IFBB Celebrates the 40^th Anniversary
of the Mr. Olympia Competition

For the seventh year in a row, bodybuilding and fitness fans from around the world will convene in Las Vegas, Nevada to witness the highlight of the bodybuilding and fitness industry, the Joe Weider Olympia Weekend. Beginning on Thursday, October 13, through Sunday, October 16, this year is especially significant as it marks the 40th anniversary of the Joe Weider Mr. Olympia competition which first started on September 18, 1965 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York.

The Joe Weider Olympia event will take place at the Orleans Arena, one of the most impressive arenas in the country and worthy of our outstanding IFBB Olympia competitors. The Orleans Arena offers superior staging, lighting, and television capabilities that will provide the background for the finest, most competitive Olympia of all time.

The Orleans Arena:

The Orleans Arena is considered the “Rolls Royce” of theaters with a seating capacity of approximately 8,000. Constructed in 2003, the $85 million dollar Orleans Arena was specifically designed for sporting events, so that every seat offers superior viewing of the stage. The acoustics, audio-visual technology, and numerous screens spread across the arena are state-of-the art and will greatly enhance the live experience of attending the event.

“The Orleans Arena is the most popular arena in Las Vegas and offers a high-tech sound system and great seating,” said Mr. Andy Olson, President, Magna Media International.

“In the 25 years I’ve been associated with the Olympia, this is the absolute best location for the premier bodybuilding event in the world,” Olson said.

For our athletes, the Orleans Arena provides spacious and comfortable private locker rooms, training facilities, and meeting rooms.

The Orleans Arena is directly accessible from the street and does not require a trip through the casino floor to enter. There is also ample parking near the arena.

The Convention Center:

The Las Vegas Convention Center, the second largest convention facility in the country, will be the site of the Olympia Expo and IFBB women’s bodybuilding, fitness and figure competitions on Friday, October 14, beginning at 12:00pm.

Make sure to visit your favorite vendors, so you don’t miss out on their product samples and exciting exhibitions. Also, the Olympia Expo is the ideal place for you to meet the best bodybuilding, fitness and figure athletes in the world. Don’t forget to bring a camera.

As a free courtesy for our loyal sponsors and fans, a fleet of luxury buses will be running all day (Friday and Saturday, October 14 and 15) to shuttle fans between the Orleans Hotel-Arena and the Las Vegas Convention Center. Each bus will be stocked with samples and sponsor products and will be scheduled to depart every 15 minutes.

The Orleans Hotel:

The Orleans Hotel provides a superb value for fans relative to any other hotel in Las Vegas. Located just a few minutes off the Las Vegas strip, the hotel is adjacent to the Orleans Arena which makes it very convenient for fans. The rooms at the Orleans Hotel are very affordable with room rates starting at $75.00 per night on October 13 to $150.00 per night on October 14 and 15.

Offering the best in comfort and in service, the Orleans Hotel is family-friendly and is the home to many fine and reasonably priced restaurants, a 70-lane bowling alley, fitness spa, and an 18-screen movie theater.

The 40th Mr. Olympia promises to be the most highly contested competition of all time as all the competitors focus on preventing Ronnie Coleman from taking his 8th consecutive title. While in Las Vegas, I encourage you to get out and take advantage of the many popular sites and events the city has to offer. On behalf of the IFBB, I thank you for your support and hope to see you there.

For more information on the 2005 Olympia weekend, please visit www.ifbb.com or www.2005olympia.com.