Huge boost for SA bodybuilding

 

After 17 years of effort by Gavin Conlon, the SA Olympic governing body SASCOC has officially recognised bodybuilding as a national sport.

“The significance of getting recognised by SASCOC is massive for the sport of bodybuilding and fitness in South Africa,” stated
an elated Conlon this weekend after attending South Africa’s Olympic governing body SASCOC’s AGM.

 “Our dedicated athletes and officials will now receive provincial as well as national colours in bodybuilding”, Conlon said.
“We will now be able to take a ‘South African Bodybuilding Team’ to compete internationally where they will wear the Protea emblem and uniform. We will fly the South African flag high with pride and bring home medals for our country.”

Being officially affiliated with the IFBB will be a huge benefit for Bodybuilding South Africa. The IFBB boasts an impressive 182 affiliated National Federations, is recognised by over 90 international Olympic Committees and hosts over 2 500 competitions across the globe annually. Bodybuilding is also expected  to become an Olympic sport in the near future.

Conlon also sees this as a great opportunity by using the recognition to educate people and grow the sport of bodybuilding locally:
“We will now be eligible for funding which we will use for development, youth and club programmes as well as schooling initiatives and in helping previously disadvantaged clubs to grow. We want to expand bodybuilding and fitness from a grassroots level. Our aim is to get bodybuilding into every nook and cranny and to every part of the country!” he said.

IFBB SA now joins the fraternity of 80 federations that are formally members of SASCOC.

Bodybuilding teams from every province will compete at the 2011 IFBB SA National Championships 7-11 September at His Peoples Centre, N1 City, Goodwood. — David Blood, SportsCentral