President of the Body Building and Fitness Federation (BBFF) Dr Alfred Sparman has revealed that preparations are progressing smoothly ahead of next week’s Roger Boyce Elite Pro Show.
The English-speaking Caribbean’s most high profile bodybuilding event is set for May 16 at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium.
Speaking exclusively in an interview with Barbados TODAY, Dr Sparman says the federation is proud to be staging the show yet again.
“This event presents far more than competition. It reflects discipline, hard work, healthy living, sacrifice and the relentless pursuit of excellence. We are honored to host this elite event and elite athletes coming from all over the region and internationally, while also showcasing the warmth and hospitality of Barbados.
“This show continues to elevate the standard of bodybuilding and fitness in the Caribbean and provides a platform for athletes to inspire the next generation through hard work, dedication and sportsmanship, and to all competitors I want to commend the commitment and the preparation they’ve brought to the stage.” Dr Sparman said.
“They have already embodied the spirit of champions. We also extend sincere thanks to our sponsors, organizers, judges, volunteers, and supporters whose contribution makes this event possible.”
Dr Sparman says between 150 and 200 competitors are expected to participate, as the event continues to attract more entries each year.
“We look forward to an exciting and memorable competition, and we invite the public to come out and support these outstanding athletes. We’re going up, yes, every year since we started it, we’re going up (in entries) at least by 25% every year. So this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if we have 200 athletes from all over. They are coming from Spain, France, from everywhere.”
Dr Sparman said a number of factors have contributed to the popularity of the competition.
“I think that people are looking for something like this. We’ve never had something as big as this in the Caribbean. We’ve never had big international shows where you’re going to have even the president and vice president of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness showing up, but they all come.
“It’s something that people were thinking of doing, but Roger Boyce who was very visionary was able to pull this off. I also think it’s popular because all of these islands now feel we don’t have to go to the States for a big show. We don’t have to go all the way over to Europe, we can come right here in Barbados. At the same time ,when they come here, we’ll showcase what we have here, this warmth and beautiful island that we live on,” Dr Sparman said.
According to Dr Sparman, pro cards will be at stake for the winners of the various categories.
“Last year we gave somewhere around 16 to 20 pro cards, and this year we have pro cards available for people who are coming up and want to really become professionals,” he said.
(KH)
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