TEHRAN (Mehr News Agency) -- Iran's National Olympic Committee Secretary General Bahram Afsharzadeh arrived in this Vancouver, Canada, Monday night.

Afsharzadeh, who has been invited by the International Weightlifting Federation President Tamas Ayan, is to exchange views on expansion of ties between Iran and the world body.

The 73rd World Weightlifting Championships started during an inauguration ceremony in Vancouver Friday night.

The world event will qualify 187 lifters for 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.