World Para Powerlifting has launched an online competition under the name “Raise The Bar Together” in order to help athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

World Para Powerlifting has required participants to make a small donation to humanitarian aid organizations or local clubs in lieu of an entrance fee.

The online competition has been created with the aim of supporting powerlifting athletes to continue their training at home and stay safe during the new novel coronavirus crisis.

Athletes who are competitors are allowed to submit up to 3 videos of lift challenges and they are ranked by their “AH” score, meaning the result of a statistical coefficient.

The “AH” score is used to equalize as well as compare the performances of the athletes between different body weights at competitions in the sport of powerlifting.

Technical officials are also invited to judge the games on the online “Raise The Bar Together” platform.

Sherif Osman of Egypt, a three-time Paralympic champion, welcomes the creation of the online event.

Osman said that with the uncertainty of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, this online competition platform can help all powerlifting athletes to stay motivated and be able to train at their homes safely. It is so exciting to see other athletes’ lifts and results from afar.

The outbreak of the coronavirus, which has killed more than 50,000 people and infected more than 950,000, has caused a near total shutdown of sports worldwide.

It also forced the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games postponed to 2021.

Para Powerlifting World Cups in Colombia, Dubai, and Bogota, planned for March and April, respectively, have all been canceled due to the virus.

Besides World Para Powerlifting, some other organizations have also established online events in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.