The platform on which all lifts take place is a wooden square 4 metres deep and wide, 10cm high and must sit on a podium 1.5 metres above floor level. The men's bar weighs 20kg, is 2.2 metres long and is 2.5cm in diameter. Women use a smaller bar, weighing 15kg, 2.01 metres long, though the diameter is the same as for men. the bar's surface is only smooth at the point where the weights are fitted; the rest is roughened to improve grip, while lifters rub chalk on their hands for the same purpose.

Sydney breaks with tradition in that there is a women's event for the first time and the men's weight classes have changed, a move which means that no titles will be defended as such, every one a new event. There are eight kilogram classes for men - 56, 63, 69, 77, 85, 94, 105 and more than 105kg - and seven for women - 48, 53, 58, 63, 69, 75 and more than 75kg.

Weights are colour coded as follows:
Red: 25kg
Blue: 20
Yellow: 15
Green: 10
White: 5
Black: 2.5
Chrome: 1.25
The collars which secure the weights weigh 2.5kg.

There are two lifts in each class: the snatch and the clean-and-jerk.

In the snatch the bar is hoisted directly from the platform, above the head, with arms fully extended in one continuous movement. The legs may be split or bent during the lift and the bar can touch the thighs on the way up. The lift is complete when arms are fully extended above the head and feet are parallel below the lifter's body.

A clean-and-jerk involves two stages. First the lifter hoists the bar from platform to shoulder height, a movement in which he or she squats before rising to his or her feet before resting the bar on the chest. Then the bar must be raised above the head and arms fully extended, feet parallel below the body.

Lifters get three attempts to lift a particular weight and have 60 seconds in which to perform from the time they are called to the time they start to lift. The two scores, one for snatch, the other clean-and-jerk, are added up to give the final weight. The greatest weight wins. Ties are decided by how much the lifter weighs; the lighter lifter wins the day. Lifters can chose which weight round they come into the competition at; the weight increases by 2.5kg with each passing round, and the starting weight of each lifter determines in which place in the pecking order he or she will lift. Those who join the competition last, lift last. If attempting a world record, a lifter may increase the weight on the bar by just 0.5kg at a time, but the official weight that counts for the title is the nearest multiple of 2.5kg.

Three referees judge the legality of lifts. They indicate their decision with a white light for thumbs up and a red light for thumbs down. Two lights of the same colour trigger a horn, which tells the lifter that he can drop the bar. A jury of five, one of which is nominated president, can overrule the referees.