolas Moineau and Adam Ondra let you discover the official logo of the competition, while expressing their emotion and excitement to participate in this unique event.

Stay tuned on the IFSC website for regular information.

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IFSC 2016 Calendar announcement

The IFSC is pleased to announce the Calendar for the 2016 Sport Climbing Season. We will kick off the season with Bouldering on April 15th – 16th at the IFSC Climbing World Cup in Meiringen (Switzerland). The season will end on November 13th, with the last stage of the IFSC World Cup in Kranj (Slovenia).

The 2016 is full of changes for the IFSC: for the first time ever, the IFSC World Cup will be taking place in Meiringen (Switzerland), Nanjing (China), Navi Mumbai (India), Villars (Switzerland), Xiamen (China) and Guangzhou (China).

The IFSC is also excited to announce that the IFSC World Championships, which take place every two years, will be held this year in Paris, France. Additionally, from 12th to 16th October, Shanghai will host the 1st World University Sport Climbing Championship. Then, from 7th to 13th November the IFSC World Youth Championships will take place for the second time in China, in the city of Guangzhou.

IFSC President, Marco Maria Scolaris cannot wait for the season to start: “Year after year climbing popularity grows as well as the number of climbing lovers. It’s a community to be proud of. 2016 will be another fantastic season, with new cities ready to host the IFSC competitions. The entire IFSC is working on the visibility and accessibility of Sport Climbing.”

Check here the 2016 IFSC Calendar
Read the complete Calendar Announcement Press Release

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D – 200 to the IFSC Climbing and Paraclimbing World Championships

Only 200 days left to the beginning of the 2016 Climbing and Paraclimbing World Championships. The competition will take place on September 15th to 18th in the Capital of France, Paris.

The newly renovated Bercy Arena will host the event; more than 500 international athletes representing more than 50 countries are expected to participate in the competition. It will be the most prestigious event that the IFSC has ever organized.

AccorHotel Arena2

The best climbers of the world will compete in the three disciplines: Boulder, Lead and Speed. The FFME – Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade – just launched its new website dedicated to the event: worldclimbing2016.com. You can also follow the IFSC World Championships 2016 on: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

AccorHotel Arena3

Stay tuned for regular updated information!

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2016 IFSC Plenary Assembly legacy

The 11th Plenary Assembly of the IFSC, held in Tehran, has come to the end. For the first time in the Middle-East, the annual meeting gathered 34 Member Federations and was the occasion for the IFSC to report on the past year and set up the points of the oncoming season.

The IFSC is pleased to announce that the number of IFSC members is now up to 87, with the acceptance of Senegal, Rwanda and Macau as new IFSC Continental Members. The Republic of Botswana is joining as well the Federation, as new IFSC Developing Continental Member. There have also been changes concerning two already existing IFSC Member Federations, Canada and Mexico. The Alpine Club of Canada and the Federación Mexicana De Deportes De Montana Y Escalada are now substituted respectively by the Climbing Escalade Canada and the Federación Mexicana De Escalada Deportiva as new IFSC members for these Countries.

Additionally, the IFSC has worked to establish the locations of the IFSC World Youth Championships 2017, which will take place in Innsbruck (AUT).

The IFSC thanks the Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation (IMSCF) for the organization and hospitality in Tehran, who passed the baton to Québec City (CAN) for the 2017 IFSC Plenary Assembly.

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IFSC Plenary Assembly 2016: Sport Climbing as One Voice

The 11th Annual Plenary Assembly of the IFSC held here in Tehran (Iran) ended yesterday, 20th February 2016. Hosted by the Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation (IMSCF). It brought together 34 member federations. It concluded with a press conference in the official hotel of the Iranian Olympic Committee.

More than 15 media representatives were present to listen to both IFSC and IMSCF leaders: Marco Maria Scolaris, IFSC President, Helmut Knabl, IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events and Reza Zarei, President of the Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation (IMSCF).

