On the 8th and 9th of December, the Tarragona Exhibition and Congress Center will once again host a world championship. This time it's about IFBB International Master Bodybuilding & Fitness World Championship(International Federation Of BodybuildingandFitness).
In this edition, which will be based in Tarragona, 500 athletes from 50 countries are expected. A common figure in this type of event. State athletes taking part in the competition must be part of the Spanish national team and have won a medal in one of the national competitions.
The categories who will compete in the world are:
Male masters (+):
- Mensphysics
- Mensshort
- ClassicBodybuilding
- Bodybuilding
Female masters (+ 35 years):
- Fitness bikini
- Wellness bikini
- Bodyfitness
- Womenphysics
The Palau de Congressos de Tarragona hosts sports championships
On April 29, 2018 the Palau Firal i de Congressos de Tarragona has already hosted the CataloniaFCBB Championship, affiliated to the Spanish Federation (IFBB España) and the International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB Internacional). Around 200 athletes have already registered for this territorial competition.
This is not the only sporting event hosted by the Palau de Congressos in recent years. Three national championships have been held in the PoleSport branch and in 2018 the World Championship in this discipline was hosted. Every year, the Palau Firal i de Congressos is also home to the well-known national dance competition ANAPRODE.
The origins of Bodybuilding and Fitness in Catalonia
Catalonia, specifically Platjad'Aro, was the first place in Spain where the first Spanish Championship of this sports specialty was held. In terms of tradition, Catalonia has organized many such championships. However, the town of Santa Susana, in Barcelona, is called the "World Capital of Fitness" as for 7 years there have been about 1500 athletes on the occasion of the celebration of the European Championship.
IFBB International was founded in 1946 and is present in 196 countries around the world. Its mission is to disseminate the virtues and benefits of the practice of sport in general and weightlifting in particular. The current President is Dr. D.DafaelSantonja
Tarragona, home of the Mediterranean Games and the Bodybuilding & Fitness Championship
IFBB International has been holding the World Master of Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships for 25 years. The last edition was held in Biarritz (France) but this year the IFBB set its headquarters in Tarragona due to the global repercussions of the Mediterranean Olympic Games, in which the International Federation of Bodybuilding was a collaborating entity.
In 2009 the mayor of Tarragona, Josep Fèlix Ballesteros, received a delegation from this federation led by the National President, Mr. Jose Ramos, the Honorary President, sr. José Donato Muñoz, the President of the Catalan federation, Mr. Carlos Ramos and Vicenç Redondo, Officer of the Ifbb. The entourage presented the city with the IFBB Gold Medal for being a key city in the development of Catalan bodybuilding. The pioneer of this sport was José Donato from Tarragona, both in Catalonia and in Spain. Thanks to his impetus, Tarragona hosted international athletes for long periods of time.
