Bodybuilding is not a sport but rather a form of physical exercise. Male and female athletes spend months preparing their bodies for display in prestigious tournaments around the world. Arnold Schwarzenegger gained his first recognition as Mr. Olympia. Thousands of bodybuilders hope to gain the same recognition by exposing their muscles for aesthetic purposes. Leading bookmakers such as GGBet cover many sporting events so you can stay up to date with all the key events in the sport. We will pay attention to the most prestigious contests.
1. Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia is an annual bodybuilding competition sanctioned by the IFBB Professional League. Inspired by Washington-based Olympia Brewing Company, the first contest was held in 1965. Mr. Olympia features several categories, each coming with specific criteria: open, 212, classic physique, men’s physique, fitness, figure, and bikini. An athlete must perform 8 poses within 60 seconds. When performing, they must also wear trunks of a specific color.
Many athletes come back to contests again and again. Dexter Jackson and Ronnie Coleman had 16 and 15 appearances in the competition. No wonder, Mr. Olympia has had around 20 winners throughout its history. The next Mr. Olympia event is scheduled for October 9-12, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2. Arnold Classic
The Arnold Classic is a bodybuilding show organized by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer in 1989. Inspired by the success of Mr. Olympia, proponent athletes created their own competition. In 1993, the Arnold Classic became the Arnold Fitness Expo due to the project’s expansion. The new tournament features hundreds of competitions in 80+ sports. What began as a bodybuilding event has transformed into a sporting mega-event that has promoted certain sports like heavyweight.
The Arnold Strongman Classic became the major event of the festival. There are separate categories for men and women, including classic physique, bikini, wellness, figure, and fitness. The Arnold Classic 2025 became the centre of the international fitness world between February 28 and March 2 in Ohio.
3. IFBB Pro League
The IFBB Pro League is an international bodybuilding organization that hosts prestigious competitions across different categories, including bodybuilding, fitness, physique, and wellness. Athletes go through multiple qualification stages by demonstrating their exceptional physique and making a perfect presentation. When an athlete gets a Pro status, they can compete in major bodybuilding contests like Mr. Olympia and the Arnold Classic.
The IFBB Pro League sets standards for bodybuilding and encourage the development of elite bodybuilders worldwide. With the professional approach, the organization has become one of the power forces in the bodybuilding industry.
4. NPC Nationals
The National Physique Committee (NPC) is the major amateur bodybuilding organization in the United States. Competitions are split into two parts – pre judging and finals. Judges assess the model’s performance of poses and other routines for the audience. The bodybuilders mainly focus on muscle conditioning and physique during their preparations.
NPC bodybuilding has become a large platform for young athletes who look for recognition and pursue a professional career. Since 1982, many NPC athletes have appeared on the covers of sports magazines such as Muscle & Fitness and Fitness Rx for Women. The national organization has helped discover real talent and establish healthy industry standards.
Other Competitions
Mr. Olympia and NPC Nationals are the major competitions in the industry. However, there are many more bodybuilding tournaments around the world. The Asia Grand Prix and the European Bodybuilding Championships also deserve the attention of devoted fans. Many of these events are even suitable for betting purposes, which spice up the whole bodybuilding experience. To keep things even more exciting, the International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB) supports over 50 competitions for both amateur and professional athletes conducted in different parts of the world. This is how bodybuilding gains world recognition.