25 nations, over 200 athletes: Guyana to host CAC Bodybuilding Championship 2024

Executives of the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) are laying the groundwork for what they envisioned to be the “best” Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Championship.

Earmarked for the first weekend of October 2024, the event will be hosted at the National Cultural Centre with over 200 athletes from 25 nations set to compete.

The CAC Championship is widely considered the showpiece for the sport in the Caribbean and Latin America as it also presents the opportunity for overall winners to earn the prized International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) Elite Pro-Card.

It is for this reason the best athletes make themselves available to compete.

In an interview on Thursday with News Room Sport, GBBFF President Keavon Bess outlined they have started the groundwork since making the initial bid in 2021.

This is the second time Guyana will host the championship, the first being in 2004.

Earlier this month, a Central America and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation team visited Guyana and conducted inspections.

Bess highlighted that Guyana came in for high praises from the regional organisers, with some minor adjustments to be made.

Among the areas to be looked at are improved stage lighting for the high volume of athletes expected on stage at any given point, and a smooth and efficient backstage arrangement.

Bess pegs the approximate budget to successfully host the event at over G$20M.

Notably, the athletes will face their individual mandatory expenses, inclusive of airfare, accommodation and meals.

Only the CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation officials and delegates are fully catered for by the host nation.

From a sport tourism standpoint, it brings a high influx of visitors for a four-day period.

Bess’ estimation of 200-250 athletes from 25 nations is based on the numbers when the championship was staged in Aruba this year. There were over 170 athletes from 22 countries.

To cement the status as the “best” CAC Championship, Bess related that networking and planning are critical with key partners such as the Guyana Police Force, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and the Guyana Olympic Association.

One of those areas would be the efficient movement of athletes and officials to and from the airport, hotel and competition venue.