Moscow will host the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships, marking a significant moment as it becomes the first global event in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This decision, announced by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) on Sunday, comes just four months after Russian athletes were declared eligible to compete in international events once again.

In July, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, which had been imposed due to the invasion. This move potentially paves the way for Russian athletes to represent their country at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The IWF revealed the host cities for four world championships across junior, youth, and senior levels, with Ahmedabad, India set to host the 2029 senior event. IWF general secretary Jose Quinones remarked on the quality of the bids received, expressing confidence that the events will succeed in their respective countries.

Notably, no world championships in any Olympic sport have occurred in Russia since the onset of the war. The 2025 World Aquatics Championships, which were to be held in Kazan, were relocated to Singapore.

The Russian Weightlifting Federation emphasized its achievement, stating it is the first Olympic sports federation to bring a major event back to Russia in years. Federation president Aleksandr Vinokurov expressed gratitude to the IWF for their trust, highlighting that the championships will also serve as a qualifying event for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia. He stated that Moscow possesses the experience and infrastructure to host top-level competitions.

While the IOC's decision has allowed some Russian athletes to compete as neutrals in recent Olympic events, Ukraine has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to annul the IOC's suspension lift. As the 2026 IWF World Championships in Ningbo, China, approach, five Ukrainian athletes are set to participate, scheduled from October 27 to November 8.