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Bodybuilding group targets Pacific Games
The competitors in last month’s Dee Clayton Classic pose for a photo. The Commonwealth Bodybuilding Federation is hoping the steady rise of young bodybuilders will help promote the sport in the CNMI. (Jon Perez)
CBF president John Davis said that after reviving the bodybuilding group, they will now focus on competing in the quadrennial sporting event to further promote the sport in the CNMI.
“Our focus now is to prepare for the Pacific Games. We plan to send some athletes in PNG,” said Davis.
The bodybuilding group head added that they plan to slowly bring bodybuilding back in the CNMI’s consciousness.
“Our long-term goal is to bring back bodybuilding as one of the regular sporting events here. We’re planning to hold a tournament in April and hopefully organize four events a year, especially with a lot of guys now hitting the gym,” said Davis, who has the full backing of veteran bodybuilding tournament organizer Dee Clayton.
Clayton, four years ago, organized the Mariana Islands Bodybuilding Dee Clayton Classic to revive interest in the sport after years of inactivity.
“I’m here to support them 100 percent. I can help them in organizing bodybuilding events and competitions,” said Clayton.
With CBF re-introducing the sport in the CNMI, the group is pinning its hopes on a younger generation of bodybuilders that includes Gino Celis, George Pangelinan, Nate Cruz, Vince Aldan, Gerald Galang, Donovan Mendiola, Alberto Roberto, John Nekaifes, Aaron Tomokane, and Tristan Ecalnea to jumpstart the program. All 11 bodybuilders competed in last month’s 2014 Dee Clayton Classic.
Davis also said CBF welcomes other individuals who want to help and support bodybuilding. He added bodybuilding promotes a healthy lifestyle and is a good way of sweating it out, especially in an island community like the CNMI.
Bodybuilding is one of the sports under the Pacific Games program. In the 14th Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia four years ago, the host won four of the 11 gold medals at stake in the bodybuilding competition, while Tahiti had the most number of medals with 7 (2 gold medals, 1 silver and four bronzes). (Jon Perez)