IFSC PlenaryAssembly 2016..

During the press conference, the main topics  were Tokyo 2020 bid and Sport Climbing in Iran.

Mr Scolaris conclued "I felt a lot of harmony in the sport climbing family, willing to work together for the development of the sport. The all-day meeting was very constructive and united, with representatives willing to pursue their efforts to improve structure at national level and be ready for Tokyo 2020. They massively support the inclusion of Sport Climbing at Tokyo 2020.”

IFSC PlenaryAssembly 2016.

Read the full press release here.

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IFSC Pleanary Assembly 2016: Sport Climbing as One Voice

The 11th Annual Plenary Assembly of the IFSC held here in Tehran (Iran) ended yesterday, 20th February 2016. Hosted by the Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation (IMSCF), the Plenary Assembly brought together 34 member federations. It concluded with a press conference in the official hotel of the Iranian Olympic Committee.

 More than 15 media representatives were present to listen to both IFSC and IMSCF leaders: Marco Maria Scolaris, IFSC President, Helmut Knabl, IFSC Vice-President Sport/Events and Reza Zarei, President of the Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation (IMSCF).

During the press conference, the main topics  were Tokyo 2020 bid and Sport Climbing in Iran.

Mr Scolaris conclued "I felt a lot of harmony in the sport climbing family, willing to work together for the development of the sport. The all-day meeting was very constructive and united, with representatives willing to pursue their efforts to improve structure at national level and be ready for Tokyo 2020. They massively support the inclusion of Sport Climbing at Tokyo 2020.”

Read the full press release here.

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IFSC Plenary Assembly 2016

The IFSC Executive Board is meeting today and tomorrow in Tehran - Iran before the annual Plenary Assembly to be held on Saturday


image1


The Plenary Assembly is centralizing the attention of the media, which are showing the rising interest of the public for Sport Climbing. Here you can find an example of this coverage:
http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1034524/sport-climbing-to-hold-key-meeting-in-tehran-as-bid-for-tokyo-2020-inclusion-continues

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Yesterday's meeting with the Iranian Olympic Committee President

Yesterday, the IFSC President, Mr Marco Maria Scolaris met the Iranian Olympic Committee President, Mr Kiumars Hashemi, in the presence of the representatives of the I. R. Iran Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Federation.

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IFSC PA: A Press Conference to be held on Saturday 20th February

On the occasion of its 11th Annual Plenary Assembly, the President of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), Mr. Marco Maria Scolaris, and its distinguished guest, the Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation (IMSCF), will hold together the official Press Conference of the event. The appointment is for Saturday 20th February, 2016 at 5.30p.m. Location: ParsianEsteghlal International Hotel - Tehran - Iran.

        The President of the IFSC and Vice-President Sport/Events, Mr. Helmut Knabl will address the following topics:
      • lnclusion of new events/sports, including Sport Climbing, in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
      • 2016 Climbing Season: a revamped Calendar thanks to new entrants

Marco Maria Scolaris will be more than pleased to update you on Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: "This year is a milestone in the development of Sport climbing. The entire climbing community is waiting and hoping for a positive answer from Rio de Janeiro."
And Helmut Knabl will present the thrilling 2016 Sport Climbing season: "This year, we’ll be back to Paris Bercy for the IFSC Climbing and Paraclimbing World Championships, in Shanghai for the World University Championships and in Guangzhou for the IFSC World Youth Championships: those will be the leading events, although a rich World Cup Series, with some inspiring new entries, will bring great excitement.”

For more information, please contact

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Director of Marketing & Communications, IFSC

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - International Affairs, IMSCF and VP, IFSC Asia Continental Council

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IFSC Plenary Assembly

The next official appointment for the International Federation of Sport Climbing is coming. Next February 20th in Tehran, Iran, the IFSC will hold its 11th Plenary Assembly, hosted by the Iran Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Federation (IMSCF).

