BB & Fitness news, links and articles from here and there!

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Advisory notice 29th December by IFBBpro.com concerning contest registration and competitor lists

http://www.ifbbpro.com/news/ifbb-pro-league-advisory-notice-022912/

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IFBB.com informes today; IFBB is now also in FB and one can now follow IFBB activities also at Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/IFBB-Official/299959746726063

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For those who are interested in following bikini-division - another pro bikini show will take place in California this weekend; Musclecontest Pro Bikini Championships.

For more official information, please visit - http://www.ifbbpro.c...st-information/

Here is the latest competitor list as of 5th March (note, new Ms Bikini International winner Sonya Gonzalez to enter this show)

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Results // Musclecontest Pro Bikini

1. Sonia Gonzales

2. Justine Munro

3. Narmin Assria

4. Stacey Alexander

5. MaryJo Cooke-Elliott

All the results with scores - http://www.ifbbpro.c...kini-scorecard/

Photos available at MD galleries - http://pics.muscular...&eventcode=1502

The Champ, Sonia Gonzales

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Another new figure pro in Europe! Runner up at 2011 IFBB World Championships, Italian Giada Simari , announced today she has now officially turned pro. Possibly we will see Giada on stage also in Finland's Nordic Pro Figure in the beginning of October.

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Another international amateur event added in IFBB calender; 1st Memorial Bodybuilding and Fitness International Tournament named "Ahmetkadic Fuad Fuke", will take place in Bosnia on May 20th, 2012.

http://www.ifbb.com/newsletter/detail.php?id=10023&date=2012-03-01&language=english&prov=index

For further information and entry forms, please check the invitation online - http://www.ifbb.com/pdf/2012_tuzla.pdf

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NPC celebrated their 30 years of excellence by relauncing the NPC news online website.

“The NPC News has been covering all aspects of the bodybuilding industry for 25 years. We felt it was time to redesign and relaunch our web site in order to keep up with the growing number of NPC competitors and their family members, friends and fans looking for news, coverage, results, announcements and information on all of our seven divisions.” says NPC chairman Jim Manion.

Take a look at re-launced website for news, photos and information about both NPC and IFBB shows - http://npcnewsonline.com/

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Some recent interviews and other updates in the scene...

Team-andro.com interviewed amateur competitor David Hoffmann in the end of January (interview in German language though - http://clips.team-an...-vom-24.01.2012

Norwegian legend, 3rd placer at 2011 masters IFBB world championships Jorgen Corneliussen met Treningsforum.no website - besides everything else, Mr Corneliussen told he will have this year off from the stages and focus on improving and coming back to the stages during 2013. A short vid filmed in March;

European MD columnist Giles Thomas interviewed a bunch of interesting BB names during the Arnold weekend. Those interviews are now online on MD;

http://www.musculard...les-thomas.html

http://www.musculard...les-thomas.html

http://www.musculard...les-thomas.html

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Olympia Qualification Series announced !

http://npcnewsonline...announced/9768/

The IFBB Pro League, in conjunction with Joe Weider’s Olympia Weekend, announced the creation of the IFBB Pro Olympia Qualification Series, a points-based system that will help determine qualifiers for all six IFBB Pro Olympia divisions.

The IFBB Pro Olympia Qualification Series will award points to competitors placing in the top 2 to 5 of all Pro League events. At the end of the Olympia qualifying season, the five (5) competitors with the highest points totals in the IFBB Pro Olympia Qualification Series will qualify to compete at Olympia Weekend.

Since the winner of each competition automatically qualifies, no points will be awarded for first place. Additionally, competitors placing in the top 5 at the Olympia automatically qualify for the following year.

The IFBB Pro Olympia Qualification Series will be effective immediately, and point totals for all 2012 contests will be included.

“We think this is a great way to expand the number of Olympia qualifiers beyond those who win contests and to build excitement for all IFBB Pro League events throughout the course of the year,” IFBB Pro League Chairman Jim Manion said. “It ensures that the best of the best will be competing on the Olympia stage.”

