Forty-two top body builders including five women, from around the region have gathered in Tonga for the 20^th South Pacific/Oceania Bodybuilding Championships to be held on Friday 25 October in Nuku'alofa.  

The nine teams were welcomed this morning at Queen Salote Memorial Hall where the body builders from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Niue, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Tonga and their officials spoke about their squads.

It is the first time for an international bodybuilding competition of its calibre to be held in Tonga and despite its competitiveness, organisers have stressed its main theme is healthy living.

The president of the Tonga Bodybuilding Federation, Talaiasi Nau stated “The benefits are enormous as the SPBBC competition not only enhances the body building talent of regional athletes but it sends a strong message about living healthy lifestyles.”

The South Pacific chairman of judges encouraged Tongans to attend the event,  "to come and see your very own compete against the best of the Pacific countries for South Pacific/Oceania titles....I am hoping that when you see the quality, it will make you want to get out there and eat well and most importantly, exercise.”

Among the bodybuilders are five athletes in a women’s competition. The event will include a guest appearance from notable Australian body-builder Joshua Lenartowics. A float parade in Nuku’alofa tomorrow will give  the body builders an opportunity to show-off their muscles to the public, before the championships open on Friday evening at Queen Salote Memorial Hall. Tickets for the event are available for sale at the Hall.