Arnold Schwarzenegger is in South Africa

The Arnold Sports Festival is an annual multi-sport event named after the legendary professional actor, bodybuilder and politician. The event follows in the footsteps of the original Arnold Classic, which was co-founded by Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer of Worthington in 1989. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger is in South Africa

The multi-sport event will be held on six continents in 2016. SA is the first country in the southern tip of Africa to host such games. 

The Gauteng MEC for Sport and Recreation, Faith Mazibuko, said a total of 12 000 athletes will be participating with 47 sporting codes on display. 

"The types of sporting codes on display will be bodybuilding, judo, fencing etc. We will also have indigenous games like Diketo & Mrabaraba that originate from the townships," she said.

Schwarzenegger said his mission in life was to motivate others.

"I have a responsibility to inspire others, like how I was inspired by idols like Reggie Park and Nelson Mandela. I have the celebrity power to motivate others, and that's why I started my sport crusade," he said.

Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula thanked Schwarzenegger for bringing the festival to the country.

"We are a sport loving nation. The only time we smile and we forget we are black and white is when we are in a stadium drinking alcohol. Nelson Mandela understood the role of sports in bringing people together," he said.