Lucrative prizes on offer as Guyana set to host historic international bodybuilding Pro-Card qualifier

History beckons as the sixth edition of the ‘Stage of Champions’ event has been granted International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) Pro Qualifier status.

This marks the first time such an event will be held in the country, offering local and regional athletes a direct pathway to professional status.

The ‘Stage of Champions’ will occur on June 7 at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) in Georgetown.

Winning an IFBB Pro Card allows athletes to compete in the prestigious IFBB Pro League, opening doors to lucrative prize money and the highest levels of the sport globally.

According to Videsh Sookram, the event’s founder, the journey to this point has been significant.

“We started Stage of Champions with no initial support, but it has grown into a mega event,” Sookram said, expressing his hope that Guyanese competitors can secure pro cards on home turf.

Roger Callender, President of the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF), described the development as a “groundbreaking” step for local bodybuilding.

The event will feature elite physiques from across the Caribbean and beyond, with athletes confirmed from Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and Barbados, among other nations.

IFBB and CAC-certified international officials will judge the competition.

Three coveted IFBB Pro Cards will be awarded across the bodybuilding, men’s physique, and bikini categories.

The stakes are high, with the overall bodybuilding champion set to receive GYD$600,000 (approximately US$3,000), and the Men’s Physique champion GYD$300,000.

Traditional bodybuilding categories will offer GYD$ 200,000 for first place, GYD$ 100,000 for second, and GYD$ 60,000 for third across various weight classes.

The event has garnered significant backing from Twins Manufacturing, Fitness Express, Camille’s Academy, Linkin Technology, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, which have provided full support.

The ‘Stage of Champions Edition Six’ is scheduled to begin at 19:00 local time on June 7, with tickets priced at GYD$5,000.