Schwarzenegger confirms 2023 NPC Arnold Classic Amateur is back on schedule.
At the beginning of December, the Arnold Classic organizers made it official that the 2023 NPC Arnold Classic Amateur event was postponed. Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn’t happy with this decision and has made a dramatic U-turn.
The Arnold Classic USA organizers published a press release regarding the cancellation of the 2023 NPC Arnold Classic Amateur just over a month ago. Immediately after the news made its rounds, amateur athletes that were planning to compete at the event were very disappointed.
Read More: 2023 NPC Arnold Amateur has been postponed indefinitely
Evolutionofbodybuilding.net reached out to Brian Powers, Executive Director of the Arnold Sports Festival, and at that time, he confirmed the news.
“We were disappointed with early indications of athlete interest in the 2023 Arnold Amateur and decided to take a step back and work to improve the offering.
“The Arnold Classic is bodybuilding’s premiere invitational hosted by its greatest champion.
“If Amateur registrations are not meeting expectations it is a clear indication that I need to take it off line for a period of time and revamp the competition to meet the high standards of the brand.
“While we are disappointed that we are pausing our Amateur this year, the Arnold Sports Festival is otherwise experiencing record high demand in all other metrics (ticket sales, exhibitor/sponsor sales, hotel room bookings, etc.), we are investing more into the fan experience this year than in any other year and we are excited to share a number of blockbuster announcements for this years Event in the coming weeks.”
A few days after this statement was made, Dave Palumbo interviewed longtime promoter, Mike Davies, and he revealed more about what was happening behind the scenes.
Read More: Arnold Amateur USA: Former promoter Mike Davies reveals more.
“I think maybe there’s someone within our organization that felt that we don’t need it, but I straightened it out right away because I do need it, simply because I want to promote amateur bodybuilding” – Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger makes U-turn, confirms 2023 NPC Arnold Classic Amateur is back on.
In a recent interview with Nick Miller on his popular YouTube channel, Schwarzenegger confirms that there was a misunderstanding and the event is back on.
Arnold did admit that a decision was taken to cancel the 2023 NPC Arnold Classic Amateur, at the same time he refrained from putting the blame on Brian Powers.
“Well first of all let me just say that there’s some people that have said that the Arnold Amateur competition is not going to take place.”
“The amateur competition is part of it, I think maybe there’s someone within our organization that felt that we don’t need it, but I straightened it out right away because I do need it, simply because I want to promote amateur bodybuilding,” Arnold confirmed.
Arnold was then asked if Brian Powers took the decision.
“You know we have a whole team, and I don’t want to point my figure at anybody.”
“I mean I just can tell you that it was a miscommunication, and I made sure that it’s back in and that everyone knows that amateur is back.”
“It’s for women and for men, it never left and inevitable leads,” Arnold concluded.
At the time of publishing this article, the Arnold Sports Festival official website has still not been updated. The official message about the cancellation of the event is still published and there is still no option for amateur athletes to register for the event.
Evolutionofbodybuilding.net reached out to Brian Powers, he also confirmed that the 2023 Arnold Classic Amateur is back on, and the official press release will be published in the coming days.
Brian Powers has been in the spotlight lately, in regards to the decision of cancelling the 2023 NPC Arnold Classic Amateur event.
Evolutionofbodybuilding.net believes that such a major decision cannot be made by Brian himself and it was a decision made from the top. Brian Powers, being the Executive Director of the Arnold Sports Festival will obviously put him in the spotlight.
The press don’t contact Arnold Schwarzenegger, but they refer to Brian Powers, when they need answers about the event.
Putting the 2023 NPC Arnold Classic Amateur back on schedule, does not guarantee they will be flooded with athletes registering for the event.
If Gary Udit is still promoting the Amateur event at the Arnold Classic, he will have a large task on his hand, convincing athletes to register for the event.
Whatever happens, it’s good news that the Arnold Classic Amateur event is back on schedule.
