Olympia Weekend 2020 changes venue again!

Almost the entire world has been struck this year by the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic, which has shaken the previously established dogmas of almost all cultures and industries. It has not escaped the sport sector, bodybuilding and fitness included.
Gyms closed, many competitions were cancelled, others changed their dates or venues in an attempt to make it happen.

Necessary changes did not avoid the biggest event in the world of bodybuilding and fitness, which is year after year Olympia Weekend. So far, it has always been held in September-October, hosted since 1999 by the famous city of lights and casinos, Las Vegas.

Back on May 11, following the development of this year's Jim Manion IFBB Professional League season, of which Olympia Weekend is the highlight, Olympia Weekend President Dan Solomon made a statement announcing that Joe Weider's 2020 Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend will take place from December 16-20.
Aside from the date, however, the venue has also changed, with the event moving from the Orleans Arena, where it has been held since 2005, to the Planet Hollywood hotel resort and casino, also located in Las Vegas!

But today this is also a thing of the past! Only a month before the event date, the world saw the information that Olympia Weekend will leave the famous Las Vegas this year!

The reason for this decision is the fact that the numbers of people testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have been increasing in Nevada for the past few days. In light of this situation, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak is considering new antiviral measures. It is not at all certain that such a huge event as Olympia Weekend could ever happen!

The team around Joe Weider's Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend didn't want to admit that, so they decided to move the event to Florida!

After all, this isn't the first time the event has been held here. It was held here back in 1991, and it was here that the legend of the sport, Lee Haney, won his eighth Mr. Olympia title!

Olympia Weekend President Dan Solomon explains:

It was incredibly challenging circumstances, but we focused on giving the best athletes in the world the opportunity to compete in front of their fans. The news from Las Vegas in recent days has been very disturbing. We will not risk the possibility of being forced to cancel the Olympia, so we are grateful to the City of Orlando for welcoming us, while providing a safe and expansive home for all phases of the event.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary solutions. With one of the most amazing lineups in decades, organizers focused on providing fans, athletes, sponsors and exhibitors with a true Olympia experience.

New Olympia Weekend owner Jake Wood adds:

These are challenging times but we owe it to the whole industry to do whatever it takes to create a safe and exciting weekend.
As part of our commitment to these elite athletes we will also be giving away record prize money!

IFBB Professional League President Jim Manion then commented on the whole thing:

I'm incredibly proud of everything the team around hosting the Olympia is doing as they work to ensure we finish this year on a high note. This new venue is a great opportunity to ensure that the Olympia Weekend tradition continues in 2020. We look forward to seeing everyone in Orlando.