The first Arnold Classic Europe will be held October 8-9, 2011 in Madrid, Spain. It will feature professional and amateur bodybuilding, fitness, and other sports like arm wrestling, gymnastics, and strongman competitions. President Santonja announced the event at the Arnold Classic in Ohio, bringing the major international multi-sport event to Europe for the first time. It will take place at the Palace of Congress of Madrid and include an expo in addition to the sporting events.
4. The first Arnold Classic
Europe is a multisport
event in which bodybuild-
On the Mr. EuropeMarch, at ity ofweightlifting, bodybuild-
26th of the European event – a
the opening of the second spectacular multi-sport event
edition of Pro, IFBB with
President Dr. Rafael Santonja ing and fitness; a challenge
ing and the IFBB will made a historical announce- for competitors and a great
ment – the Arnold Classic, show for their fans. Both the
have an important pres- the international multi-sport best amateur and profes-
event which has been held sional bodybuilders will be
ence with all the amateur yearly in Columbus (Ohio) for offered a schedule like the
categories and a great pro 23 years, will also be promot- traditional one in Columbus.
ed in Madrid, Spain, on Octo- Granted, Arnold Classic Eu-
event. ber 8th and 9th. It is the first rope needs a few years to get
“Arnold Classic Europe”. the same number of partici-
pants. And yet the USA edi-
A HUGE EVENT tion itself started up 23 years
President Santonja and Bob Lorimer with President of ago just as one professional
the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco, in a Fitness and bodybuilding fans bodybuilding show. The Euro-
recent meeting held at the Spanish Olympic Committee were astonished. Indeed, pean edition can jump on the
Headquarters. Jim Lorimer, the great USA shoulders of the giant USA
promoter, had already an- event. Another thing is that
nounced it during the closing Europeans are a big share of
speech of last March’s Arnold the USA event’s success – in-
Classic. However, only after numerable European com-
President Santonja’s great petitors qualified and took
news, message boards start- part in this longed-for event
ed to buzz about the huge Eu- where Arnold Schwarzeneg-
ropean event. ger’s charisma maybe is the
The very fact that the Arnold main ingredient. This is why
Sports Festival promoter, Jim a European edition includ-
Lorimer, talked about the “Eu- ing a spectacular professional
ropean date for the Arnold” bodybuilding competition was
let you understand the qual- much needed. It was thanks
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5. to the triple ally among Arnold will take place following the
Schwarzenegger, Arnold’s best tradition of the origi-
partner Jim Lorimer and Pres- nal Arnold Weekend concept,
ident Rafael Santonja. Fitness including Olympic and non-
and bodybuilding will be im- Olympic sports.
parted a fresh impulse.
SPORTS, SPORTS… For this 1st edition there
It is too early to give you all are already included:
the details about the event.
We already know some im- Arm wrestling
portant things, tough. The
competitions’ venue is Palacio Basketball
de Convenciones y Congresos Bodybuilding
Sur del Recinto Ferial de Ma-
drid (IFEMA). There’s a ca- Fencing
pacious five-star auditorium Firemen and special units
with a capacity of 2000 seats of the Police Exhibition
in the A zone and more than
1000 in the B zone. Surround- Gymnastics
ing the auditorium, you may
find a huge space for expo Martial Arts
and different activities plus 14 Paralympics
conference rooms. The event
schedule is being developed Powerlifting
right now. There won’t be 46 Strong Men
disciplines as in this year’s
USA Arnold Sports Festival, Track & Field
all the same the schedule is Weightlifting
really interesting. Let’s see it.
A great multisport program ... and more soon!
Many women’s disciplines are already scheduled.
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7. EXPO
BODYBUILDING EVENTS
An expo will be added to the
events for the pleasure of fans
Men’s Bodybuilding and athletes. Indeed, trade
economy needs a fresh im-
Women’s Bodybuilding pulse too. Hopefully this expo
can help European companies
out of the bad economy.
Men’s Master
Bodybuilding VENUE
Classic Bodybuilding
Madrid City Hall and govern-
ment will cooperate with this
Men’s Fitness sport activity in which the
IFBB has great expectations.
The opening ceremony shall Mathias Botthoff, overall winner at the Arnold Amateur
Women’s Fitness be at the Spanish Olympic USA, will make his IFBB Pro debut at the I Arnold Classic
Europa.
Committee Headquarters,
Bodyfitness with city and Government
(Figure) authorities and members of
the international sport com-
Master Bodyfitness munity, famous athletes, and
(Figure) members of the Olympic Fam-
Bikini ily, including a cocktail and
dinner, in an environment
Continue
At the Arnold Festival USA
strongmen are always a real
attraction.
The Arnold Classic is magic also because
Arnold Schwarzenegger himself hands out
trophies.
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8. plenty of glamour and passion history and places for enjoy-
for sport. ment; with a very active daily
The venue site is the mag- and nigh life.
nificent Palace of Congress of Spain is very well known as
Madrid, located in the most one of the most attractive
modern area of the city and and touristic countries in the
very well communicated, sur- world, being Madrid, by itself
rounded by good quality ho- and the neighboring, plenty
tels and very well connected of reasons to take extra days;
with the historical center and making this trip a unique des-
downtown. tination to enjoy life.
Madrid is a city that combines The weather in October used
to be mild, making the des-
tination even more attractive.
Stay tuned for
further details about
Arnold Classic
Europe.
Competitors and
fans can browse
online at
www.arnoldsports-
festival.com/spain.
General tickets and
pro show tickets
will be sold online at
www.ifbbevents.com
Another dream can come true in Spain now!
Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness competitors are a good share of the thousands of athletes of the Arnold Festival.
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