By Andrew Coakley

FN Sports Editor

Excitement surrounding the upcoming Grand Bahama Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships is creating a buzz among bodybuilders that's getting louder and louder.

With the June 24 competition a little over a week away, bodybuilders, locally, nationally and internationally are putting the final touches to their physiques.

The show will be three shows in one, featuring not just the regular GB competition, but a Novice competition and the USA versus The Bahamas battle.

The show is set to take place at the Hilton Outten Convention Centre.

The event is being co-sponsored by the Grand Bahama Ministry of Tourism.

With Bahamian athletes going on stage against U.S. athletes from the NPC, all athletes may feel relieved to know that not just Bahamians will be sitting at the judges' table on the night of the competition.

Three judges from the United States are expected in town and will be sitting at the judges' table with local and national judges.

"That's a good thing, especially for local athletes," said Baldwin Darling, president of the Grand Bahama Bodybuilding Association, and organiser of the upcoming show.

"That's where local athletes will not feel that a particular local judge have something against them and that's where the U.S. athletes will feel comfortable knowing that they have judges from their home town sitting at the table.

"So, it brings a balance to the judging of the show, and that's what all athletes want."

Making the trip to Grand Bahama to sit at the judges' table will be;

* Peter W. Potter, National NPC Vice-president, NPC Zone Chairman, NPC Florida Chairman, national judge, promoter of the 2006 NPC Southern States Bodybuil-ding, Fitness and Figure Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

* Pete Fancher - National Judge, NPC FL Central District Chairman, Executive Editor of the Southern Muscle Plus, co-promoter of the 2006 All South Championships in Melbourne, Florida.

* Gene Haemmerle - NPC Florida Judge, competitor and owner of travel Creations in Naples, Florida.

The U.S. Judges will not only be judging the U.S.A. versus The Bahamas segment of the show, but they will also be sitting at the table during the Grand Bahama Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships.

"These are people who know and live bodybuilding and fitness, so we're talking about people with experience sitting at the same table with our local judges and that should be good for both parties," said Baldwin Darling.

"I believe that our judges can learn a lot from these people, and vice-versa and it should be good for the athletes as well. This will make the competition even more interesting."

Darling said that it was his idea to have the visiting judges come in so that it can help the sport locally, in terms of judging.

He also noted that Peter Potter of the NPC has been very instrumental in ensuring that this competition be successful, and with his experience and the experience of others, it would help to bring the level of judging Bahamian athletes normally encounter when competing abroad, here to The Bahamas.

"I'm happy that I'm not judging this competition because of the level of athletes who will be taking part in this competition," added Darling.

"For example, in the female lightweight competition alone, there will be a lot of drama.

"In fact, all of the divisions are expected to be hot and very competitive. In my opinion, it will be one of the best competitions ever held in The Bahamas.

"This competition will bring the best out of the athletes, leading up to the Nationals.

"Based on this competition and the Nationals, then I can see The Bahamas doing very well at the CAC in Jamaica."

Darling said that he's excited about the way things are shaping up for the June 24 competition and noted that local athletes are just as excited and geared up to go.