How to watch the IWF World Weightlifting Championships anywhere

The IWF World Weightlifting Championships is the pinnacle of the weightlifting world.

The competition, which takes place annually, dates back to 1891, is one of the longest-running competitive sports competitions in the world.

Today, men and women participate in the same competition, and there are a total of 20 different weight categories up for grabs.

Weightlifting is a popular sport around the globe, and fans from all four corners of the globe will be eagerly anticipating this IWF World Weightlifting Championship. I have quite a few friends here who are eager to tune in.

But unfortunately, the IWF World Weightlifting Championships is not being broadcast on TV everywhere, meaning for some, it will not be easy to watch.

The good news is that if you use a VPN, it is possible to watch the IWF World Weightlifting Championships from anywhere in the world. And in this guide, we will show you exactly how to do it using a VPN.

How-to Guide: Watching with a VPN

1. Understanding a VPN

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a powerful app that safeguards your online privacy.

It does this by creating a secure, encrypted connection between your device and an external server operated by the VPN provider. This connection shields your data from prying eyes, such as hackers and ISPs, ensuring your online activities remain private.

One key feature of a VPN is its ability to mask your true geographical location. By routing your internet traffic through different locations, a VPN can make it appear as if you’re browsing from a different country.

This geographic obfuscation is particularly useful for bypassing regional restrictions on content, such as accessing websites, streaming services, or online events that might be limited to specific regions. It is, therefore, perfect for helping you unblock and watch the IWF World Weightlifting Championships.

When selecting a reputable VPN provider to unblock the IWF World Weightlifting Championships, it is important to choose one that has all the features you need.

From our extensive testing, I can say with confidence that ExpressVPN is the one to choose.

NordVPN and CyberGhost VPN are two other providers worth looking at and you’re free to pick. I’ve tested plenty of others but they’re either too difficult to set up or end up with buffering when watching live sports which is hugely disappointing.

They offer a blend of strong security, reliable high-speed connections, a wide network of servers, and user-friendly interfaces, ensuring a seamless experience while keeping you safe online.

Most importantly, they all help you to stream the IWF World Weightlifting Championships wherever you happen to be.

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2. Steps to Set Up a VPN and start Watching

Choosing the right VPN is crucial, which is why we have done the hard work for you and identified the best VPNs for the job.

ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and CyberGhost VPN can all do the job, but our number one pick would be ExpressVPN. It ticks all the boxes and, having used it myself for streaming live sports events for years, I can vouch for the fact that it has never once let me down.

So, once you have chosen which VPN service to use, what’s next?

Well, you need to set everything up and that is a lot easier than it may sound. In fact, to make it even easier, we have compiled a simple step-by-step guide for you to follow:

Step 1

Sign up for ExpressVPN, go to their website to do this.

The longer deals usually offer the best value for money. Remember, all our recommended VPNs have a minimum 30-day money-back guarantee, so there is lots of time to try before you buy.

Step 2

Download and install the VPN app on your device. For security reasons, be sure to always do this either from your app store or the VPN’s official website.

Step 3

Open your new app and connect to a server in a country where the IWF World Weightlifting Championships are being broadcast. Keep reading for more information on that!

Watch the events live using ExpressVPN.

Step 4

Ensure that your VPN connection is active and stable. Your VPN’s app should flash green (or something like that) to signify when this is the case.

Step 5

Visit the website or app of a broadcaster which is showing full coverage of the IWF World Weightlifting Championships. We recommend the following options:

• Germany – ARD
• Poland – TVP
• Spain – RTVE
• Bulgaria – BNT

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3. Safety Tips While Using a VPN

Prioritising safety while using a VPN is paramount. Always opt for a trusted VPN provider to ensure your data remains secure and private.

The ones I have recommended are all rock-solid, completely dependable and been around a long time with positive reviews all across the internet.

Reputable providers always offer robust encryption and privacy protections while offering the best all-around service. My advice is to steer clear of free VPNs, which often compromise security for cost-cutting measures and are often too slow for streaming live video.

Free VPNs might harvest your data or even expose you to cyberattacks, malware, and worse.

