High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1999 World Weightlifting Championships were held in Athens, Greece from November 21 to November 28, 1999. The 70th edition of the men’s world championships and 13th edition of the women’s world championships were designated by the International Weightlifting Federation as the main qualifying events in the sport for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. A total of 626 athletes representing 88 countries entered the competition — 395 men in eight bodyweight classes and 231 women in seven bodyweight classes — the highest participation in the history of the competition.