The Assembly is the perfect occasion for the IFSC to set up all the points related to the oncoming 2016 season, without forgetting the legacy of 2015. This year was pleasantly successful for the IFSC; Sport Climbing has increased of worldwide popularity and importance. At the same time, the Plenary Assembly will be the occasion to share ideas and plans for the future,and to illustrate the next steps in our road to Tokyo 2020,hoping for a positive outcome of the IOC Session in August.

To this extent, the 2016 Plenary Assembly will be preceded, on February 19th afternoon, by a workshop on the following topic: “From National to International: how National Federations can play a key role, from their development plans and functioning inside the IFSC to their involvement in Tokyo 2020 bid”.


For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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New President of The World Games 2017

Marcin Przychodny took over today as President of the Organizing Committee of The World Games 2017 in Wrocław/Poland. The same day Adam Roczek took over the duties of his deputy.

This was announced by Rafal Dutkiewiecz, Mayor of Wroclaw, in a letter to José Peruena, President of the International World Games Association. Mayor Dutkiewiecz stressed in his letter: “I am convinced that the knowledge and experience of the newly established Board will help to organize very successful Games in Wrocław.” The 10th edition of The World Games will take place from 20 to 30 July 2017.

Marcin Przychodny is a former member of the Organizing Committees for the UEFA EURO 2012 in Wrocław and for the FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup in Szklarska Poręba – Jakuszyce. For the last few years he served as Director of the Sports Department in the Lower Silesia Regional Government. Adam Roczek is the acting President of the European University Sports Association as well as Deputy President of the Polish University Sports Association.

Mr. Przychodny took over from Piotr Przygonski who served in the office of President until January 2015. The position of Vice-President had been vacant since summer 2015.

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Sport Climbing 2016 Kick-off press meeting by JMA

On Tuesday 26th of January, JMA (Japanese Mountaineering Association) held a "Sport Climbing 2016 Kick-off press meeting" with international athletes Akiyo Noguchi, Rei Sugimoto and Yuka Kobayashi. These top Japanese athletes spoke about their view of the 2016 climbing season as well as of Tokyo 2020.

IFSC JMA Press conference Tokyo 2020 Jan 2016 2Akiyo Noguchi said: « I feel that sport climbing is gathering much more attention than before, especially from those who are not familiar with sport climbing. I hope that people will know more about the joy and excitement sport climbing brings thanks to Tokyo 2020 bid's. »

IFSC JMA Press conference Tokyo 2020 Jan 2016 1

Many TV news and press articles followed this event, most of them focusing on the changes sport climbing would experience if its selection was confirmed for Tokyo 2020:

IFSC JMA Press conference Tokyo 2020 Jan 2016 3

IFSC JMA Press conference Tokyo 2020 Jan 2016 4

 

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Another step towards Tokyo 2020

Important meeting today in Tokyo for the IFSC delegation with the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and JMA (Japanese Mountaineering Association) to set up the points of the potential venue of Sport Climbing event in case of a positive vote at the August IOC Session.

Present to this meeting are (from left to right):
Mr. Pierre Fratter-Bardy (FRA) – IOC Head of Summer sport and IF relation
Mr. Jerome Meyer (FRA) - IFSC Sport Manager
Mr. Kit McConell (AUS/NZL) - IOC Sport Director
Mr. Koji Murofushi (JPN) - Tokyo 2020 Sport Director
Mr. Marco Maria Scolaris (ITA) - IFSC President
Mr. Kobinata Toru (JPN) - IFSC Asian Council Vice President
Mr. Christophe Billon (FRA) – IFSC Technical Delegate
Mr. Xavier Becker (FRA) – IOC Head of Venues, Infrastructures & Services

The final decision will be made at the 129th IOC Session in August of this year.

