At least 44 delegations will compete in the youth World Cup of weightlifting in Cali, Colombia, slated from June 12 to June 21, organizers said on Thursday.

The organizers said that the number of registered countries and regionsthat even could be bigger- easily exceeded the most optimistic estimations made two months ago.

They are delegations of Cyprus, El Salvador, Guatemala, Latvia, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, Australia, China, Japan, Russia, U.S. and the others.

For the president of the Colombian Federation of Weight Lifting Hernan Martinez, the number of countries and regions, coming to the World Cup, clearly showed that the International Federation of Weightlifting did not make a mistake on giving Colombia the hosting of the Youth World Cup.

"The World Cup will allow us to show the world that Cali is an entirely sporty city and that the country has the capacity to host very important events answering to the demands of the modern world," Martinez said.

During the World Cup, there will be set on march special security plans and health operatives that will allow to quickly assist the competitors that could need it even if they are inside or outside the competitions.

International Federation of Weightlifting named 40 judges that will have on charge the judgment of the World Cup, among them there are two Colombians.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2008)