2004 GNC SHOW OF STRENGTH & WORLD FITNESS EXPO RETURNS TO ATLANTA
The third annual event pits world class athletes in competition for big money and bragging rights
ATLANTA, July 26, 2004 - Atlanta welcomes the third annual GNC Show of Strength & World Fitness Expo to the Cobb Galleria on October 8-10, 2004 as top male bodybuilders, strongmen, powerlifters, armwrestlers, and fitness and figure athletes compete for more than $310,000 in prize money. The event expects more than 20,000 health and fitness fans and will host more than 300 health and fitness exhibitors.
Professional competition at the 2004 GNC Show of Strength & World Fitness Expo will include the GNC Pro Bodybuilding Championships for men and women, a NWA Total Nonstop Action Wrestling talent search, The MHP Pro Strongman Invitational, Lee Haney's Ultimate Teen Challenge, Physical Magazine's cover model search, the World Powerlifting Organization finals, GNC Pro Figure and Fitness Championships, and the GNC Pro Performance Armwrestling Competition. The weekend will be capped off with a VIP party combining fitness and fun.
The GNC Show of Strength & World Fitness Expo is the last chance to qualify for the Mr. Olympia competition so the biggest names in bodybuilding will compete. At the 2003 event, Dexter Jackson surprised favorites Jay Cutler and Gunter Schlierkamp by winning the GNC Pro Bodybuilding Championship. Jackson will be back to defend his title against premier bodybuilders including Atlanta's own Toney Freeman. In female action, leading bodybuilders such as Iris Kyle and Betty Pariso will be in competition.
The popular NWA Total Nonstop Action Wrestling will be on-site at the GNC Show of Strength & World Fitness Expo and holding try-outs to find their next big star.
The MHP Pro Strongman Invitational will showcase six of America's strongest men in head-to-head competition for over $20,000. One of the competitors will be Steve Kirit, who has held the title of America's Strongest Man for two straight years. The Strongman Invitational will also allow 50 amateurs from the North American Strongman Society to battle for a pro card and compete in the Strongman sport's Pro Division.
Atlanta resident and eight-time Mr. Olympian, Lee Haney is promoting health, fitness and sport to youth through the Lee Haney's Ultimate Teen Challenge at the GNC Show of Strength & World Fitness Expo. The event will showcase up to 25 area high schools competing in strength and fitness challenges to include a tire relay, bench press and vehicle push with nearly $7,500 in fitness equipment donations going to the top three schools. In addition, proceeds from the competition will support the Atlanta-based charity, the Lee Haney Harvest House.
Physical Magazine, one of America's favorite sports nutrition publications, will be holding a cover model search at the event as well. Winners will be flown to California for an exclusive cover photography shoot.
Last year several records were set in the World Powerlifting Organization finals at the GNC Show of Strength & World Fitness Expo, including a 1,114 lb. squat by super heavyweight Andy Bolton, a 976.6 lb. squat and 691 lb. bench press by heavyweight Jesse Kellum. Expect more of the same in 2004. The Pro Figure and Fitness Challenges are also back in 2004 with many exciting participants including fitness pros Kelly Ryan, Adela Friedmansky and Jen Hendershott along with figure pros Jenny Lynn and Elaine Goodlad. The American Armsport Armwrestling Challenge is also being held again this year with four men's weight classes and two women's weight classes.
To compliment the competitions, over 300 exhibitors including show sponsors MHP, Muscletech, EAS, MetRx and Fizogen will showcase and offer free samples of their cutting edge products used by many of the professional competitors, including nutritional supplements, energy bars, sports drinks, sports and training equipment, and high performance athletic apparel, at the three-day World Fitness Expo.
Information on purchasing events tickets and the complete event schedule is available at http://www.showofstrength.com/. For free media credentials please go to www.showofstrength.com/press.html to fill out an application.
The Show of Strength is sponsored by General Nutrition Companies, Inc. (GNC) based in Pittsburgh, PA. It is the largest nationwide specialty retailer of vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements, sports nutrition, as well as personal care and related products. GNC operates more than 5,000 retail outlets throughout the United States and in 29 foreign markets including Canada and Mexico. Additional information can be found on http://www.gnc.com/
Chad Nason
Weber Shandwick Worldwide
One Buckhead Plaza, Suite 520
3060 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA, 30305
cnason@webershandwick.com
Phone: 404.266.7530 Fax: 404.231.1085
