The First Ever “LGBT International Powerlifting Championships” are happening in London in July 2017 …
In July 2017 the strongest LGBT people from around the world will come together for the first ever LGBT International Powerlifting Championships. Organisers are expecting up to 60 participants from across the globe including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States of America and Slovenia. Athletes competing will include first time novice lifters through to World Champions and World record holders.
The Championships are the idea of Gay Games Powerlifters Chris Morgan and Dominic Patmore in response to Powerlifting not being included in Gay Games Paris 2018. Powerlifting had been part of Gay Games since it was first held in San Francisco in 1982. The new championships aim to bring LGBT lifters together from across the world to compete, socialise and discuss the future of LGBT Powerlifting.
Co-Promoter Chris Morgan, an eight time world champion in the sport, said …
“It is very important that LGBT Powerlifters are given the same opportunities as I’ve enjoyed over the last 18 years in the sport. LGBT lifters are very much a minority in the sport of Powerlifting and it is important that we are able to come together as a group to compete at least once a year. We have never had our own annual international championships, so to bring everyone together in London 2017 will be a very special occasion”.
Co-promoter Dominic Patmore is a Gay Games Gold Medallist from Cologne 2010, continued …
“London is the perfect location for the world’s first LGBT International Powerlifting Championships, with its diverse communities and wealth of visitor attractions. In 2017 the Powerlifting Championships will be happening on the weekend in between the World Para-athletics Championships and the World Athletics Championships , so participants will be visiting a city alive with sporting energy”.
Participants of all abilities are welcome, regardless of age, sexuality, ability, gender and health status as there are no minimum qualifying standards for the LGBT International Powerlifting Championships. The weekend will consist of a free coaching clinic, powerlifting competition, athletes banquet, congress and closing party sponsored by Eagle Bar and The World Famous Horse Meat Disco, with participants encouraged to come together and meet both new and old friends from within the sport.
The competition itself will take part on Saturday 29th July at Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club, which was established in 1926 and is well known for its strong commitment to diversity within the communities it serves. Events being offered are Full Powerlifting (Equipped & Unequipped), Single Lift Squat (Equipped & Unequipped), Single Lift Bench (Equipped & Unequipped) and Single Lift Deadlift (Equipped & Unequipped).
The host hotel for the event is the Holiday Inn Express,(London City) that is within walking distance of the competition venue and is close to the restaurants and amenities offered by the trendy Shoreditch and Spitalfields Market areas of London. Holiday Inn Express are offering a special discounted room rate, all people associated with the LGBT IPC championships, staying between Thursday 27th July and Monday 30th July. Visit the LGBT IPC website for details.
International guests will also be interested to learn that The LGBT IPC weekend is happening the weekend before the UK’s biggest pride festival so international guests will be able to visit www.brighton-pride.org. Brighton is on the South Coast of England and is only one hour from London by train, giving an ideal opportunity for them to extend their stay and make a vacation of their trip to the UK.
For more details about the LGBT International Powerlifting Championships and to register your interest visit their website: www.lgbtpowerlifting.org or their Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/203653086703441/ or their Facebook Event Page https://www.facebook.com/events/1695602424035594/
For more information about the event contact Chris Morgan Email Chunky@chunkymuscle.com
Editors Notes:
- The LGBT IPC weekend has a full programme of activities including Novices Coaching Clinic (Friday 28th July), Competition (Saturday 29th July), Athletes Banquet (Saturday 29th July), Congress (Sunday 30th July) and Closing Party (Sunday 30th July) Visit www.lgbtpowerlifing.org for more details
- Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club was formed in 1926 and is a community funded gym, located in Central London www.bgwlc.co.uk
- The LGBT IPC weekend closing party is sponsored by The Eagle Bar and The World Famous Horse Meat Disco www.eaglelondon.com/horse-meat-disco
- The sport of Powerlifting was part of the programme of Gay Games in nine Gay Games from 1982 San Francisco through to Gay Games 2014 in Cleveland Ohio. It was also part of the World Out games in Montreal in 2006. Bench Press Single Event was part of the Eurogames in Munich in 2004. Powerlifting has not been included in Gay Games Paris 2018 www.gaygames.org www.paris2018.com
- World ParaAthletics Championships is happening in London 14th to 23rd July 2017 and World Athletics Championships 4th to 13th August 2017 at the Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park London. www.london2017athletics.com
- Brighton Pride Festival, The UK’s biggest Pride Festival is happening Saturday 5th August 2017 www.brighton-pride.org
Co-Promotor Biographies
Chris Morgan:
Chris has been one of the UK’s leading openly gay athletes since starting his Powerlifting career at the Gay Games in 1998.
During his eighteen year career he has represented England and Great Britain a total of twenty two times, where he has taken a total of twenty four international medals. He has been World Champion eight times, European Champion twice, British Champion Eighteen times and has won six Gay Games gold medals. In 2010 and 2011 he was the overall Best Lifter at the British Deadlift Championships and in 2011 was the overall Best Lifter at the European Deadlift Championships. He is the holder of several World and British strength records in the Deadlift.
Chris is constantly working for the organisation that gave him confidence to be an openly gay athlete, as a global ambassador. His role for the Federation of Gay Games is to inspire and motivate young gay athletes worldwide. His website can be visited at www.chunkymuscle.com
Dominic Patmore:
Dominic began competing in Powerlifting in 2008, when a chance encounter put him in contact with Bethnal Green Weightlifting Club.
In his first two years he went on to win the All England Championships and placed 3rd in the British Championships in his weight class. Another chance encounter introduced him to something called the “Gay Games” happening in Cologne in 2010, where he won a Gold medal. He has since competed in the Gay Games in Cleveland 2014, where he took a Gold and Silver Medal. Dominic is the technical officer for the Great Britain Powerlifting Federation – London Division.
He hopes in some way to make sure that future generations of LGBT Powerlifters have access to the same experiences that he has had within the sport.