The competition, which is due to take place on May 22-28, will be the first major gathering of international powerlifters since the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Around 250 athletes are set to attend the competition, which is being organised by the Russian Sport Federation for Physically Disabled Athletes.

"We are delighted that Aleksin will host the IPC Powerlifting Open European Championships this year," said IPC chief executive Xavier Gonzalez.

"This will be the first Open European Championships in the sport in six years and I hope it will be the first of many more IPC Powerlifting regional championships to come in the near future.

"Our goal is to further develop and enhance the sport by offering more competitions on an international level between Paralympic Games."

The competition will include the new weight categories, which took effect on January 1, changing the structure of weight classes.

This follows an extensive review of all bodyweight category trends across major competitions.

The decision was made at the 2010 Sport Forum to alter the IPC powerlifting rules and regulations after the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

In November last year, the move was endorsed by National Paralympic Committees before being approved by the IPC governing board last month.

Aleksin is an administrative centre in the Tula region of Russia which is located in the northern part of the Middle-Russian Plate on both banks of the Oka River just 59 kilometres north of Tula.

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