COLUMBUS – Lacrosse players rub elbows with archers, cheerleaders with ping-pong players, but the main attraction at the Arnold Sports Festival in its 29th year remains those men and women who sculpt their physiques into the amazing specimens we associate with the term “bodybuilder.”
Arnold Sports Festival, March 2-5, Greater Columbus Convention Center and Ohio Expo Center.
Admission to the Arnold Fitness EXPO and most events at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and the Arnold SportsWorld Kids & Teens EXPO and all events at the Ohio Expo Center are included in the Daily EXPO Ticket ($15 each or 3 for $40 in advance, $20 at the door). Children 14 and under are FREE. VIP Ticket Packages and individual event tickets are available through Ticketmaster or 800-745-3000.
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Already the largest multi-sport event in the world, “The Arnold” will attract an estimated 200,000 visitors to Columbus, including 20,000 athletes from 80 nations who will compete in 70 events at the Great Columbus Convention Center downtown.
After winning the Mr. World contest in 1970 and consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 1970 to 1975 in Columbus, Arnold Schwarzenegger – the budding motion picture superstar and future governor of California – began promoting the Arnold Classic with local promoter Jim Lorimer in 1989.
The festival has long since expanded to include a variety of events, including the national championships of pole fitness. New events in 2017 include lacrosse, paraplegic powerlifting, yoga, Arnold Pro Strongwoman and the Arnold Transformation Challenge.
Headlining the festival are professional bodybuilding and strongman competitions on two structurally reinforced stages at the convention center.
The Arnold Fitness EXPO, held Friday through Sunday at the convention center, features more than 1,000 booths displaying sports equipment, apparel and nutrition, and stages that host competitions and entertainment.
The Arnold Amateur Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Bikini & Physique Championships, featuring more than 700 athletes, will be held at the Battelle Grand on Friday and Saturday.
The Arnold SportsWorld Kids & Teens EXPO, (Sat.-Sun., Ohio Expo Center, Bricker Building) features archery, baton twirling, boxing, cheerleading and dance, gymnastics, lacrosse, table tennis, taekwondo, and XPC Powerlifting and POWER X.
Click to see diagram of exhibit hall
It also features basketball and volleyball as well as a talent show and teen fitness pageant. There are opportunities to try out more than 20 sports with hands-on clinics lead by area teams, a Spartan obstacle course and several zip lines.