EPF Info - June 1997

General Secretary Heiner Köberich, Amselweg 3, D64572 Klein Gerau, Germany.
Tel.#49--6152-910306 Fax #49-6152-910307

1997 European Bench Press Invitation
Minutes of the 1997 EPF Congress
1997 Men's European Championships, Birmingham
Other Business

1997 European Bench Press Invitation

European Powerlifting Federation and Swedish Weightlifting Federation.

Invitation for the 3rd European Bench Press Championships 1997.

Sanctioned by the European Powerlifting Federation the Swedish Weightlifting Federation invites the EPF Member Nations for the 3rd European Bench Press Championships.

Meet Director: Erik Uddebom, Synhallsgatan 7, 421 36 Västra-Frölunda Fax #46-36-138621.
Meet Secretary: Kenneth Mattson.
Host City: Gothenburg, Sweden.
Date: 15th to 17th of August 1997
Venue: Angereds Sporthall.
Hotel: Scandic Hotel Tel.#46-31-520060 Fax #46-31-528333. All participating Nations must book their hotel themselves by 31st July.
Hotel Rates: per room: single 640SEK, double 640SEK, breakfast included. Quote "Bench Press" booking code when booking in order to get the right price. The Organiser will not be responsible for any hotel bills of the participating Nations - each Team Manager will be responsible.
Technical Meeting:Thursday 14th of August 1997 in Hotel Scandic.
Arrivals:Transport is available from the Airport to the Hotel but only if the exact arrival time is given. From the Port it is necessary to take a tram or a taxi.
Train: Gothenburg train station
Transport: Transport from the Hotel to the Arena is available at a cost of 125SEK per person.
Scales + Training: at the Scandic Hotel and venue.
Flags, anthems and photos:Each nation must bring its flag and anthem. For each lifter and official send one photo - identification is necessary for security reasons. Also, ensure everyone has the necessary Visas. Closing Banquet:Sunday in Hotel at 2000 hours, 165SEK per lifter, official and other members. Banquet tickets only available from the Hotel. Doping Control Fee:45 DM for each entered lifter, payable in DM at the technical meeting.

Provisional Timetable

Opening ceremony - Friday 15th of August at 1130 hours.

Day and date   weigh-in time  classes           start-time
Friday  15th   1000 to 1130   all disabled      1200 hours
               1500 to 1630   W 44kg to 52kg    1700 hours
Saturday 16th  0900 to 1030   W 56kg to 90+kg   1100 hours
               1200 to 1330   M 52kg to 67.5kg  1400 hours
               1600 to 1730   M 75kg to 90kg    1800 hours
Sunday 17th    0900 to 1030   M 100kg to 125+kg	1100 hours

Please Note: Changes of the timetable are possible depending on the number of nominations at the technical meeting. Victory ceremonies will be held at the end of each section of the competition.

Arnulf Wahlström (EPF President) Heiner Köberich (EPF Secretary) Eric Uddebom (Swedish Federation).

Minutes of the 1997 EPF Congress

The EPF President welcomed 15 nations to the 1997 Congress. All reports were accepted unanimously. There were several votes on proposals to be included in the IPF Congress Agenda.

A. Bylaws. The following serving officials within the EPF shall not be permitted to deal in or supply any recognised powerlifting equipment: President, Secretary, Vice President, Treasurer, Finance Committee Chairman and Technical Committee Chairman. 9 yes 5 no.
B. EU Cup. The team competition will be decided on the total place points of the 4 best listers in each team. 7 yes, 0 no, only voted by EU Members present.
C. Equipment. The EPF Congress recognise the current thinking within the sport and discuss the possibility of banning all items of supporting equipment used in powerlifting competition. It is suggested that as from 1st of January 2001, after the next IPF Congress, supportive equipment worn by lifters will be restricted to an athletic leotard, a belt and wraps for knees and wrists. A standard T-shirt would also be required for women and optional for men. If the Congress agree to such, then a similar proposal will be forwarded to the IPF for discussion at the 1997 IPF Congress. Reason: Only by adopting such a proposal can powerlifting ever be considered for inclusion in the Olympic Games. If an announcement were to be made at the November IPF Congress giving three years notice of the above intention becoming a new rule at the next Rules Congress, then manufactures would have ample time in which to phase out production of the banned articles of clothing. Naturally records would start afresh from 1st of January 2001. 9 yes 2 no 4 abstentions.
D. Master Bench Press The EPF shall institute an official Masters Bench Press Championships in all categories for able bodies men and women. 8 yes, 5 no, 2 abstentions. The first championships will be held in Austria in 1998.

All other proposals were rejected. In future all IPF Congress accepted proposals will be included in the official EPF constitution or By Laws, after examination by the EPF executive if deemed to be to be relevant to the EPF.

Arnold Boström of Sweden was elected to the EPF Hall of Fame.

The bid from Sweden that the EPF should pay Jörgen Ljungberg compensation for his negative B-Test was rejected by the Congress.

Situation in France - no new French Federation will be accepted by the EPF at the moment, so the old one is still a member of EPF. The EPF will observe the development in France to see which of the possible federations will come to be accepted by the French government.

John Moody gave a detailed report about the unification process in USA concerning the former ADFPA and the USPF.

Men's European Championships, Birmingham

In terms of organisation, the 1997 Men's Europeans were the best championships in the 20 year history of the EPF. The EPF would like to thank Ralph Farquarson the Meet Director, the loading team, the MC and all other crew members. It will be not easy for future organisers to meet the standards set in Birmingham. Whilst in Birmingham, the EPF celebrated its 20th anniversary with great success. The only negative part of the championships was the late withdrawl of a large contingent of lifters (35) which left the organiser with a debt of nearly 5000GBP to pay for pre-booked rooms. This is very unfair to the organiser.

Other Business

Membership Fee 1997 - Some nations have still not paid the EPF Fee for 1997. It is now June and the fee is 350+75DM=425DM including the 5 month late penalty. The nations owing 425DM are Spain, Portugal, Georgia, Belarus and Cyprus. These nations will all receive a reminder notice. If they have not have paid by the end of June, they will be suspended.
Hotel Prices at the Danube Cup. The Congress discussed the prices at the Danube Cup in Slovakia and found it the rates reasonable as they included 3 full meals per day. "As request by the organiser it is hereby stated that the accommodation prices during the Baltic Cup in Banovce, Slovak Republic was 60 DM per person per night including 3 meals."
The EPF Calendar including the year 2000 will be published in the next Info in July.

Heiner Köberich (Edited by David Hinchley)

| David Hinchley 3 Jun 1997