NABA pushing to make bodybuilding an Olympic sport

The National Amateur Body-builders Association of Ghana (NABA) says it is in constant communication with the International Federation of Body-builders(IFBB) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to have body-building recognized as an Olympic sport.

As at now body-building is not considered as an Olympic sport despite several attempts from NABBA and IFBB to have it recognized. But Victor Baiden, the President of NABA Ghana, believes the dream to have the IOC recognize body-building as an Olympic sport would be achieved before long.

“The dream is to have body-building as an Olympic sport where young men and women can make a career and a decent living out of it. We are in constant touch with the powers that be to ensure this dream materializes,” Victor Baiden said at the official launch of this year’s Mr. Ghana and Miss Fitness event slated for the 27th of October at the National Theater of Ghana.

In the early 2000s, the IFBB attempted to make bodybuilding an Olympic sport. It obtained full IOC membership in 2000 and was attempting to get approved as a demonstration event at the Olympics which would hopefully lead to it being added as a full contest. This did not happen. Olympic recognition for bodybuilding remains controversial since many argue that bodybuilding is not a sport.

For the uninitiated, Bodybuilding is a form of physical exercise and body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their appearance.

Bodybuilders prepare for competition through a combination of dehydration, fat loss, oils, and tanning (or tanning lotions) which combined with lighting make the definition of the muscle group more distinct. Some well-known bodybuilders include Charles Atlas, Steve Reeves, Reg Park, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Lou Ferrigno. Currently, IFBB professional bodybuilder Phil Heath from the United States holds the title of Mr. Olympia. The winner of the annual Mr. Olympia contest is generally recognized as the world's top professional bodybuilder.