6 November 2009
Delegates from over 70 countries attended the annual Congress before the first Men’s World Bodybuilding Championship gets underway on Friday and Saturday at Al Ahli Club Indoor Hall in Dubai.
“The meeting went smoothly and I’m proud of the work done by WBPF officials. I didn’t expect 75 countries to send athletes to an event to be held for the first time because we are just a three month old baby,” said Osama speaking to Khaleej Times after his election. “It shows the trust people from all over the world have in us by coming to Dubai,” he said.
Having completed the ‘baby’ step he feels they are ready to “take-off”. I’m going to work hard with the members of the Council to achieve our goals of popularising bodybuilding in the world,” declared Osama who is also head of the Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (ABBF) and the Emirates Bodybuilding Federation. The WBPF headquarters is already based in Dubai.
“The Congress affirmed that WBPF is a legally construed body now,” said Axel Bauer, Vice-President for Europe. “The WBPF was formed in July as a legal entity in accordance with UK Law by five people — Paul Chua, Osama Ahmed Al Shafar, Hussin Al Shafar, Philip Hope and myself,” explained Austrian Bauer, a lawyer by profession.
“I’m pleased that so many countries attended this Congress because we are the most democratic and open body. Our message is clear: We have a mission and vision,” said Paul Chua, Secretary-General of the WBPF.
“We have handed over supreme power to the Congress because we are not an undemocratic body,” he said taking a dig at the International Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) from which they broke away to form WBPF.
“Our members are recognised by the government and their respective National Olympic Committees. That is important. We do not accept individual membership,” said the veteran administrator of the sport who is also Secretary-General of the ABBF.
“We don’t allow banned athletes to take part unlike the IFBB,” he said.
“We follow the IOC (International Olympic Committee) ideals and follow the rules of the sport. We have elected men of integrity and good standing,” said Chua from Singapore.
The weigh-in of athletes took place on Thursday evening. The pre-judging will take place from 10am on Friday morning at Al Ahli Club in the 10 weight categories from 55kg to over 100kg. “The top five bodybuilders in each weight class will be chosen for the final on Saturday,” said Bauer.
Most of the entries are in the lower weight classes with the heavyweights coming from New Zealand, Netherlands, Germany and Austria.
Hosts UAE have entered a 13-member team comprising Ahmed Hussain Ghdom (65kg), Khalid Ebraheem Moosa (65kg), Almas Muosa Ali Hassan (70kg), Tariq Rashid Saud Al Zaabi (70kg), Amer Ebhraim Al Bloshi (75kg), AmerMajeed Gaafer Bohaey (75kg), Hussain Mohammed Al Bloshi (80kg), Said Yaser Said Suleman (80kg), Omar Saeed Alnoobi (85kg), Ibrahim Salim Al Zaabi (85kg), Mohammed Essa Rahma (90kg), Ammar Khamess Al Khansari (100kg) and Anas Mohammed Al Aslai (over 100kg).
Follwing is the Executive Council of WBPF: President: Osama Ahmed Al Shafar (UAE). Vice-President for Africa: Boukar Tikire (Cameroon)
Vice-President for Asia: Chang Bo Young (South Korea)
Vice-President for Europe: Axel Bauer (Austria)
Vice-President for Oceania: Philip Hope (New Zealand)
Secretary-General: Paul Chua (Singapore)
Assistant Secretary-General: Christina Kam Yun (China, Hong Kong)
Treasurer: Hussain Al Shafar (UAE)
Chairperson of the Judges Committee: Walter van den Branden (Netherlands)
Chairperson of the Technical Committee: Patrick Mounier (New Caledonia)
Chairperson of the Science and Research Committee: Mohammed Abdulrahim Abdulla (Bahrain)
Chairperson of the Medical and Anti-Doping Committee: Prof (Dr) F.T. Delbeke (Belgium)
Chairperson of the Women’s Committee: Dr Margaret Kuo (Chinese Taipei)
