Nepal is all set to host the pro qualifier for Mr Olympia, the top bodybuilding championships at the international level, on February 17 at the Nepal Academy hall in Kathmandu.

Organised by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) League Nepal for the first time, the event will be participated in by bodybuilders of 15 countries. According to IFBB Nepal President Sanu Gurung, the event will have competitions in four categories: men’s physique, men’s classic physique, men’s bodybuilding and women’s physique. The winners of each of the four categories will get chances to participate in the Mr Olympia to be held in Los Vegas in September this year.

“The event is similar to World Cup of other games and bodybuilders from 15 countries have registered. Only bodybuilders above 70kg weight division are eligible to compete,” said Gurung, the former bodybuilder and the winner of Mr Nepal crown.

Bodybuilders from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Algeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and  Nepal among others have already registered to compete in the event. “The registration will close on Friday and we have expected participation of around 50 to 60 bodybuilders,” said Gurung adding that the pre-judging round will take place on Saturday morning and the final in the evening.

According to Danish judge Brian Bonde, Mr Olympia was the most prestigious bodybuilding contest in the world and every bodybuilder dreams of competing in it. Celebrity bodybuilder Roelly Winklaar nicknamed ‘The Beast’ is set to visit Nepal as a guest poser. The third-place finisher of the 2018 Olympia and the bodybuilder with the ‘biggest body’ will be arriving in Nepal on Thursday. The expected cost of the event is Rs 20 million, informed the organisers.