Powerlifting is one of the seven IBSA sports that will have competition in the 2023 IBSA World Games, in Birmingham.

The venue for the Powerlifting event will be the Andrew Brode Sport Centre at the King Edward School, and will take place between August 23-25, with the previous three days kept for training sessions.

There are 11 countries that made the final submission for the sport of Powerlifting, namely: Australia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Turkey, and Venezuela.

There are 17 female athletes and 42 male athletes nominated for the Powerlifting competition, all together 59 Powerlifting athletes.

Check out the documents regarding the competition:

• Teams training schedule
• Final entry by name
• Powerlifting competition schedule
• Kit check schedule
• New World records
• IBSA Powerlifting technical rules
• Duty roster of referees

“Indeed, I am confident that the 2023 IBSA World Games powerlifting championship will show the strength and high-level abilities of the IBSA powerlifting elite athletes, where they will prove their potential both mentally and physically. As IBSA powerlifting chairman , it will be a pleasure to be in Birmingham, the host city for the Blind and visually impaired’s biggest sports event in the world! I am sure that the LOC of the Games will organise and host this big event according to the highest levels and standards possible. During the days of staying of all teams in the village of the Games, all athletes, coaches, referees, and team managers will have the opportunity to become familiar with each other, which will build strong friendships between them as powerlifters, judokas, football, goalball, showdown, bowling, and chess players. This event will guarantee the beautiful truth: athletes are the keepers of peace in the world!“
Nezam Dodel, Powerlifting Sport Committee Chairperson

Powerlifting competitions for the blind began in the early 1980s in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, and the USA.

Competitions in these countries were held, with National results and records exchanged between the four participating countries.

On April 16th, 1988, the first World Cup of Powerlifting was staged in Ottawa, Canada. Forty-one (41) lifters participated in this meet, with men’s and women’s open and master’s category competitions taking place under International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) rules.

With the new millennium came a shift from a separate Blind Powerlifting Federation to being a technical sub-committee of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA).

Since the year 2000, there have been World Championships annually, except in 2001, 2004, 2006, 2017, and 2020, this last one due to COVID restrictions. In 2003, Powerlifting debuted at the IBSA World Games in Quebec, Canada.