Points and qualifications in the IFBB Pro Olympia Qualification Series will be awarded as follows:

TIER 1 – ARNOLD CLASSIC

2^nd – 8 Points

3^rd – 7 Points

4^th – 6 Points

5^th – 5 Points

TIER 2 – SHERU CLASSIC, ARNOLD CLASSIC EUROPE

2^nd – 6 Points

3^rd – 5 Points

4^th – 4 Points

5^th – 3 Points

TIER 3 – NEW YORK PRO

2^nd – 5 Points

3^rd – 4 Points

4^th – 3 Points

5^th – 2 Points

TIER 4 – ALL OTHER IFBB PRO LEAGUE COMPETITIONS

2^nd – 4 Points

3^rd – 3 Points

4^th – 2 Points

5^th – 1 Point

Everything said above it's because IFBBpro league made a rule last year, that only the winner of the show (open show, different rules in AC,Olympia etc.) will qualify to the Olympia Now, with this system, 5 competitors will qualify to the Olympia even if they would place out of straight qualification spots. In other words - compete active and get points!

To view the IFBB Pro Olympia Qualification Series standings, as well as the current qualifiers for Olympia weekend, click on the links below.

Men’s Bodybuilding

212 Showdown

Women’s Bodybuilding

Figure

Fitness

Bikini

Any questions regarding IFBB Pro Olympia Qualification Series should be directed to the Olympia office via email at rchang@weiderpub.com.

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To read more what is written about the point system in BB media, please visit;

MD - http://www.musculard...announced-.html

Hardbody.com - http://www.hardbody....a-point-system/

Also in IFBBpro.com - http://www.ifbbpro.c...ication-series/

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One more new member in IFBB pro league from Germany // Europe. Body-xtreme.de announced today that 48 years old BBer, Ralf Herget has turned pro. Mr Herget has done a long career and as a last achievement in amateur level he placed 2nd at 2011 IFBB masters' world championships. Herget plans to make his pro debut already this fall in -212 category.

See the interview by Body-xtreme.de with Herget - http://www.bodybuilding-magazin.de/bodybuilding-artikel/ralf-herget-zeigt-uns-seine-pro-card/3808.htm

Herget posing in 2009 WC in Doha (6th place)

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http://www.musculardevelopment.com/contests/12-natural-ohio/4227-2011-mr-olympia-phil-heath-guest-posing-march-31-2012-at-the-npc-natural-ohio.html

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http://www.musculardevelopment.com/contests/12-ronnie-coleman-classic/4228-video-steve-kuclo-guest-posing-at-the-ronnie-coleman-classic-2012.html

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Daniel Toth turns pro and announces he will make his pro debut at FIBO pro show already this year!

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The next pro show will actually be held already this upcoming weekend as women's and men's physique pros compete IFBB Pro Grand Prix held in Los Angeles.

Women's line up will be interesting as many ex-figure-pros will make their debuts in physique division; Patricia Mello, Sabrina Taylor, Irina Veselova and Mascha Tieken will throw their heels away and try physique. Also coming from women's pro BB, Kris Murrell will compete at this show for the first time in physique division. These girls will meet for example, the winner of the very first pro physique show, Karina Nascimento and the girl having already 2 physique show wins under her belt, Sara Hurrle. For more official information and complete competitor lists, please visit - http://www.ifbbpro.c...st-information/

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Kai L Greene finally launces a website, take a look at - http://www.officialkaigreene.com/

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IFBB Pro Grand Prix was held yday in LA. See a lil review on NPCnewsonline.com - http://npcnewsonline.com/ifbb-pro-grand-prix-hurrle-and-wingson-win/12157/

The galleries and complete results are available also at NPCnewsonline.com - http://contests.npcnewsonline.com/contests/2012/ifbb_pro_grand_prix/

Sara Hurrle took her 3rd win in physique division while Mark Wingson managed to take the title at his pro debut show.

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GP Pepa Opava show was held in Czech Republic today. For the photos and results, please visit Svet kulturistiky.com - http://svetkulturist...otogalerie.html and Ronnie.cz - http://kulturistika.ronnie.cz/c-11777-pepa-open-2012-vysledky-a-fotogalerie.html

Petr Března took the top honors in Opava;

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The contest named Heavyweight Pokal was held in Germany during the weekend.

