The Arnold Classic is regarded as one of the most celebrated series of events in the bodybuilding world after the Mr. Olympia championships. It is named after the legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger and is also known to be one of the most-paid competitions in the realm. It generously rewards the winners with both cash and items that lure the participants to the title. The rewards include items like a Hummer vehicle and an Audemars Piguet watch.

However, the Arnold Classic events, no matter what extent they satisfy the winners, never go beyond the cash prize offered at the Mr. Olympia. The Austrian Oak himself revealed the reason behind it in one of his interviews. He stated that to attain the recognition of the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB), he had to sign an agreement with the governing body. Here’s how the agreement withheld the prizes:

Arnold Schwarzenegger complied with the norms offered by the IFBB

For any contest to acquire elite status in the realm of bodybuilding, it has to get recognition from the IFBB. Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed that he could not offer more cash prizes, even if he wanted to, because he was bound by the deal. He confessed that the Arnold Classic was the first to offer a cash prize of $5000 to the winner. It used to increase every year, but things went south after the contract.

He said, “Then the IFBB came along, Ben Weider, and said we have to have an agreement for you to be sanctioned by the IFBB as an official IFBB competition.” Upon being asked what the agreement was, he added that it said, “You cannot offer more money than we’re offering for the Olympia.” This was why he had to hold back.

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However, Arnie always wanted to give a proper reward to the athletes who worked so hard to earn their titles. He was never really happy with what Olympia rewarded him with when he won the title, so he tried out other means that would suffice. That was when he introduced the non-cash prizes, which efficiently add up to the amount of dedication the bodybuilders put in all year round.

The 76-year-old legendary bodybuilder only aims at expanding the Arnold Classic to recognize true talent. While Mr. Olympia has been receiving a lot of criticism lately due to its high PPV prices, Arnold Schwarzenegger, with the Arnold Classic 2024 knocking at the door, made an exciting announcement that left his followers thrilled.

Arnold Schwarzenegger announces free live streaming for Arnold Classic 2024

Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a recent turn of events, brought about good news for the fans of the Arnold Classic. He announced that the live streaming of the show this year will be free. He took to his official Instagram account and made a compilation of the most compelling shots from the stage of the Arnold Classic 2023.

Demonstrating the grandeur of the competition and sharing his true intention of enabling more people to have access to the wonders of bodybuilding, he made the announcement. Arnie wrote, “My goal has always been to grow the sport of bodybuilding, and I want everyone to be able to watch and be inspired by the Arnold Classic, no matter how much money they have, so this year the live stream will be free.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger, who himself was a contestant at the Mr. Olympia for several years and had even bagged the title seven times in his career, kicked off the Arnold Classic in 1989. The evolution of the festival has been so vivacious that it now holds the second position, right after the Olympia. Well, it looks like it is not long before it might overtake the Olympia with its wide range of followers and participation.

The silent rivalry between Mr. Olympia and Arnold Classic 

After Weider’s Olympia dethroned the Mr. Universe, it did not have much competition, and very soon the NABBA became just a shadow of its former self. However, setting the record for the number of wins right after Ronnie Coleman and Hadi Choopan, Arnie became a brand in himself. He then ventured into the journey of the festival, and that completely changed the landscape of the bodybuilding world forever.

Watch This Story: When Will the Arnold Classic 2024 Start, and Who Are the Athletes Competing This Year?

However, despite all the multifaceted sports competition that it offers, from powerlifting to CrossFit, the Arnold Classic remains one of the most popular shows at the festival. This is because the event does not choose a winner based on size and conditioning. Rather, it mainly focuses on posing, muscularity, and symmetry.

History of Arnold Sports Festival: How Did Arnold Schwarzenegger Manage to Make It One of the Biggest Bodybuilding Shows

The title of best poser at the Arnold Classic is still an honor that bodybuilders yearn for. Not to forget, the non-cash prizes have undoubtedly marked a significant spot in the bodybuilding realm. Now the question is, will the IFBB change the contract? Because that is the only limitation that restricts the Arnold Classic from having the same parallels as Mr. Olympia! What are your thoughts about Schwarzenegger’s deal with the IFBB? Let us know in the comments section below!