Midlands Correspondent
FINANCIAL constraints could hamper the participation Zimbabwean bodybuilders at the inaugural Arnold Classic Africa to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, later this month.
The event is an offshoot of the annual Arnold Sports Festival held in Ohio in the United States, and is named after legendary professional bodybuilder and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Twenty-eight bodybuilders and fitness athletes, among them reigning Mr Zimbabwe Champion Chienderamwano, Isaac Chimuchenga and Tarirai Chirume, reigning sportsperson of the year Helen Costa Sinclair, reigning Ms Zimbabwe, Regina Jonga and Sally Lapage, are set to represent the country at the bodybuilding jamboree.
National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness (NFZBBF) spokesperson Quiet Shingai said they were yet to secure registration fees that are pegged at $250 per athlete, among other expenses.
“NFZBBF has covered 70 percent of the requirements, including accommodation, uniforms and transport. We are left with registration fees for the athletes. Registration is $250 per athlete plus €30 per athlete for the International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB) card,” said Shingai.
“Furthermore, for an athlete to be stage ready he/she needs up to $2,000 for preparations depending with the division one is competing in,” he said.
He called on athletes to chip in with financial resources for them to compete at the Arnold Classic. He said it would be prudent for Zimbabwe to send as many bodybuilders as possible to the event to give them international exposure since it is being held “close to home”.
Shingai said if the NFZBBF fails to secure sponsorship they would be left with no option, but to drop some of the athletes.
Athletes, who make it at the Arnold Classic, will graduate from the amateur league and earn a professional card to participate in the professional league.
The professional league qualifies bodybuilders for the Olympia, the most prestigious bodybuilding and fitness competition in the world.
Arnold Classic weekends are the second most prestigious competitions both at professional and amateur levels in bodybuilding.
The Arnold Classic Africa will be the fifth leg of the competition and joins other classics that are held in Europe, the United States, Brazil and Australia.