Remember, a reliable VPN not only safeguards your online activities but also guarantees your peace of mind when going online and streaming content like the IWF World Weightlifting Championships.

There is nothing worse than settling down to watch an event only for the annoying spinning logo to crop up and the video pause.

IWF World Weightlifting Championships: An Overview

History and Significance

The IWF World Weightlifting Championships can trace its history back to 1891 when the first ever event was won by Edward Lawrence Levy of England.

Originally conceived as a European event, in the 20th century, the IWF World Weightlifting Championships went global and, with the exception of the war years, has continued uninterrupted to this day.

The popularity of weightlifting in Eastern Europe made the IWF World Weightlifting Championships a key diplomatic event during the Cold War years, and even today, it remains a forum for many diverse nations to come together.

It is a sport that transcends national boundaries like few others, and recent hosts include the USA, Turkmenistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.

The 2023 IWF World Weightlifting Championships is being held in Saudi Arabia and will also serve as the qualifier event for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Check out some of these huge lifts from a previous event:

Events Taking Place

There are a total of twenty different categories that make up the IWF World Weightlifting Championships; ten for men and ten for women.

They are:

• Men categories: 55 kg, 61 kg, 67 kg, 73 kg, 81 kg, 89 kg, 96 kg, 102 kg, 109 kg and +109 kg.
• Women categories: 45 kg, 49 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 64 kg, 71 kg, 76 kg, 81 kg, 87 kg and +87 kg.

Some of the match-ups to look forward to include Olympic champion Chen Lijun (PRC) and two-time Olympic medallist Luis Javier Mosquera (Col), who will compete in the men’s 67kg event.

I know the heavier events are also popular, so keep a look out for Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Akbar Djuraev from Uzbekistan, while Taiwan’s Kuo Hsing-chun is a huge star back home, especially when taking on and beating PRC opponents.

When and where is the IWF taking place?

The 2023 IWF World Weightlifting Championships will take place in the city of Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia.

The competition will run from the 4th – 17th September 2023.

You should factor in timezones when planning to watch the IWF World Weightlifting Championships.

Athletes to watch at the IWF

There will be a great many stars participating in the 2023 IWF World Weightlifting Championships, but just a few of the names to look out for are:

Lasha Talakhadze (Georgia)

Widely viewed as the strongest weightlifter to ever live, Lasha Talakhadze is a two-time Olympic Champion, six-time World Champion, and seven-time European Champion.

He is a three-time winner of the IWF Male Lifter of the Year and the bar by which all other weightlifters are measured.

Varazdat Lalayan (Armenia)

Varazdat Lalayan is, perhaps, the only man likely to steal Lasha Talakhadze’s crown. He has won two World Championship medals but is yet to take gold.

However, he is pushing Lasha Talakhadze hard as no other rival has. Perhaps 2023 will be his year?

Karlos Nasar (Bulgaria)

A young prodigy whose training lifts have set the weightlifting world ablaze and who has already added gold medals to his trophy cabinet at the age of just 20 years old.

Nasar is already a star, but he has all the hallmarks of a legend, and the 2023 IWF World Weightlifting Championships could be the next step down that road for him.

Kuo Hsing-chun (Taiwan)

Kuo Hsing-chun is an Olympic Champion, five-time World Champion, and five-time Asian Champion. She competes in the 58kg category and has set 11 world records in her career to date.

Kuo is a huge star back in Taiwan, especially after her Olympic gold medal and her regular victories over opponents from the PRC.

Summary: My Closing Thoughts

Weightlifting is a sport that can trace its origins back to the classic era. The IWF World Weightlifting Championships is one of the oldest competitions out there.

This is sport at its purest and most clinical, and even casual fans like me can get so much out of it.

The 2023 IWF World Weightlifting Championships, held in Saudi Arabia, looks set to be a real humdinger of an event, not least because it is also a qualifier for the 2024 Olympics.

Sadly, the IWF World Weightlifting Championships is not being broadcast everywhere, but by signing up for ExpressVPN you can watch live streams wherever you happen to be on the planet.

This is as it should be. Weightlifting has long been a sport that transcends national boundaries and brings differing nations together.

Now all you need to do is sit back and cheer on your favourite.