I AM EXCITED TO START THE NEW YEAR WITH OUR NEWLY APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS AND CONTINUE THE POSITIVE WORK ACHIEVED BY THE STAFF AND BOARD IN 2023.

WHILST THE FUTURE OF THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2026 HOST IS STILL VACANT, THERE ARE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES FEDERATION TO SOURCE A HOST FOR THE 2026 EDITION, AND WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THOSE DEVELOPMENTS.

WEIGHTLIFTING WALES HAVE AN EXCITING YEAR AHEAD IN 2024 WITH THE COMMONWEALTH CHAMPIONSHIPS IN FIJI AND THE CELTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS LATER IN THE YEAR, WHICH WALES ARE HOSTING IN BANGOR. THESE ARE BOTH ESSENTIAL EVENTS FOR WELSH WEIGHTLIFTING TO CONTINUE THE DEVELOPMENT OF WEIGHTLIFTING IN WALES AND SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS, AS ATHLETES, COACHES, TECHNICAL OFFICIALS AND VOLUNTEERS, OF WHICH, FOR THE CELTICS WE WILL BE ASKING FOR CLUBS AND MEMBERS TO SUPPORT LATER IN THE YEAR.

AS THE NEW CHAIR OF WEIGHTLIFTING WALES, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT MYSELF, THE BOARD, AND THE STAFF CONTINUE TO DELIVER OUR STRATEGIC GOALS AND FULFIL OUR OBJECTIVES AGAINST THE STRATEGY, WHICH WILL BE REVIEWED IN ITS FINAL YEAR WHILST ALSO LOOKING AHEAD FOR THE NEW STRATEGIC DIRECTION FOR THE ORGANISATION.

WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING CLOSELY WITH SPORT WALES AND OUR KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN THE EXPECTED STANDARDS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE TO SECURE OUR FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS.

2023 BROUGHT US NEW CHALLENGES AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR DEVELOPMENT, ENSURING WE TAKE THOSE LEARNINGS AND CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE FOR OUR MEMBERS INTO THE NEW YEAR, WITH A VISION TO FEEL MORE CONNECTED TO OUR MEMBERS. THE CREATION OF THE ATHLETE ADVISORY GROUP IS THE START OF THIS PROCESS TO UNDERSTAND AND GAIN INSIGHT INTO THE ATHLETE'S THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE AND DEVELOP WHAT WE OFFER AS AN ORGANISATION.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU AS A MEMBER TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO SUPPORT HOW WE DEVELOP WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE COMING MONTHS AND WILL HELP SHAPE THE DIRECTION WE MOVE TOWARDS FOR THE NEXT CYCLE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE FANTASTIC WORK ON THE RAISE THE BAR PROGRAMME AND WW CLUBS AND ACADEMIES CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND GROW, WHILST ALSO LOOKING TO IDENTIFY NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE WEIGHTLIFTING, FROM GETTING MORE PEOPLE ACTIVE IN WALES, THROUGH TO WORLD CLASS PERFORMANCES ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.

IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR MYSELF AND THE BOARD TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES OF INVESTMENT TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SECURITY WITHIN THE ORGANISATION AND ALLOW US TO DELIVER OUR OBJECTIVES.

THE CURRENT CLIMATE PRESENTS MANY CHALLENGES WITH THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS AND FUNDING CUTS STRETCHING EXISTING BUDGETS THINNER THAN BEFORE, OUR PRIORITY WILL BE TO REVIEW AND ENSURE WE UTILISE FUNDS EFFECTIVELY TO CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK AND SYSTEMS IN PLACE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO A POSITIVE YEAR AHEAD AND WISH EVERY MEMBER A SUCCESSFUL 2024!