Retired Olympic weightlifter Vlad: Romania is proud to host the European Championships in the Centennial year

Chairman of the Romanian Weightlifting Federation (FRH) Nicu Vlad told AGERPRES on Tuesday that he is proud that his association will host the European Senior Championships in the year Romania celebrates its Greater Union Centennial.

"Romania hosted twice the European Championships in 1972 and 2009, and now we have this opportunity again. We did not expect to succeed, but because Albania could not host it, we offered to host it ourselves. I wanted so much to bring this competition to Romania, and I managed even if there were other countries like Sweden and Georgia. Yesterday we officially received the papers from the European Weightlifting Federation and we got to work. It's late; there is a ton to do, but we are very proud to organise the European Championships in the year of the Centennial," said Vlad.

He added that Romania will have an important international coverage because of this competition. "The European Championships will be broadcast on several continents; Eurosport alone will have 36 live hours, plus replays. Thus, Romania will benefit from a great international coverage in the year that marks the centennial of its Greater Union," he said.

The competition will most likely take place in the Polivalenta Hall of the Izvorani Olympic Complex. "In principle, we have chosen the Izvorani Hall, but we are still looking, we may find another venue; maybe Floreasca, Agronomie or even Apollo, but some are too small, some are in use The Polivalenta Hall in Bucharest is already taken; because we got the acceptance to host the competition late and the Polivalenta Hall is taken for that time. Officials of Eurosport and the European Federation will come and we will decide together in the next few days," Vlad explained.

Romania will host the European Weightlifting Championships, March 26 - April 1 after Albania announced it cannot organise itself because of administrative problems. AGERPRES (RO - author: Marius Tone, editor: Mihai Tenea; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Adina Panaitescu)