In spite of the sport being suspended internationally, the Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation (BBWFF) National Championships will go on, scheduled for Saturday July 22 from 4-11 p.m. inside the University of The Bahamas (UB) Performing Arts Center Auditorium.
BBWFF President Joel Stubbs said at a press conference yesterday that quite a number of the country's top amateurs, and even some professionals, will be in action.
The event is being dubbed 'The Battle of the Best', and will take place in three segments – novice, nationals and open category. The price of admission is $30 for general, $40 at the door, and $50 for the VIP section. Stubbs said they anticipate a full house in support of the 55-60 athletes who will be competing.
"We're happy and delighted to host the 50th edition of the national bodybuilding and fitness championships where a number of athletes from New Providence and Grand Bahama will be in competition. Due to technical and international situations beyond out control, we were given a citation not have the sport be a part of the Bahamas Games through WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). We suffered the disappointment but that is not going to stop the sport locally. The show will go on and we anticipate a very competitive night. You will see many of the greats in action – professionals will be in attendance and they will be competing. It's going to be a grand night," said Stubbs.
Local pro bodybuilding and fitness athletes usually have demonstrations in exhibition at the nationals, but Stubbs said they will be in competition this year, along with some amateurs, in an open section of the show. The bodybuilding and fitness nationals was originally set to be a part of the lineup for the Sixth Bahamas Games, but the sport was sanctioned by WADA for non-compliance of international rules and regulations as it relates to doping in the sport.
"It's unfortunate. We in the region were looking to incorporate the sport in the Olympics but some athletes were caught with drugs in their system in an event in El Salvador about two years ago and that wasn't too pleasing to WADA. WADA passed down strict sanctions and bodybuilding was suspended due to non compliance. It doesn't affect our nationals. We still have strict measures in place where athletes will be tested, and at the CASC Championships, athletes will be tested. It's just through trying to make the corridor of the IOC (International Olympic Committee), we are kept out of the loop," he explained.
There will be 11 categories contested in the bodybuilding and fitness – men's bodybuilding, men's classic bodybuilding, men's physique, women's physique, women's fitness, women's body fitness (figure), women's wellness, bikini, women's fit model, men's fit model and classic physique.
In addition, kids fitness will be introduced for the first time at the nationals and young athletes from ages 7-15 will take part in that segment of the show. The kids fitness show will start at 4 p.m. this Saturday and the seniors will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Following the conclusion of the nationals, the BBWFF will name a team to represent The Bahamas at the 50th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, set for September 21-25, 2023, in Aruba. Stubbs remain hopeful that they will obtain the required funding for that trip.
"We're disappointed to know that we are unable to attain corporate sponsorship to our liking – the only thing left is for the government to come to our aid as best as it can," said Stubbs. "Hopefully, at the end of the day, we could be in a position where we could get as best of team as possible to represent us at the CAC Championships in Aruba. We're hoping to carry a sizable team to Aruba and come back with medals, but we need assistance."
As for this year's nationals, Stubbs said there are a lot of new faces and a lot of returning faces. He said they are always looking for new talent to enter the sport.
Former world championships athlete for The Bahamas Paul "Mighty Mouse" Wilson said he has a passion for the sport but a lack of funding is a detriment to himself and other athletes.
"The sport of bodybuilding and fitness is very expensive," he said. "Athletes are losing interest because of a lack of support from the country and from corporate Bahamas. Bodybuilding is not supported like other sports in the country and that is the most detrimental thing to bodybuilding athletes."
One of the founding fathers of the sport here in The Bahamas Richard Demeritte said he is delighted to be a part of the organization, but it is disappointing to him to see where the sport stands in terms of the support it receives.
"I started in the sport in the 1950s and the discipline that I got out of the sport, that is what needs to happen to everyone in the field. Bodybuilding is what caused me as a Bahamian to rise to the top in everything that I do in this life. That discipline is needed in whatever you do. I am here to give my full support to the administration and the sport here in The Bahamas. We cannot allow bodybuilding to fall in The Bahamas," he said.
Demeritte said he is in the process of compiling information and pictures to create a legacy book of the sport here in The Bahamas. He said the intention is to complete the book and present it to the Government of The Bahamas.
Former federation president, CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (CACBBFF) Vice President and president of the Antilles region Danny Sumner detailed a history of the sport here in The Bahamas over the last 50 years. He said that bodybuilding was the first sport in an independent Bahamas to have a national championships. That inaugural championships took place at the now defunct Garfunkel Auditorium in July 1973. Sumner termed the sport the most productive indoor sport in the country.
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