Bodybuilding has come a long way since the days of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone when the niche sport was viewed suspiciously by many as a freak show rather than serious sport.
As the World Trade Centre prepares to host the Dubai Muscle Show, competitive body building has become more popular than ever with 20,000 expected through the doors for the two-day event.
With new ‘physique’ categories for men and women to show-off sculpted bodies after years of dedication to the gym, bodybuilding is now reaching a huge audience.
Two global stars to capture that imagination, who have helped take interest in the sport into the mainstream, are in Dubai promoting this weekend’s event.
Jay Cutler reached the pinnacle of bodybuilding as a four time Mr Olympia, and is an inspiration for many young body sculptors trying to build that perfect physique.
Cutler was joined on Jumeirah Beach to promote the show by Kai Greene, a winner at the 2016 Arnold Classic and three time Mr Olympia runner up, also known as 'The Predator'.
Although both are now retired from competition, they have each carved out impressive careers thanks to their success in the sport.
Whilst Cutler is involved with a multi-million-pound supplement and nutrition company, Greene is making the successful transition into Hollywood – appearing in series two of Stranger Things.
“The role with Stranger Things was not important to how I looked or the strength of my body - looking at me on screen, I look like a fat guy in clothes,” said Greene.
“I’ve learned to take care of myself and pay the bills through a prize winning physique, so to see yourself with those assets covered up is like having your hands tied behind your back.
“Because of that, I’ve had to develop other skills without the body being a distraction.”
Whilst Greene is hoping there will be a role for him in Stranger Things series 3, Cutler is happy to view the evolution of bodybuilding from afar and said the sport can help turnaround an unhealthy lifestyle.
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Read more:
Learning about the art of calisthenics from the world’s leading practitioners in Dubai
Government issues health warning over ‘toxic’ online bodybuilding drugs
Netflix renews 'Stranger Things' for third season
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“The first time I was in Dubai was 2008, fitness wasn’t big here, I had no idea how bodybuilding would explode in this region,” he said.
“It will continue to grow, as we have so many divisions now for people to compete in.
“It is not just about being as muscle bound as possible, there are men and women physique competitions to enter.
“Like the UAE, the US has a big problem with obesity and diabetes, and the growth of the fitness industry can help to address that.”
More than 60 athletes are due to turn out at the Dubai Muscle Show, with amateur sports competitions and an exhibition of over 150 fitness and nutrition brands.
Other athletes from the sport attending include Eddie Hall, Ronnie Coleman, Simon Panda and Paige Hathaway.
There will be a Q&A with selected athletes on Friday, and an interactive strongman training session on Saturday.
“Bodybuilding as a sport is growing all over the world, and that includes the UAE,” said Greene, 42.
“The lifestyle is part of the attraction, as more people are becoming conscious about how to improve their health and dedicate their life to exercise to see the positive benefits that brings.
“The industry is thriving and not showing any signs of slowing down. New people are discovering the sport every day, and discovering the new opportunities that it presents.”
Greene also involved in the filming of upcoming martial arts movie, Crazy Fist, due for release next year.
Whilst Cutler, 44, has turned his attentions to business, helping amass a reputed fortune in excess of $81 million, he is concerned about the stigma of drugs attached to his sport.
“Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone were my inspiration, and I watched a lot of Jean Claude Van Damme movies – that was the kind of body shape I wanted to achieve,” he said.
“I looked at Arnold and he was great, but he wouldn’t be able to compete with the top guys around today.
“In that time, the sport was not generating money. The sport has gone from paying $500 for events to $400,000.
“There has been a big swing in money, and everything is being driven by that success.
“There is a culture of drugs in the sport. But speaking from a perspective of being at the top for so long as someone who didn’t have a problem putting on a lot of size, genetically I was suited to be the best that I could be.
“You can’t train for that, you have to have the mental capacity to train at a certain level of intensity and no drug can replace that.”
The Travel Diaries of Albert Einstein The Far East, Palestine, and Spain, 1922 – 1923
Editor Ze’ev Rosenkranz
Princeton
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
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Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
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Men's football draw
Group A: UAE, Spain, South Africa, Jamaica
Group B: Bangladesh, Serbia, Korea
Group C: Bharat, Denmark, Kenya, USA
Group D: Oman, Austria, Rwanda
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday Sassuolo v Torino (Kick-off 10.45pm UAE)
Saturday Atalanta v Sampdoria (5pm),
Genoa v Inter Milan (8pm),
Lazio v Bologna (10.45pm)
Sunday Cagliari v Crotone (3.30pm)
Benevento v Napoli (6pm)
Parma v Spezia (6pm)
Fiorentina v Udinese (9pm)
Juventus v Hellas Verona (11.45pm)
Monday AC Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
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Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
