Post by Denise Wattles on Jul 27, 2005 10:57:24 GMT -5
The Unfied National Championship is the 2nd of 3 U.S. qualifying tournaments. The last U.S. qualifier will be the International Tournament of Champions in Boomtown on October 29th.
I received the following Press Release yesterday confirming that Arnold will be at the Fitness Expo:
ARNOLD WILL BE HERE, CO-PRODUCER SAYS
Published: Monday, July 25, 2005
By Bill Bush
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will appear at the Arnold Fitness Weekend next spring despite cutting his financial ties to the Columbus bodybuilding and sports competition, the event's local co-producer said yesterday.
"Arnold is intending to participate as he has for 31 years, because he loves Columbus,'' said co-producer Jim Lorimer, of Worthington. "I can guarantee that you're not going to knock him out of that.''
Lorimer said that he "has been assured that it's the financial relationships that are being terminated,'' and not Schwarzenegger's personal appearances at the event.
Lorimer got that assurance last week, he said, but he wouldn't comment on who assured him of that, or whether he has personally spoken to Schwarzenegger about it.
The event also will continue to feature Schwarzenegger's name, Lorimer said, including the bodybuilding portion of the weekend, the Arnold Classic.
"If he hadn't (attended) it would put me in a most untenable position because he is, again, the linchpin of the weekend.
"We're just one weekend a year here. We're not trying to take Arnold away from his main function, which is being governor of California. . . . We've been partners over the years. Whatever (profits) we've got into the black on -- it's varied over time -- he's shared in that. He will no longer be sharing any proceeds, if there are proceeds.''
Margita Thompson, a spokesman for the governor, said yesterday that Schwarzenegger is paid a fee for attending the event. The Dispatch has reported the fee is about $100,000, and that he donates the money to charity.
"That financial relationship is over,'' Thompson said.
Schwarzenegger announced he was cutting financial ties to the Arnold Weekend about the same time he relinquished his title as executive editor of Muscle & Fitness and Flex magazines.
The governor has been criticized for his association with magazines that get advertising revenue from nutritional-supplement companies. Dietary supplements also are promoted at the Arnold Weekend.
Critics said his ties to entities that promote such supplements could pose a conflict of interest for the governor. They noted that Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill in September that would have regulated the use of performance-enhancing supplements by high-school athletes.
Lorimer has co-produced the event since its founding in 1989. The next Arnold Weekend is scheduled for March 3-5 in the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Nationwide Arena and Veterans Memorial.
Brent LaLonde, a spokesman for Experience Columbus, said the Arnold Classic is one of the city's largest annual conventions, bringing in 80,000 visitors who spend $25 million.
"Arnold Schwarzenegger has been very dedicated to our city and we appreciate it greatly,'' LaLonde said. "The (Arnold) Weekend wouldn't be the same without him.''
For more information on the Arnold Classic Armwrestling Challenge and how to qualify go to www.USArmwrestling.com
I received the following Press Release yesterday confirming that Arnold will be at the Fitness Expo:
ARNOLD WILL BE HERE, CO-PRODUCER SAYS
Published: Monday, July 25, 2005
By Bill Bush
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will appear at the Arnold Fitness Weekend next spring despite cutting his financial ties to the Columbus bodybuilding and sports competition, the event's local co-producer said yesterday.
"Arnold is intending to participate as he has for 31 years, because he loves Columbus,'' said co-producer Jim Lorimer, of Worthington. "I can guarantee that you're not going to knock him out of that.''
Lorimer said that he "has been assured that it's the financial relationships that are being terminated,'' and not Schwarzenegger's personal appearances at the event.
Lorimer got that assurance last week, he said, but he wouldn't comment on who assured him of that, or whether he has personally spoken to Schwarzenegger about it.
The event also will continue to feature Schwarzenegger's name, Lorimer said, including the bodybuilding portion of the weekend, the Arnold Classic.
"If he hadn't (attended) it would put me in a most untenable position because he is, again, the linchpin of the weekend.
"We're just one weekend a year here. We're not trying to take Arnold away from his main function, which is being governor of California. . . . We've been partners over the years. Whatever (profits) we've got into the black on -- it's varied over time -- he's shared in that. He will no longer be sharing any proceeds, if there are proceeds.''
Margita Thompson, a spokesman for the governor, said yesterday that Schwarzenegger is paid a fee for attending the event. The Dispatch has reported the fee is about $100,000, and that he donates the money to charity.
"That financial relationship is over,'' Thompson said.
Schwarzenegger announced he was cutting financial ties to the Arnold Weekend about the same time he relinquished his title as executive editor of Muscle & Fitness and Flex magazines.
The governor has been criticized for his association with magazines that get advertising revenue from nutritional-supplement companies. Dietary supplements also are promoted at the Arnold Weekend.
Critics said his ties to entities that promote such supplements could pose a conflict of interest for the governor. They noted that Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill in September that would have regulated the use of performance-enhancing supplements by high-school athletes.
Lorimer has co-produced the event since its founding in 1989. The next Arnold Weekend is scheduled for March 3-5 in the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Nationwide Arena and Veterans Memorial.
Brent LaLonde, a spokesman for Experience Columbus, said the Arnold Classic is one of the city's largest annual conventions, bringing in 80,000 visitors who spend $25 million.
"Arnold Schwarzenegger has been very dedicated to our city and we appreciate it greatly,'' LaLonde said. "The (Arnold) Weekend wouldn't be the same without him.''
For more information on the Arnold Classic Armwrestling Challenge and how to qualify go to www.USArmwrestling.com
