Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s announcement to increase the prize money to $500,000 for the Men’s Open Division winner starting in 2025 sparked controversy in the bodybuilding community. The Arnold Classic, a pinnacle event in bodybuilding, has recently faced criticism over its decision to discontinue certain divisions, including female bodybuilding and the men’s 212 category. Brian Powers, the Executive Director of the Arnold Classic, shed light on the rationale behind these choices in a recent interview.

While addressing the issue on Nick’s Strength and Power YouTube channel, the Executive Director acknowledged the concerns raised by prominent figures, such as 3-time Ms. Olympia Sarah Villegas and Iris, expressing respect for their opinions.

It is difficult  to carry every division: Brian Powers

The female bodybuilders are requesting the inclusion of divisions discontinued since the 2022 Arnold Classic event. To clarify the organization’s stance on this issue, Powers emphasized the difficulty of the decisions, citing resource allocation and logistical challenges as key factors.“It’s a challenge, right, it comes down to resources,” Powers stated. “We have a number of different considerations beyond just bodybuilding when we talk about where we allocate our resources.” They recently decided not to continue with a figure division, and a few years earlier, they discontinued the Men’s 212 category.

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Powers clarified that while certain divisions were discontinued due to runtime and resource constraints, the event introduced new categories like women’s strongman, offering a substantial cash prize of $75,000. Despite the success of these additions, Powers acknowledged the disappointment felt by athletes and fans alike. “It’s hard for the athletes, and it’s hard for us to not carry every division,” he admitted.

“But for right now, we’re still very much in the process of rebuilding the business,”

Powers highlighted the lingering impacts of the pandemic on the events industry, noting shortages in manpower and access to audio-visual equipment. He assured that the Arnold Classic is aware of the criticism and is actively exploring alternative solutions to accommodate the affected divisions.

The Arnold Classic won’t be adding the divisions in 2025

“We’re aware of the criticism, and we’re working on trying to figure out other solutions to make it so that those divisions have an opportunity to compete,” Powers affirmed. While Powers stopped short of guaranteeing the return of discontinued categories in the upcoming event, he emphasized the organization’s commitment to finding viable solutions.

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The controversy surrounding the discontinuation of certain bodybuilding divisions at the Arnold Classic underscores the complex challenges faced by event organizers. While difficult decisions have been made, Powers assured that the organization remains open to feedback and is actively exploring ways to address concerns raised by athletes and fans alike. Fans and athletes eagerly await further updates on the future of bodybuilding competitions under the Arnold Classic banner. Let us know what’s your opinion on this matter.

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