The athletes perform the lifts on an elevated stage with a platform of 4x4 meters made of wood and coated with non-slippery material. The Competition Seven weight divisions have been established for women at Sydney, along with eight new men s divisions. Men will compete at 56kg, 69kg, 77kg, 85kg, 94kg, 105kg, and more than 105kg. Women will compete at 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, 69kg, 75kg or more than 75kg. Because the weight divisions for men have changed from previous Olympic Games, new records will be established in each of the 15 classes.
Lifters perform two types of lifts the snatch and the clean and jerk.
In the snatch, they lift the bar to arms length above their head in one movement. In the clean and jerk, they lift the bar to their shoulders, stand up straight, then jerk the bar to arms length above their head.