The results:

1. Paul Poloczek

2. Waldemar Koslow

3. Horst Wetterau

4. Martin Dudas

5. Bernd Töffing

6. Marco Schmidt

To see more photos, please visit Team-andro.com galleries - http://www.team-andr....php?album=1208 and even a video available on Body-xtreme.de - http://www.bodybuild...bilder/3839.htm

The champ, also the over all winner at 2012 Loaded Cup, Paul Poloczek

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Slovakian Championships were also held during the weekend. See all the results here in scorecards - http://www.eastlabs.biz/gallery/1025

Photos can be found here - http://www.eastlabs.biz/galleries

Class winners:

CBB -175cm: Radoslav Filip

CBB +175cm: Peter Bella

BB -70kg: Miroslav Skadra

BB -80kg: Filip Godzsak

BB -90kg: Ladislav Kuzder

BB +90kg: Stefan Havlik

Stefan Havlik took once again the over all title

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IFBB pro athletes Tomas Bures and Lionel Beyeke were the guest stars in Slovakia. See photos of Beyeke here - http://www.eastlabs.biz/gallery/1031 and photos of Bures' guest posing here - http://www.eastlabs.biz/gallery/1030

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Very first ever Amateur Olympia was held in UK last year - this year the show moves to Kuwait!

2012 AMATUER OLYMPIA ANNOUNCED!

NEW YORK, NY (April 19, 2012): Every bodybuilder wants to rise above his peers to be recognized as the best of the best and fulfill the dream of making it to the big time: the IFBB Pro League. This year, the best amateurs of Asia, the Middle East and Africa will gather in Kuwait for the opportunity of a lifetime at the 2012 IFBB Amateur Olympia on November 29-30. Now in its second year and with a coveted IFBB Pro card awarded to the overall winner, the Amateur Olympia promises to be the winner-take-all event of the season.

“The IFBB’s mission is to give athletes all over the world the opportunity to compete at the highest level," IFBB Pro League Chairman Jim Manion said. "This year’s contest is further proof of our continued growth. Thanks to the combined efforts of IFBB President Rafael Santonja, the Olympia LLC and AMI/Weider Publications, we are making it possible for athletes to follow their dreams and for fans of this great sport to see the best bodybuilders in the world."

Contest promoter Bader Boodai, President of the Kuwait Bodybuilding Federation and owner of Oxygen Gym in Kuwait, added: “We are all very excited to bring bodybuilding to the Mecca of the Middle East and to see all the great athletes from Asia, the Middle East and Africa competing for the honor of earning an IFBB pro card.”

The first-ever Amateur Olympia was held in 2011 in London. Sami Al Haddad of Bahrain won the “up to 90kg” class and the overall to obtain IFBB Pro status.

“The Mr. Olympia is a mythical name and title for bodybuilders worldwide,” IFBB President Dr. Rafael Santonja said. “The Amateur Olympia is for the IFBB a key event in our annual international program. The popularity of our sport in Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries is great and now talented bodybuilders will have the opportunity to participate in the Amateur Olympia.”

WHAT: 2012 IFBB Amateur Olympia

WHERE: Kadsiya Handball Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait

WHEN: November 29 & 30

FOR MORE INFO: IFBBpro.com and IFBB.com

http://www.musculard...-announced.html

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According to NPCnewsonline.com, Masters Olympia travels to Europe this year. Yep, Prague in Czech will be hosting this year's Masters Olympia in the beginning of December. To read more, please visit - http://npcnewsonline.com/2012-masters-olympia-announced/12751/

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IFBB report from the Balkan Championships - http://ifbb.com/page_report.php?id=101

Over all winner Georgi Slalov and BF queen Sanela Terzo

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Due to women's Europeans, I had totally missed the Optimum Classic; the pro show with Women's Figure and Men's -212 BB!

Anyway, Jose Raymond took the top honors in men's under 212 bodybuilding, quite easily after all. In women's figure Monica Specking took her very first pro win before the favorite Jami DeBernard and already a veteran of the sport, Ann Titone.

To see more photos, please visit..

MD galleries - http://pics.muscular...&eventcode=1533

RX galleries -http://gallery.rxmus...st=208&year=536

RXmuscle.com wrap ups the show - http://www.rxmuscle.com/videos/c-interviews/5619-2012-ifbb-optimum-pro-final-wrap-up.html

The Champs (..in awful quality photos )