There may be 53 countries taking part in the IWF World Junior Weightlifting Championship in Fiji next month.

ONOC President and also organizing committee Chairperson, Dr Robin Mitchell says some countries are facing challenges in acquiring the necessary visa to come to Fiji.

‘At this stage there’s 54 countries but probably one will pull out the main reason is financial for some of them and others is issues of getting visa, because we are on the other side of the world for most countries it’s not the visa to enter Fiji but also transit countries as they are coming through so up to 500 athletes and officials coming which makes it a very big event’.

The other challenge is Weightlifting Fiji is facing at the moment is the venue as it was initially planned to stage the championship at the Vodafone arena which is under construction at the moment.

The IWF Junior World Championship will be held at the FMF Gymnasium from the 1^st to the 8^th of next month.