The Arnold Classic Africa Multisport Festival and Trade Expo returns to Joburg’s Sandton Convention Centre with an additional 28 new sporting codes.
This year’s instalment, scheduled from Friday, 17 May to Sunday, 19 May has expanded, incorporating Pole Fitness, Tenpin Bowling, Swimming and Ring Tennis to list a few, making for an exhilarating, adrenalin filled weekend.
Organisers say the growth of this multisport festival, currently in its fourth year, has necessitated the need to host activities in more than one venue. While the Sandton Convention Centre remains the main venue, Crawford College, the Johannesburg Country Club, as well as the Northcliff Bowl, will host the added sporting codes.
Hosted across six continents, the event showcases an increasing number of physical and mental sports, making it accessible and relevant to audiences within and outside of the bodybuilding arena.
The Trade Expo segment of the Arnold Classic Africa has also grown this year, with organisers expected to host a whopping 300 exhibition stands from local and international fitness and lifestyle brands, products and services that are key in supporting the theme of healthy lifestyles. The Trade Expo segment will primarily be hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre.
Named for its co-promoter, legendary bodybuilder and film-star Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Arnold Sports Festival USA was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1989. It has since expanded into the world’s largest multi-sport fitness weekend since its debut as the Arnold Classic, a one-day professional men’s bodybuilding competition.
Its local component, the Arnold Classic Africa affords athletes the opportunity to compete on an international scale against participants from across Africa. Like its global counterparts, the African rendition embraces numerous sporting codes and promotes these through demonstrations, contests, and record attempts over three days each.
Organisers of the African leg of the global festival, Wayne and Michelle Price, say they are excited about the show in Joburg. “It is an incredible honour to help Arnold realise his dream and vision. Last year was slightly stressful with his health scare preventing him from being part of the proceedings, but this time around we are planning a showcase so big, that people from different backgrounds and interests will find a sport and activity that resonates with them,” says Price.
Price says he’s particularly excited about newly added sporting codes. “The creativity and diversity is absolutely astounding. In essence, everyone, regardless of their background, talents or interests, will definitely find an element that appeals to them,” he says.
The Arnold Classic Africa is organised under the auspices of the City of Joburg, the Gauteng Provincial Government, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and Gentle Giant Promotions, in partnership with Crawford College.
Ticket packages range from day to weekend passes, covering some or all of the contests. Visit http://arnoldclassicafrica.com for more information.
