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Bodybuilding Returns to the Asian Games By Rob Wilkins, Special Assistant to the IFBB
IFBB President Ben Weider, recently announced that bodybuilding accepted an invitation from the 2006 Asian Games Organizing Committee to participate in the 15th Asian Games to be held in Doha, Qatar, 1-15 December 2006. “This is the second invitation bodybuilding received to be a medal sport in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved Asian Games,” commented Weider. “IFBB athletes are already in the gym hard at work fine-tuning their physiques in preparation for the highly competitive competitions.” In 1951, New Delhi, India, hosted the inaugural Asian Games as eleven countries participated in six different sports disciplines. 55 years later, the Asian Games have experienced phenomenal growth as 44 countries will participate in 39 competitive sports. “Our participation in these games is due to the concerted efforts of many dedicated IFBB officials, especially Paul Chua, the IFBB Vice President for Asia” said Weider. “For over 35 years, Paul has been the most influential person regarding bodybuilding and fitness in Asia and I’m pleased to see he is helping our sport achieve the recognition it deserves,” Weider continued. “As the IFBB Vice-President for Asia and Secretary-General of the Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, I am extremely pleased and excited about our sport's inclusion in the IOC sanctioned 2006 Doha Asian Games,” commented Chua. “Our involvement in these prestigious games is indicative of the universal success and popularity that bodybuilding enjoys. Only the Olympic Games have more sporting events then the 2006 Asian Games which will feature over three dozen sporting events,” said Chua, Adding more drama and excitement to the bodybuilding portion of the 2006 Asian Games are two world-class bodybuilders from Qatar who recently won first-place awards at the 59th IFBB Men's World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships, in Shanghai, China. Kamal Abdull Salam came out victorious in the middleweight (85kg) weight-class while fellow country man Ali Tabrizi won the light-heavyweight (90kg) weight-class. “The IFBB is proud to be a part of the Asian Games and I hope many of our fans attend and participate in this truly remarkable sporting event,” said Weider For more information on the 2006 Asian Games visit them at their website: http://www.dohaasiangames.org/ Or contact them at: Postal Address: Tel: +974 448 2006 E-mail: info@dagoc2006.org - (Attention: Jamal Abu Ghaida or Dima Issa) For the most current information related to the IFBB, visit the web site at www.ifbb.com Rob Wilkins is a Master Sergeant in the US Air Force stationed at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Wilkins is also a Special Assistant to the International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB) and a recipient of the IFBB Gold Medal. To contact Wilkins, e-mail him at robifbb@yahoo.com
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