At the conclusion of the 2021 Olympia in Orlando, FL, promoters announced that the show was moving back to its former home city of Las Vegas, NV. However, no dates were set at that time.
On Dec. 10, 2021, Olympia Productions President Dan Solomon posted a video on his Instagram account of himself announcing that the 2022 Olympia Weekend will take place on the weekend of Dec. 16-18, 2022 in Las Vegas.
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“For those of you that haven’t heard, the Olympia Weekend in 2022 will be held right here in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood the weekend of December 16th, 17th, and 18th,” Solomon said in the video. “And I have to be honest with you guys, the things we have planned this year are going to absolutely blow your mind.”
This marks the first time that the Olympia will be back in Las Vegas since 2019, where it was held every year starting in 1999. Brandon Curry became the 15th Mr. Olympia in 2019.
After the Olympia promotion was sold by American Media Inc. to current owner Jake Wood, the 2020 and 2021 Olympia competitions were moved to Orlando, FL due to restrictions put in place by the state of Nevada as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay went two-for-two and left the Sunshine State both years with the title as the 16th champion.
Competitors have already started trying to earn qualifying positions for the biggest contest in bodybuilding, even before the 2021 Olympia in some divisions. In total, there are 11 professional divisions that compete at the Olympia. Positions on that stage are earned by either winning competitions, placing in the top three or five of the previous year’s Olympia, depending on the division, being a past Olympia champion within the same division, or receiving a special invite to compete. The top three non-winning finishers of the Olympia Qualification Series are also be offered chances to compete in the Olympia.
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The men’s Open division is the one that crowns the foundation title of Mr. Olympia, and there are already 12 men qualified for that contest. Those names are listed in alphabetical order below.
- Rafael Brandao
- Hadi Choopan
- Shaun Clarida
- Brandon Curry*
- Samson Dauda
- Nathan De Asha
- Mamdouh Elssbiay*
- Angel Calderon Frias
- Regan Grimes
- Hunter Labrada
- Joel Thomas
- Nick Walker
*Past Mr. Olympia winners There are currently no further contests planned for 2021. The 2022 season will resume in January for some divisions. The next contest for the Men’s Open will be the 2022 Arnold Classic, set for Mar. 3-6, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio.
Featured Image: @w_wittmannphoto on Instagram