The 6th Islamic Solidarity Games, hosted in Riyadh from 7 to 21 November 2025, will unite 57 member nations under the auspices of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA). Around 3,500 athletes across 23 sports — including athletics, para-athletics, 3×3 basketball, judo, camel racing, esports, and, centrally, weightlifting — will compete in a multi-sport festival that combines cultural identity with high-performance sport.
Weightlifting will run from 8 to 12 November at Boulevard Venue A, with training facilities at Princess Noura University inside the Athlete Village. A total of 16 medal events will be contested — eight men’s and eight women’s categories — with medals awarded separately for Snatch, Clean & Jerk, and Total. This results in 48 sets of medals across the program, ensuring equal recognition for each lift and overall performance. The bodyweight categories are as follows:
• Men: 60 kg, 65 kg, 71 kg, 79 kg, 88 kg, 94 kg, 110 kg, +110 kg
• Women: 48 kg, 53 kg, 58 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg, 77 kg, 86 kg, +86 kg
The athlete quota is 240 (120 men, 120 women), with a maximum of one athlete per NOC per category, giving high strategic value to each quota slot.
A recently published Weightlifting Technical Handbook serves as the primary guidelines document for the competition. Developed in cooperation with the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), ISSA, and the Local Organizing Committee, it details competition rules, technical protocols, venue standards, anti-doping procedures, athlete eligibility, and operational processes. Binding for all participants, it ensures the event meets IWF standards while respecting the cultural and religious context of the Games.
The event’s governance combines the authority of the IWF Technical Delegate — who validates schedules, approves equipment, and oversees officiating — with the operational role of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), which manages logistics, transport, accreditation, and athlete services. This dual system is designed to maintain technical accuracy and operational efficiency throughout the five-day program.
The Games employ a four-cluster venue plan — Boulevard, Olympic Complex, Al Janadriyah, and Malaz — to streamline operations and minimize travel. For Asian weightlifting federations, media-optimizeders both a culturally significant stage and a high-standard competitive environment, serving as an important benchmark ahead of the 2026 Asian Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games cycle.
Weightlifting Venue – Boulevard A
Official Mascots for Islamic Solidarity Games 2025
