Bodybuilders to host C.A. championships
It’s a sport that has a loyal following but has never made the break into the Belizean mass market. Officials of the Belize Amateur Bodybuilding Association hope to change that image, however, with an upcoming big event.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The Central American Body Building and Fitness Competition may be three months away but already the National Sports Council and the Belize Amateur Bodybuilding Association have started making preparations to host the regional Championship. A total of 75 athletes from all seven Central American countries are expected to compete. The event will be held at the City Centre from September 1st to the 3rd.
Omar Habet, Treasurer, B.A.B.B.A
“Right now we are working with Miss Clara Cuellar, the Director of the National Sports Council to try and rearrange the City Centre in such a way that it gives more of an auditorium appearance for this type of contest. The plan is to really find a way to screen the bleachers off, put the stage off to the far end away from the entrance and to have all the seating on the court which will make the contest far more spectator friendly.”
It is not the first time that the country will host such an international sporting event, but Belize will be the first country in Central America to test the participants for drugs. BABBA’s President, Alfred McKenzie during a press conference informing the media about the upcoming competition, said the decision to hold a drug test was made because BABBA is affiliated with the International Federation of Bodybuilding. The IFBB is a strong supporter of the International Olympic Committee’s fight against doping in sports.
Alfred McKenzie, President, B.A.B.B.A
“The IFBB is committed to trying to get to the level of the IOC and the IOC has already partially recognized the IFBB, so the IFBB has taken the first step to start drug testing for all competitions, regional and worldwide. For the first time we in the IFBB has decided that regionally for the Central American championships we will start drug testing from here and onwards.”
Jacqueline Woods
“The athletes who will be taking part are aware that this test will be done?”
Alfred McKenzie
“Yes they have been informed by the regional headquarters in Orlando, Florida and they have been informed by each of their local presidents.”
While the BABBA remains confident that the host country will present a good show of athletes, one popular Belizean bodybuilder who will not be flexing his muscles is Rushiel Bevans. Bevans is presently on a one-year suspension after he decided to take part in a “Super Body” show in the United States. McKenzie says Bevans was cautioned about his participation and reminded that it is against regulations for any member of BABBA to take part in events that are not sanctioned by the IFBB.
Alfred McKenzie
“For one, the IFBB does not recognized “Super Body” because this contest is what we call a TV show. I saw a small part of it on TV Saturday evening and in my opinion it is a game show. The guys come on, they have on gowns and when they reach the stage they take off their gowns and start posing. I mean the IFBB is looking to go forward and be recognized as a legitimate sport in the 2004 Olympic games and if they will accommodate these kinds of competitions then I don’t think they will get a chance to be a part of the next Olympic games after this one.”
According to McKenzie, although Bevans’ presence may affect the number of golds Belize stands to win, there are a number of other athletes who are just as good.
Alfred McKenzie
“Well it would affect our chances seeing that he was a past gold medallist in the Central American games and also the Central American championship in Panama last year. However to my mind I feel that Mr. Deon Danderson and Mr. Thomas Wright, who is coming out of retirement, Mr. Dylan Jones and like I have said before Mr. Nunez, who should be coming in from Los Angeles will be a very good potential for bringing gold home this time.”
It will cost BABA between 25,000 to $30,000 to host the show. Although the association has been receiving some support from the business community they are appealing to the public to support the competition.
Omar Habet
“We have sent out letters from the beginning of the year and we have gotten a few pledges so far. We are pretty much up to 20,000 pledges, we are still a bit short, so I would like to make an appeal to the business community and the population at large to help us in this venture, it is a very worthwhile venture, a first for Belize and we want to make Belize look good.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Is the association expecting a huge turnout?”
Omar Habet
“Well, it is not something you get to see regularly in Belize. It is an international competition and we do expect to see some really big guys come in. It is something new to Belize. It was held about four years ago, but without much fanfare and we really got a lot of support from Central Americans living in Belize. I was very surprised about that but I do think we can do a bit better when it comes to support from the Belizean public.”
The competition will cover a number of different classes in both men’s and women’s divisions.
