This year’s Arnold Classic Africa multi-sport extravaganza, held under the auspices of the City attracted about 18 000 sports and fitness enthusiasts and featured more than 70 sporting codes, including arm wrestling, slap fighting, strongman, professional wrestling, arts, kids’ entertainment, and live music. Colton Engelbrecht broke the record in powerlifting, setting a new world record in the deadlift against 201 entrants at the action-packed weekend-long event held between Friday, 19 May and Sunday, 21 May at Ruimsig Stadium in Roodepoort.
Engelbrecht was awarded for his enthralling display of human strength and determination, making him the third person in South Africa to pull a total of 1,010 kg, setting a new world record in the deadlift.
Italian Luigia Baggetta, the 2023 Arnold Classic winner for Elite Pro Body fitness, was excited to participate in the festival in Johannesburg and thankful for the opportunity to share her talent.
All winners at this most anticipated sporting event were honoured with dazzling awards, including National Championship jackets, trophies for every team, and custom medals, to list a few.
Wayne Price, the partner, and director of the Arnold Classic described this year’s event as an ultimate success with an increase in attendance and competition entries. Price said participants had shown brilliant performances and had bagged successful achievements from participating in different sporting activities.
“The determination of the participants throughout the performances and the cheerful spectators have proven the festival to be the best sports, arts, and entertainment event,” he said.
The ambiance of excitement lived through the festival, with foodies treated to exotic cuisine from small, medium, and micro enterprises that set up their stalls to showcase their products.
City entities and departments, including Health, Joburg Theatre, JMPD, EMS, Libraries and Information Services, CRUM, and the Johannesburg Zoo were some of the exhibitors at the event.
Catering to amateurs, professionals, and youth alike, the Arnold Classic Fest was tailored to provide an efficient and effective platform for various sport activities. It aimed to encourage people to be physically active by showcasing the different sporting codes in the world and bringing these closer to the multi-sport-loving residents of Johannesburg.
The City’s Joint Operations Committee (JOC) comprised of members of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), Emergency Management Services (EMS), the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the like, took elaborate measures to ensure the safety of all attendees and the success of the event.
Krishna Panther, the JOC Compliance and Safety Officer for the department of Sports and Recreation, said the event was compliant with all municipal prescripts governing events, and the Safety of Sports and Recreational Events Act No. 2 of 2010.
“About 726 JOC team members were deployed to ensure the safety of attendees and to deal with any possible incidences,” said Colonel Johan Theunissen, the Honeydew police crime prevention commander.
Written by Getrude Mamabolo
22/05/2023