Photo courtesy of Arnold Sports Festival
Building Out
Arnold Sports Festival continues to grow on local and international levels
It has spread to five other continents, but the sports festival that started it all returns this spring.
Held March 3-6 in locations throughout Columbus, the Arnold Sports Festival has grown considerably since its founding in 1975.
“The growth has been gradual,” says founder Jim Lorimer.
Originally started as a way to promote bodybuilding, the event now boasts about 55 sports and events. This year, Lorimer expects 20,000 athletes to attend.
Athletes worldwide now have a chance to access the Arnold. Six years ago, the Arnold Classic Europe was born in Madrid, Spain. Three years ago, the Arnold Classic Brasil was started in Rio de Janeiro. Last year, the Arnold Classic Australia was held for the first time in Melbourne. The first Arnold Classic South Africa will be held in May in Johannesburg, while the first Arnold Classic Asia will be held in Hong Kong in August.
“Each society does have its own unique culture,” Lorimer says.
Photo courtesy of Arnold Sports Festival
Building Out
Some of that culture has rubbed off on the original Columbus event.
Both Classics in Spain and Brazil, for example, feature the pole sport, which we in the U.S. recognize as pole dancing. While the participants are still primarily female, the sport is viewed in those communities as a primarily gymnastic endeavor. Because of the sport’s popularity, it has been a fixture at the Columbus festival for the past two years.
“It’s very popular,” Lorimer says.
Also popular at other Arnolds? Chess. In Madrid, festivals have had a grand master playing about a dozen people at once, Lorimer says. The sport demanding a special type of mental prowess arrived in Columbus last year.
No matter which continent the Classic is held in, each event’s success hinges on the staging and presentation of the activities. While sports vary across continents, the expo is at the center of each Classic.
This spring, Columbus’ expo will boast 900 booths with fitness-related items. The sizeable expo has been held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center since it opened in 2000. Other Arnold events fill 10 buildings at the Ohio Expo Center.
“We’re the only event that completely fills both facilities,” Lorimer says.
Photo courtesy of Arnold Sports Festival
Building Out
While the individual Classics continue to grow in scope, Lorimer says he plans to limit the Classic to six continents. Arnold Schwarzenegger himself has to attend each one, and a mortal man’s schedule can only accommodate so much.
Still, Lorimer says the Classics favorably affect thousands of lives, as young people get exposed to a great number of sports options.
“Sports, we know, is life in microcosm,” Lorimer says. “… Great life lessons come from sports.”
Sarah Sole is an editor. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscenemediagroup.com.
New This Year
Additions to this year’s Arnold Sports Festival include:
-Wheelchair bodybuilding
-Baton twirling
-An indoor triathlon
Returning
Some of the usual highlights of the Arnold are:
-The Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition
-The Arnold Fitness Expo
-The Arnold SportsWorld Kids & Teens Expo
-Art at the Arnold
-Powerlifting, bikini, archery, equestrian, archery, wrestling, boxing, soccer, martial arts, strongman, arm wrestling, rowing, jump rope, fencing, swimming and other competitions
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