Bermuda’s bodybuilders will get the opportunity to compete for a pro card on home soil when the island hosts the International Federation of Body Building and Fitness Pro League Caribbean Grand Prix.

The event will take place on stage at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts at CedarBridge Academy on December 7 and is open to all local and international amateur athletes. Competition will be in various categories for the eight IFBB Pro League pro cards up for grabs to be awarded to the overall winners.

The categories include bodybuilding, classic physique, men’s physique, figure, bikini, fitness, women’s physique and women’s bodybuilding.

Dion Smith, the event promoter, expects a large turnout based on the response he has already received from athletes expressing a desire to compete.

“They are all super-excited and training for the event, which is going to be very entertaining,” he said.

“There are many qualifiers, so if someone doesn’t win in a previous qualifier, most likely they are going to aim for either a central location or area they can travel to do another qualifier to see if they can become a pro.

“A pro card is almost like a licence to train and do business anywhere in the world, so I would love that opportunity if I was someone in Bermuda.”

Ross Caesar, the co-promoter and six-times Bermuda bodybuilding champion, is particularly encouraged by the number of locals who are competing.

“Most of the time we have our national shows, some of the gyms get involved and some don’t,” he said.

“We have a lot of interest, which to me is good because you are pulling everybody together. We haven’t had all that interest in one space for a long time.

“Then we have competitors that have basically retired but have decided to come back and do this event. We have masters over 50 and four guys over 60 competing.”

Athletes from as far away as Asia are among those that have already been confirmed.

“I know there are people coming from Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica, a lot from US and out of Mexico, Bahamas, Canada and India,” added Caesar, who earned a pro card competing at the Joe Weider’s Olympic Amateur South America in Medellín, Colombia, in February.

“I’ve been to a lot of pro qualifiers to qualify myself and athletes that are coming to a pro qualifier are going to be good athletes.

“They are not going to fly to Bermuda unless they think they have a good chance of winning. It doesn’t matter where they are coming from. If they are flying here to compete, they definitely will be in good shape.”

The upcoming event will also feature a Medical Village, Health and Fitness Expo and various activities for children.

“It’s going to be so much as we also have the Medical Village and Fitness Expo that’s going to be important because we are also looking at health and stuff like that,” Smith said.

Registration can be completed at worldsportspromotion.com and tickets purchased at ptix.bm.