Olympia Owner Jake Wood Hints Bodybuilding’s Biggest Event Could Go Overseas
From the NFL to WWE, major sports brands are aggressively chasing international growth and now Mr. Olympia may soon be thinking much bigger than Las Vegas. During a recent interview, Olympia owner Jake Wood revealed that organizers are actively exploring the possibility of taking bodybuilding’s biggest event international once every five years. While no official plans have been announced, the comments immediately sparked conversation across the bodybuilding world about what a global Olympia could look like.
“And with all that said about bouncing around, we are also taking a look at the idea of taking the Olympia outside of the country once every five years or so…We’re not announcing that it’s happening, but we’re looking at the possibilities.”
For decades, the Olympia has largely been tied to the United States, particularly for the past two decades Las Vegas. (with COVID detours in Orlando) But bodybuilding has become increasingly international in recent years, with massive fanbases emerging in the Middle East, Europe, South America, and Asia. Some of the sport’s biggest stars now come from outside the U.S., including Iran’s Hadi Choopan, Nigeria’s Samson Dauda, and Brazil’s Ramon Queiroz.
Mr. Olympia Has Gone International Before
While many fans associate Olympia exclusively with Las Vegas, the contest has actually been held outside the United States multiple times throughout its history.
Some of the most notable international Olympia locations include:
- Paris, France (1971)
- Essen, Germany (1972)
- Pretoria, South Africa (1975)
- Sydney, Australia (1980)
- London, England (1982)
- Brussels, Belgium (1985)
- Gothenburg, Sweden (1987)
- Rimini, Italy (1988)
The 1975 Olympia in South Africa remains one of the most iconic contests in bodybuilding history thanks to Pumping Iron, which helped launch Arnold Schwarzenegger into mainstream fame.
You can watch Generation Iron’s exclusive interview with Charles Gaines, the man who narrated and wrote the film Pumping Iron here.
In recent years, rumors have repeatedly surfaced about the Olympia eventually heading to places like Dubai or Saudi Arabia, where combat sports and entertainment companies have poured enormous resources into live events.
Bodybuilding Following a Massive Global Sports Trend
Wood’s comments also come during a period where nearly every major sports league is aggressively expanding internationally.
The NFL continues staging games across Europe and Brazil. Major League Baseball has increased its international showcase events in places like Mexico and Europe. WWE is reportedly planning a future WrestleMania event in Saudi Arabia as the company continues expanding its global footprint.
Bodybuilding already has many of the ingredients for international success: huge online audiences, globally recognized athletes, and rapidly growing fan communities outside North America. A rotating international Olympia could potentially open the door to larger sponsorships, tourism partnerships, and entirely new audiences.
Of course, there would also be challenges.
Moving the sport’s biggest event overseas could create travel and financial hurdles for athletes, media, vendors, and American fans who traditionally attend Olympia Weekend each year. There’s also the question of whether the Olympia risks losing part of its Las Vegas identity after decades tied to the city.
For now, Wood emphasized that the idea remains exploratory rather than official. But even the possibility signals how much bodybuilding continues evolving into a truly global sport.
The 2026 Mr. Olympia is scheduled for Sept. 24-27 in Las Vegas.
Featured image via Instagram @moriauphoto, @stage_ready_media
