Ben Weider Receives "Lifetime Achievement Award"
from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Executive Assistant to the President
"In sport, there are no limitations, no barriers of race, religion, politics or culture. In sport, we are in touch with each other. Bodybuilding is important for Nation Building"
- Ben Weider, O.C., C.St.J, C.Q., Ph.D.
IFBB Founder and Honorary Life President
*** CLICK ON THE PHOTOGRAPH BELOW TO VIEW BEN WEIDER’S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH ***
Video opens in Windows Media Player [13 minutes, 53 seconds]
Special Thanks to Travis Chapman, CEO Chapman Media Group, for providing this video
Ben Weider receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
*Photograph by Isaac Hinds
In front of an enthusiastic and cheering crowd of 5,000 bodybuilding fans, Ben Weider was presented with the annual Arnold Schwarzenegger "Lifetime Achievement Award" by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday, March 2, 2008 at the Arnold Sports Festival, Columbus, Ohio.
The Arnold Schwarzenegger "Lifetime Achievement Award" is given to individuals whose careers have greatly contributed to the advancement or promotion of physical activity, fitness, or sports worldwide.
Ben Weider is Honorary Life President of the International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB), which he founded with his brother Joe, in Montreal, Canada, in 1946. The IFBB was started with only two countries, Canada and the U.S.A., to promote the sport of bodybuilding. Thanks to Ben Weider’s leadership, dedication and ability to bring people together, the IFBB now includes 182 countries and is the 5th largest sport federation in the world.
The tribute, both heartfelt and good-natured, focused on Ben Weider’s pioneering efforts in promoting health and fitness for more then sixty years to people worldwide. During the award presentation, Governor Schwarzengger praised Ben Weider commenting, "Thank you on behalf of millions of bodybuilders worldwide. If it was not for you, we would not have this great sport."
"This award means so much to me because it was given to me by my peers," Weider said. "I’ve dedicated 60 years of my life to developing this sport and this award has an emotional attachment to me."
There are only seven other recipients of this distinguished award: Joe Weider, Bill Pearl, Frank Zane, Reg Park, Jim Lorimer, Jack LaLanne, Lee Haney and Cory Everson.
For the most up to date information related to the IFBB Professional League, visit the official web site www.ifbbpro.com.
6 Comments to “Ben Weider: Lifetime Achievement Award”
its great!
am mongolian and as a true bodybuilding fan proud of Arnold and Ben Weider!
I RESPECT THEM VERY MUCH !
By taivan, budes on Oct 11, 2008 at 9:14 am
Ben this Award is too late for you…
By Rishi Gulati on Oct 29, 2008 at 12:07 am
How, unfortunately, timely. Aside from the multitude of honours bestowed up Ben WWeider,possibly the most cherished will be noted, as the Life Achievement Award presented in Columbus, Ohio, on the Occasion of the ASrnold Classic. California GovernorGovernorArnold Scharzenneger Presented the award personally to Mr. Weider shortly before his sudden death in Montreal. The tributes have been pouring in from all over the world. Mr. Weider was proud of the fact that he had travelled so exrensively on behalf of Bodybuilding as was noted as the sturdy hand of Iron Diplomacy. Mr. Weider will be missed by his millions of worldwide fans. For a full background on Mr. Weider, Ben and Joe look up their CV site at ifbbpro.com
By Terry McConnell on Mar 28, 2009 at 4:50 pm
There you have a richly deserved recognition for one of the foremost forces in the creation of the bodybuilding principle. Ben Weider deserves more recognition still such as a posthumous lifetime Achievement award on the occasion of the M.r Llympia in Las Vegas.
By Terry McConnell on Jun 11, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Let us not forget Joe Weider in handing out lifetime achieveement awards. The man has dedicated his life to the deelopements of a process which to-day belongs to the world at large.If there is a single force responsible to the healthy developement of the human body , that honour belongs to Joe Weider.What the proessional body builders have done to a good idea and a proper developement process is not his responsibility. Body builders mof the forties and fifties had the righ process. Work hard, be consistant and eat well.People like Clarence Ross, Steve Reeves, Joffre L’Heureux and many others of that era did follow THE WEIDER PRINCIPLE.
By Terry McConnell on Jun 11, 2009 at 5:30 pm
To President of IFBB
I really admire your achievement . You have been doing the greatest value to all the body building atheletes . I wish you the best and really deeply congratulation to your devotion .
My name is Jane . I am represent the Thai body building athletes . I live in Thailand and our country really interest body building , figure and fitness. We do have lot of Thai athletes that really train themselves hard to enter in many international contest and many of them have been accomplished in the contest . But the Thai government really not support this kind of sport , may be because it is not the popular sport . I would like to help all of this young athletes and this kind of sport to get more famous in our country . They really can be a good role model for the young children to spend their time in positive way by using this kind of sport which is one of the good choice . All of these young athletes who really need help to be guided and the support . I wonder if you could give us an advice how to help all of these young athletes and we all athletes willing to cooperate with your guidance .
With best regard
Jane Bird
By Jane Bird on Jul 6, 2009 at 8:29 am