Bodybuilding coaches and judges will have an opportunity to become certified, through a developmental programme being initiated by Government.
The programme will serve to enhance the “quality of muscle”, and train a new generation of exceptional bodybuilding coaches and judges.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith, met with the President of the Central American and Caribbean Federation, Giovanne Arendsz, on Wednesday, at the Ministry’s headquarters, Haggatt Hall, St. Michael.
Mr. Griffith said that even though the programme targets coaches and judges, it must have a developmental aspect for the primary schools to reactivate the school boys’ bodybuilding programme.
“We can have 20 persons trained with the facilitator, then have a situation where you can promote the bodybuilding at the school level [and] at the community level, in terms of that particular target group,” the Sports Minister explained.
The programme, slated for July, will be administered by the Chairman of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Anti-Doping Commission, Professor Mauricio De Arruda.
The two-part developmental course will have a theoretical aspect and practical sessions, including gym time. A maximum of 50 participants will be selected from the bodybuilding fraternity, as well as from among the sports coaches.
President Arendsz highlighted the importance of having certified bodybuilding trainers and educating persons in gyms. “Persons are working in gyms [and] giving courses in training, and it’s very dangerous because you’re working with a person’s body. So, we are working on that with my Government, to have everyone working in a gym be certified,” he stated.
This meeting comes a few days before the IFBB Elite Pro Roger Boyce Classic, which is part of the IFBB Elite Pro Calendar 2023.