H A R A T A N

American Media, Inc. (AMI) and the IFBB Professional League will hold the Joe Weider’s 2008 Olympia Weekend competitions (Mr. Olympia, Ms. Olympia, Fitness and Figure Olympia) in Las Vegas in September 2008.

Mr. Olympia is an international bodybuilding competition which is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB). Winning is considered to be the highest accolade in the professional bodybuilding field. The competition was created by Joe Weider to allow the Mr. Universe winners to continue competing and to earn money. The first Mr. Olympia was held on September 18, 1965 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City, with Larry Scott winning his first of two straight titles.

The record number of wins is eight, held by Lee Haney (1984–1991) and Ronnie Coleman (1998–2005).

Jay Cutler currently holds the title of Mr. Olympia after consecutive wins in 2006 and 2007.

The film Pumping Iron (1977), featured the build up to the 1975 Mr. Olympia, in Pretoria South Africa and helped launch the acting careers of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno, both finalists in the contest.

There is a parallel contest, the Ms. Olympia, for female bodybuilders. In addition, the Fitness Olympia and Figure Olympia are held for fitness and figure competitors, respectively.