By Ravendra Kishore
Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) yesterday joined hands with the Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) to launch the 2008 national championships.
Addressing the media, President of the GABBFF Frank Tucker said that eight segments are scheduled to be showcased on August 15 at Banks DIH Ltd, Thirst Park.
Tucker said that the female competition, being held after an absence of one year, will see the Miss Guyana Physique title up for grabs and the contestants will have to display shape, symmetry, balance and muscularity.
And in the second contest called the Miss Body Fitness, the contestants will have to display the “total package” while in the final female contest, Miss Fitness, agility, flexibility and power will have to be displayed.
According to GABBFF General Secretary, Franklin Wilson, the women’s segment is aimed at attracting more females to a discipline which he said is regarded more as a man’s sport because of the massive physiques which are sometimes obtained.
At present, Tucker said, only five females have so far registered for the competition.
In the male segments close contests are expected as 2007 champion Clint Duke who has already given his commitment and will again be looking to out-muscle the Georgetown contestants.
The males will be contesting the under-154, 155-165, 166-176, 177-186 and the over-186 classes in a contest that Tucker said will be “Guyana showcasing the best of bodybuilders.”
Over 15 competitors have already registered. One of the main reasons for holding this competition is to select a team to represent Guyana at the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Championships slated for Nassau, Bahamas from September 25 to 28.
However, the size of the squad though, Wilson said, will depend on finance as the advertising plate for many companies is crowded with several sporting disciplines.
Meanwhile, major sponsor GT&T’s representive Senior Marketing Officer, Rhonda Johnson, said that the company was proud to once again be associated with a sport that is a disciplined one.
She noted that over the years a lovely bond had developed between the two and GT&T will soon be advertising a number that persons can text, to win tickets to attend the championships.
Additionally a “People’s Choice” award in the 154-165 pound championships will be decided by persons texting in so as to get more persons interested in the sport.
The new Bird cellular phones will be up for grabs many persons watching the championships will be afforded the privilege as GT&T is making sure that they get their money’s worth for taking part in the championships. On the night of the competition the Cellink girls will be leading a parade at the start of the championships.
GABBFF President Tucker stated that this was “the first time in local history that bodybuilding will be held outdoors,” while Wilson said that there was no need to worry about the weather as the championships have been set to coincide with one of the driest periods in Guyana’s climatic conditions.
If it does rain, however, the Banks Sports Club indoor facility will be utilized.
But it will not be bodybuilding alone on the eight contest card that night as the Jamzone Summer Break Pageant contestants will be on show and local fashion queen Olympia Small will be showcasing some of her latest designs.
Wilson said that it is not an all-out Cellink affair as Banks DIH and Caribbean Airlines have also thrown their weight behind the championships with the airlines providing two tickets each to the winners of the Male and Female Championship to travel to a Caribbean destination of their choice while GT&T will also pitch in with prizes for the winners of the Under-154 and 154-166 categories.
Apart from these prizes the first three finishers in every discipline will be presented with $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000 for placing first to third respectively while trophies will also be awarded to these finishers.
Stiff competition is expected in all the categories as bodybuilders are expected from Berbice, Linden, Georgetown and the East Coast of Demerara.
