Stage all set for the muscle men

THE Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) has added the Southern Africa BodyBuilding Championships to its list of events meant for the celebration of OR Tambo Month – October.

And fittingly, this year’s championships, hosted in partnership with Khaya Majeke Sports Promotion and Events, takes place at the OR Tambo District Municipality in Mthatha on Saturday.

DSRAC communications manager Andile Nduna said: “This bodybuilding championship is part of the OR Tambo Month activities that the department is using to commemorate and remember the life and times of struggle hero Oliver Reginald Tambo.

“We are also enthused that these championships are a qualifier for the prestigious Arnold Africa International Championships next year.”

Nduna said the bodybuilding championships were also key for sport tourism in the Mthatha area with international bodybuilders expected to attend.

To add a cherry on top of the activities in Mthatha, an aerobics marathon has been scheduled to take place before the bodybuilding event. This is in line with DSRAC’s vision to “promote an active, winning and healthy province through sport, recreation, arts and culture”.

The championships are the second taking place in Mthatha with last year’s edition in the same city.

Big-name male models in bodybuilding circles such as Andrew Hudson, Thulasizwe Sifatyi and Mveliso Tapi, to name a few, will be among those participating.

However, juniors and females will not be left out of being given the opportunity to flex their muscles and have a share in the overall grand prize of R50 000.

But what would an event hosted in the name of a stalwart of OR Tambo’s calibre be without social responsibility?

In this regard, four local schools will be receiving sporting kit and equipment as an initiative to encourage school sports, while Walter Sisulu University will receive new cricket mats and wickets.