The International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB) is one of the largest sport federations in the world with 174 affiliated National Federations.

From November 4-8, in Moscow, the Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness of Russia (FBFR) will host the sport’s premiere amateur bodybuilding event - the 2004 IFBB Men’s World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships and IFBB International Congress.

My first visit to Russia was in 1952. At that time, Russian authorities considered bodybuilding to be a bourgeois and highly decadent practice. Consequently, this so-called “Western” activity was greatly discouraged. Despite numerous obstacles along the way, I remained 100% committed to an ongoing positive dialogue with Russian sport authorities for the next 35 years. In 1987, my perseverance was rewarded when Russia officially recognized the sport of bodybuilding and the IFBB.

I am greatly pleased and honored that the IFBB family will once again come together to celebrate, in the spirit of friendship and sportsmanship, its most prestigious and longest-running amateur event. And I am even more pleased that Russia will extend a warm and generous welcome to the bodybuilding and fitness worldwide community as they visit the beautiful and historic city of Moscow on the occasion of these Championships.

The IFBB not only promotes the sport of bodybuilding and fitness but also champions a healthy fit lifestyle coupled with proper training and nutrition. In addition, the IFBB is a staunch advocate of drug-free sport.

On November 12, 2003, the IFBB officially adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code and is proudly listed at www.wada-ama.org as a Signatory, along with over 450 other international sport and sport-related organizations and over 150 national governments.

Each and every year, the IFBB continues its worldwide growth and development thanks in no small measure to the thousands of dedicated and committed officials who contribute their time, energy, finances, resources and professionalism towards making our sport a popular lifestyle. Concrete examples of this ever-increasing growth can be seen in the tremendous successes, not only of our National Affiliates but of our Continental Affiliates as well.

Outstanding IFBB officials within the African Bodybuilding Federation, Arab Bodybuilding Federation, Asian Bodybuilding Federation, Central America & Caribbean BodyBuilding & Fitness Federation, European Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation, South Pacific Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation and South American Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation are working very hard on a daily basis to “grow the sport” within their regions.

An example of the strength of Continental Federations may be seen in the European Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation. The EBFF, under the capable leadership of my longtime friend and colleague Rafael Santonja (Spain), IFBB Executive Assistant to the President, has proven invaluable and vital to the promotion of the sport and the IFBB throughout Europe and around the world. Heading the list of EBFF achievements for 2003/2004 is the television agreement with EuroVision which provides direct satellite retransmission of IFBB/EBFF events to all of Europe and throughout the world. In addition, in partnership with the EBFF, the IFBB offers International Judges, Coaches & Trainers Course Programs to members worldwide.

Another example of a strong active Continental Federation is the Arab Bodybuilding Federation, ably led by its president Sultan Bin Sheikh Mejren (United Arab Emirates), with the full support of Malih Alaywan (Lebanon), IFBB Vice President Middle East, and Dr. Eng. Adel Fahim El Sayed (Egypt), IFBB Vice President Africa. In 2006, Doha, Qatar will host the 15th Asian Games, at which bodybuilding will participate as an Official Medal Sport. These Games are recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Organizing a World Championships is a monumental undertaking in this day and age. The IFBB wishes to express its sincere thanks and appreciation to Jose Ramos, President IFBB-Spain, and to the Spanish Organizing Committee for their superb hosting of the IFBB Women’s World Amateur Championships. This event, with record numbers of competitors, delegates and supporters each year, has been held in the Mediterranean city of Santa Susanna in 2003 and 2004 and will return to this beautiful coastal setting in 2005.

A vital and important program within the IFBB is competition at the Junior and Master levels. Junior athletes are the future of our sport; master athletes remind us that age need not be an obstacle to a healthy fit lifestyle. Since 1998, the Juniors & Masters World Championships have been hosted three times in Spain, twice in Portugal and twice in the Czech Republic . On behalf of the IFBB, I wish to again thank Jose Ramos, President IFBB-Spain, as well as Prof. Joquin Sousa, President Portuguese Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation, and Stanislav Pesat, President Czech Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation, and their Organizing Committees for their generous support of this world-level event.

An important growth indicator for our sport and federation is the number of athletes, delegates and supporters who attend our World Championships. In recent years, new records for participation have been set at all World Championships, most notably at the Women’s World Championships and Juniors & Masters World Championships. This bodes well for the future of our sport and I am particularly pleased to see increased numbers of women, juniors and masters.

Throughout Asia, bodybuilding continues to experience a high profile as an Official Medal Sport in the South-East Asian and Asian Games. Leading the way is longtime friend and colleague Paul Chua, DSM (Singapore), IFBB Vice President Asia. Paul has devoted his life to the sport and has worked diligently to ensure its future success throughout all of Asia . The fact that bodybuilding is recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and that it has become an Official Medal Sport in the Asian Games bears testament to Paul’s strong work ethics and practices, as well as his ongoing fight to combat doping.

