Chiang Mai to host 2007 weightlifting world champs

BANGKOK, Oct 11 (Reuters) The northern Thai city of Chiang Mai has been chosen to host the 2007 World Weightlifting Championships for a second time.

The championships, held there in 1997, will take place in September and will double as a qualifying event for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Intarat Yodbangtoey, president of the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association, told Reuters today.

Chiang Mai province is well known to Thai weightlifters, who were forced to spend months in a remote village there as part of their preparation for the 2004 Olympics, where they picked up an unprecedented two gold and two bronze medals.

The championships will run from September 14-26 and will be the main Olympic qualifier.

REUTERS PDS BST0935