Retton, athletes at Arnold Fitness Expo

Three buildings filled with athletes and activities March 2-4 gives the Arnold Fitness Expo plenty of muscle.
The first day of activity, Fri., March 2, opens at the Greater Columbus Convention Center with the Strength Training Summit and registration. The martial arts festival/boxing championships begin at 8:00 a.m. and feature Randy Couture in a training seminar at 1:00 p.m. in Hall C.
Former U.S. Olympic Gymnast Mary Lou Retton is scheduled to appear during the Gymnastics Challenge in Halls E and F. Compulsory and optional portions of the challenge will be held between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Cheerleading and dance team competition will be held in Battelle Hall. Registration begins at noon and competition begins at 3:00 p.m.
Especially designed for those over age 50, an Active Aging Festival on March 2 will feature exercise and nutrition expert Jack LaLane and his wife Elaine. A table tennis challenge for senior recreation center members will be held in the afternoon.
On Friday night, hockey skills take to the ice at Nationwide Arena. Figure skating competition will be held all day Saturday at Nationwide. For tickets and information about all events, go to www.arnoldsportsfestival.com.
At Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St., fitness and muscles are the words of the day. The Amateur Fitness and Figure Championships prejudging and finals begin at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 2 in the auditorium. Simultaneously, the Amateur Bodybuilding Men’s and Women’s Championships prejudging will be held.
Finals for the Ms. International, Fitness International and Figure International will be held at 7:00 p.m. All seats are reserved.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) guides the state archery tournament in the north hall on Friday.
A full day of fencing, ballroom dancing and weightlifting are scheduled for Saturday, March 3.
New in 2007 is the Japanese art of sumo wrestling. Demonstrations will be given during the boxing and martial arts festival in Hall C of the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
The festival of excellence in sports has partnered with the Columbus Rotary Scholarship Committee to gives college scholarships to student athletes. This year, eleven students were chosen.
“ Governor Schwarzenegger and I originally conceived of the Arnold Sports Festival as an opportunity to celebrate excellence through sports performance. Since inception, the weekend has grown into the nation’s largest multi-sports festival. We are immensely pleased to partner in our commitment to youth with the Columbus Rotary in these important scholarships,” said Jim Lorimer, producer of Arnold Fitness Weekend.
“ We believe we will present a unique advantage to help secure the educational futures of eleven youth and to instill the critical Rotary message of a lifetime of community and vocational service,” said Kris Wilson, Columbus Rotary executive director.
Shuttle buses that go between the three separate venues are available this year. Organizers advise visitors to park in the parking lot behind Nationwide Arena and to take the shuttle between the Veterans Memorial and Nationwide Arena and the Convention Center.
The Arnold Fitness Expo, which began as The Arnold Classic, is a weekend focused on bodybuilding and fitness. It began in 1989 in Columbus, Ohio. Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the most famous body builders in the world during the 1970s and 1980s. He created the Arnold Classic to showcase bodybuilding. The Arnold Classic has emerged as one of the premiere bodybuilding events in the world. This competition continues to take place at the Columbus Convention Center and Schwarzenegger has added other events.
The Arnold Classic continues to crown a male bodybuilder. Also, Ms. International, a woman’s bodybuilding event, is part of the line-up, as well as the Arnold Fitness Training Seminar, the Fitness International Competition, the Arnold Cheerleading and Dance Team Championships, the Arnold Strongest Man Competition, the World Powerlifting Organization World Championship, the Arnold Fitness Fashion Show, the Arnold Classic Armwrestling Challenge, the World Record Bench Press Challenge, the Arnold World Gracie Submission Championships, and the Arnold Traditional Karate World Cup Championship.
With the addition of other competitions, the Arnold Classic became known as the Arnold Fitness Expo in 1993.
In 2005, 75,000 people attended the Arnold Fitness Expo and 600 vendors sold their wares at the show where more than 10,000 athletes participated and competed for more than $400,000 in prize money.

Edited by UCP staff.