Sports / Other
Zimbabwe to host All-Africa Olympia bodybuilding show
23 Jul 2012 at 04:37hrs | Views
The All-Africa Olympia is back and preparations for the event to be held in November are already in full swing.
Zimbabwe was given the nod to host the contest, which took a three-year sabbatical due to economic challenges, after an impressive show in the last event that was held at Celebration Centre in October last year.
National Federation of Zimbabwean Bodybuilding and Fitness secretary general, Otis Goredema said preparations were going on smoothly.
"We were given the mandate to host the event because South African officials, who formed part of the judging panel last year, were impressed by the local organisation; so we are excited and are preparing well," he said.
The event would include the top six winners from the Mr Pro Fitness categories, comprising junior, bikini fitness, ladies, lightweight, middleweight, heavyweight, female bodybuilding and men's fitness. Goredema said in last year's edition, Zimbabwe successfully introduced the bikini fitness with two of the female participants in this category qualifying to represent the country in the World Championships that were held in Australia.
"One of the two ladies, Merna Moore, performed well as she came third in Australia," Goredema said.
He said all participants who finished in top six in all categories from last year were eligible to participate. Botswana, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Zambia have all confirmed their participation with the prize money expected to be not more than last year's US$6 000. The contest is slated for November 17 at the Harare International Conference Centre.
Zimbabwe was given the nod to host the contest, which took a three-year sabbatical due to economic challenges, after an impressive show in the last event that was held at Celebration Centre in October last year.
National Federation of Zimbabwean Bodybuilding and Fitness secretary general, Otis Goredema said preparations were going on smoothly.
"We were given the mandate to host the event because South African officials, who formed part of the judging panel last year, were impressed by the local organisation; so we are excited and are preparing well," he said.
The event would include the top six winners from the Mr Pro Fitness categories, comprising junior, bikini fitness, ladies, lightweight, middleweight, heavyweight, female bodybuilding and men's fitness. Goredema said in last year's edition, Zimbabwe successfully introduced the bikini fitness with two of the female participants in this category qualifying to represent the country in the World Championships that were held in Australia.
"One of the two ladies, Merna Moore, performed well as she came third in Australia," Goredema said.
He said all participants who finished in top six in all categories from last year were eligible to participate. Botswana, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Zambia have all confirmed their participation with the prize money expected to be not more than last year's US$6 000. The contest is slated for November 17 at the Harare International Conference Centre.
Source - theindependent
