COLUMBUS, Ohio – “The Arnold” is 25 years old and celebrating its birthday this weekend with some 200,000 of its closest friends.
The 2013 Arnold Sports Festival runs through March 3 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and other venues, featuring more than 18,000 athletes, representing 80 nations, competing in 45 sports, including 12 Olympic sports, Jim Lorimer of Classic Productions said.
There are several new events included in this year’s festival.
The inaugural Scottish Highland Games Sunday at Columbus Commons features bagpipers, a competition in classic Scottish dancing, and traditional “heavy events” competitions in which brawny, kilted men throw long-shafted sledge-hammers, round stones rather than metal shot puts, 56-pound weights, 28-pound weights for distance and, of course, toss cabers, 20-foot-long tree trunks weighing over 100 pounds, end over end, for distance.
Other new events this year:
The Arnold Survival Race, a family friendly 5K obstacle course at Berliner Sports Park on March 2
Xtreme Powerlifting Competition (XPC) encompassing the squat, bench press and dead lift at Veterans Memorial on March 2-3
The Arnold, Champions & Legends Sunday Morning Showcase, featuring Schwarzenegger and other champions talking about bodybuilding and physical training at Hilton Columbus Downtown
The Arnold Jump Rope Fitness Competition, including demonstrations by speed jumpers capable of 980 revolutions in three minutes
The festival hours:
Friday, March 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The 2013 Arnold Classic winner will receive $130,000 and other prizes.
The first Arnold Classic, named in honor of Schwarzenegger, was held at Franklin County Veterans Memorial in 1989.