Among the IFSC Delegation (from left to right):
Mr. Morishita (JPA) - JMA board member
Mr. Yuji Hirayama (JPA) - Climbing Athlete
Mr. Kobinata Toru (JPA) - Vice President IFSC Asian Council
Mr. Ogata (JPA) - Vice President JMA
Mr. Marco Maria Scolaris (ITA) - IFSC President
Mr. Yagihara (JPA) - JMA President
Mr. Onodera (JPA) - General Secretary JMA

IFSC Tokyo 2020 2016 January meeting 3

Additionnal IFSC Delegation members (from left to right):
Mr. Christophe Billon (FRA) – IFSC Technical Delegate
Mr. Jerome Meyer (FRA) - IFSC Sport Manager
Mr. Marco Maria Scolaris (ITA) - IFSC President
Mr. Kobinata Toru (JPN) - IFSC Asian Council Vice President

IFSC Tokyo 2020 2016 January meeting 2

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New staff member at the IFSC

IFSC Larisa Ioana StoicaLarisa Ioana Stoica has just joined the IFSC office in Torino. Larisa recently graduated from the University of Torino with a Master’s Degree in Translation and Interpreting.

Born in Romania, she moved to Italy during the early years of her life. Some years ago, as part of an internship, she also spent a few months in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in order to participate at the 10th UNESCO Congress. In addition, she worked as a translator and interpreter, mainly translating from English and Italian to Romanian and vice versa. 

Larisa will be in charge among others of facilitating the communication with the IFSC National Federations and the Event Organizers, and assisting the IFSC Staff in day-to-day activities.

Welcome to Larisa! 

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IFSC 2015 PA: Announcement and Registration Form

Please download here the Announcement and Registration Form of the IFSC Plenary Assembly 2015.
 
All registrations must be returned to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by December 19th.

For more information: Francesca Jengo – IFSC Office This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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IFSC 2015 Plenary Assembly

The 2015 Plenary Assembly will be held in Baden (Zurich), Switzerland, on 14th March 2015, hosted by the Schweizer Alpen Club – SAC.

The 2015 PA will be an important moment to share the exciting experience of the first official presence of the IFSC in an Olympic event. The invitation from the IOC to be part of the Sports Lab at the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games proves that we’ve worked well and displays a bright future for our sport.

All the National Federations are warmly invited to attend the PA and the workshops.

For more information: Francesca Jengo – IFSC Office This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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IFSC 2015 Plenary Assembly

The 2015 Plenary Assembly will be held in Baden (Zurich), Switzerland, on 14th March 2015. The hosting Federation is the Schweizer Alpen Club – SAC.


The 2015 Plenary Assembly will be preceded, on March 13th afternoon, by two workshops: “The Olympic Future at Home” (a continuation of the 2014 Workshop) and “From the Web to TV, the IFSC strategies and plans”.

The location, details and registration form for the IFSC Plenary Assembly will be made available soon. These forms
should be returned to the IFSC Office and to the SAC.

Full agenda, logistics details and all other relevant documentation will be distributed in due time and made available
on the IFSC website.

The 2015 PA will be an important moment to share the exciting experience of the first official presence of the IFSC in an Olympic event. The invitation from the IOC to be part of the Sports Lab at the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games proves that we’ve worked well and displays a bright future for our sport.

However, the development of sport climbing around the world on the national scenes depends mostly on the passion
and the commitment of the IFSC National Federations. Let’s see together how to make it!

For more information: Francesca Jengo – IFSC Office This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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IFSC CALENDAR 2014 AT A GLANCE

To have more information about each event, please visit IFSC Calendar also.

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2014 IFSC Plenary Assembly

The 2014 Plenary Assembly will be held in Paris, France, on 01 March 2014.

The hosting Federation is the Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade – FFME.

The location, details and registration form for the IFSC Plenary Assembly will be available soon on the dedicated pages of the website and will also be sent via email.  

Full agenda, logistics details and all other relevant documentation will be distributed in due time and made available on the IFSC website.

 

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