Throughout the year, I have received positive reports of growth and development from all area Vice Presidents, such as Jim Manion (USA), IFBB Vice President North America, Albert Busek (Germany), IFBB Vice President Europe, Javier Pollock (US Virgin Islands), IFBB Vice President Caribbean, Paul Chua, DSM (Singapore), IFBB Vice President Asia, Aquiles de Cesare (Uruguay), IFBB Vice President South America, Paul Graham (Australia), IFBB Vice President Oceania, Dr. Eng. Adel Fahim El Sayed (Egypt), IFBB Vice President Africa, Malih Alaywan (Lebanon), IFBB Vice President Middle East, and Joe Duenas (Guam), IFBB Vice President South Pacific. Joe recently resigned his position to assume an important role within the government of Guam. The IFBB welcomes Philip Hope (Cook Islands) as acting IFBB Vice President South Pacific. All area Vice Presidents work very hard to ensure that Continental Championships are held each year within their jurisdiction.

Our committees have continued to work hard for the betterment of our sport and federation. Special thanks to Rafael Santonja (Spain) and Tony Blinn (Canada), Chairpersons of the IFBB Judges and Technical Committees respectively. These two committees work extremely well together as a team to ensure the smooth and professional running of IFBB international amateur events. At this time, I wish to acknowledge the assistance of the following officials: Javier Pollock (US Virgin Islands), Erich Janner (Germany), Pawel Filleborn (Poland), Eva Sukupova (Czech Republic), Bill and Wanda Tierney (England), Axel Bauer (Austria), Stanislav Pesat (Czech Republic) and Andrew Michalak (Poland). All of these hard-working and dedicated officials give freely and unselfishly of their time, knowledge and experience to ensure that our events proceed at the highest standards of professionalism.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all IFBB international judges for their dedication and commitment towards providing quality judging at both amateur and professional events. Since 1996, all IFBB international judges have fallen under the scrutiny of the computer-based Judging Accuracy System; a database that assists the IFBB in ensuring our sport’s athletes are judged by our sport’s best-qualified judges. I am pleased to report that judging quality has steadily increased since this monitoring system has been placed into effect.

For their continued support of the IFBB Anti-Doping Program, I would like to thank Dr. Bob Goldman (USA), Chairman IFBB Medical Commission, Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Beuker (Germany), Secretary IFBB Medical Commission, and Prof. Dr. Eduardo H. De Rose (Brazil), Special Advisor IFBB Medical Commission.

Our Professional Division has been completely restructured and now comprises a Management Team led by Eric Weider (USA), Chairman, Jim Manion (USA), Vice Chairman and Director Pro Judging, and Tony Blinn (Canada), General Secretary. Other members of the team include Rafael Santonja (Spain), European Pro Director, Jim Rockell (USA) and Sandy Ranalli (USA), Men’s and Women’s Representatives respectively, Rob Wilkins (USA) and Pawel Filleborn (Poland), Athlete Liaison Officers for the Americas and Europe respectively, and Vince Scalisi (USA) and Peter McGough (USA), Media Representatives. Also a vital part of the Management Team are Athlete Representatives Shawn Ray, Betty Pariso, Kelly Ryan and Jenny Lynn. We look forward to expanding this team in the near future.

The IFBB and American Media Inc (AMI) have joined forces to co-produce the Olympia Weekend. This year’s event will see a whole new judging format at the Finals as the top competitors start fresh with zero points. Also introduced is the new “Challenge Round” where each finalist goes head-to-head with each of the other finalists. The resultant scoring will be displayed in real-time on a giant digital screen and promises new levels of excitement for both competitors and fans.

Great change has also occurred at www.ifbb.com, our official website. The past year has seen new websites hosted by IFBB.com, such as the IFBB Professional Division at www.ifbb.com/ifbbpro/ and the Olympia Weekend at www.ifbb.com/ifbbolympia/. IFBB.com reaches out to over 150 countries each month and is an invaluable tool for disseminating information about our sport and our federation. Our thanks to Tony Blinn, webmaster IFBB.com.

I wish to remind all members that the 2005 World Games are being held in Duisburg, Germany, July 14th-24th. These Games are under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. The IFBB and bodybuilding is very proud to have participated as an Official Medal Sport in every World Games since their inception in 1981. In 2005, the IFBB will send 56 of its best athletes to the world’s premiere sporting event outside the Olympic Games.

Also on behalf of the IFBB, I wish to commend, congratulate and thank all of the presidents, general secretaries and other executive committee members of each of our 174 National Affiliates. Your dedication, commitment and devotion to our sport and to the IFBB family are what make our federation great.

On behalf of the IFBB, I wish to express our sincere thanks and heartfelt appreciation to Pamela Kagan, IFBB Executive Director. For over 30 years, Pamela has been and continues to be “the voice of the IFBB”; the main communications link between the IFBB and its 174 National Affiliates.

I wish to express a special “thank you” to my brother Joe Weider whose generous support over the years has immeasurably strengthened the sport and the IFBB by increasing our exposure throughout the world in magazines like FLEX and Muscle & Fitness.

In closing, I wish to thank the Organizing Committee of the 58th IFBB Men’s World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships and IFBB International Congress, and, in particular, Konstantin Bochkarev, Vice Governor Chelyabinsk Region and Vice President FBFR, and Vladimir Dubinin, President Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation of Russia, for their professionalism in organizing and hosting our sport’s premiere amateur Championships in Moscow, Russia.

Yours in Health & Fitness,

Ben Weider, CM, CQ, SBStJ, PhD
IFBB President