Archive for December, 2008

The Arnold Classic, renamed Arnold Fitness Weekend, is an annual bodybuilding competition, named after Arnold Schwarzenegger, that takes place Mar 6 2009 – Mar 9 2009 at the Columbus Convention Center located in Columbus, Ohio. It is considered the most lucrative competition in bodybuilding, with a number of large prizes. Most notably, first prize consists of $130,000 check, a Hummer vehicle, and a Rolex watch. The Arnold Classic rivals the Mr. Olympia in prestige and popularity. Like most bodybuilding competitions it is always hotly contested and often only one or two competition points will separate the winners.
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09 Show in Ohio Would Go a Long Way After Being Reinstated by IFBB
by Joe Pietaro | MuscleSportMag

After battling for nearly three years to be reinstated by the IFBB, Lee Priest has decided to make his return to the stage at the Australian and New Zealand Pros instead of the Arnold Classic. That may come as a surprise to some people, since all three shows are within a week of one another and the Arnold is viewed as the next big thing after the Mr. Olympia contest.

Last year, Dexter Jackson scored a hat trick of all three shows in March and then topped it by also taking the Mr. O title. While this is not a scenario that Priest would be able to duplicate, the Arnold show is held in a much higher regard than either overseas shows. Being from Australia, perhaps Priest feels that his best chance at taking one of the championships – or at least placing in the top three for Olympia qualification purposes – is with minimal travel.

According to a report on Muscular Development.com, Priest chose to stay away from Ohio for travel reasons. “I don’t want to fly all the way to the U.S. to do the Arnold only to have to turn around and come right back six days later.”

While this strategy may make sense, concentrating on the Arnold Classic may have gone a longer way than two shows not as prestigious.

Training a Full Year the ‘09 Mr. O Will Benefit ‘The Gift’
Joe Pietaro | MuscleSportMag

Finishing third in his first Mr. Olympia, Phil Heath has decided to concentrate on moving up the ladder with Sandow on his mind. The bodybuilder known as “The Gift” has decided to skip the Arnold Classic in March and utilize that time preparing for next September in Las Vegas.

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CONFIRMED: NPC to add Bikini Division in 2009
Isaac Hinds | HARDBODY News

There’s been talk for months about a possible bikini division being added to the NPC and IFBB. I have confirmed that there will be a bikini division in the NPC next year. There will not be a bikini division in the IFBB, at least not yet. When the word ‘bikini contest’ is mentioned many people think Hooters or your local bar holding a contest. This is not what this division will be like. This is not a division for women to think they don’t have to diet or train. The women will still need to show muscularity but not at the level of a fitness or figure competitor.

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NEW YORK (Reuters) – Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp, which operates 347 health clubs serving more than 3.1 million customers, filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in 17 months, and put itself up for sale.

The Chicago-based company and more than 40 affiliates filed for Chapter 11 protection with the U.S. bankruptcy court in Manhattan on Wednesday. Bally said it has more than $1 billion of both assets and debts, and in excess of 100,000 creditors.

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Bodybuilding.com Goes Greek!

Boise, ID – November 18, 2008 – Bodybuilding.com, the Internet’s most- visited bodybuilding and fitness site and largest retailer of nutritional supplements, participated in the newly-revived 2nd Annual Greek Week 2008 at the University of Southern California (USC).
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