Busan, Oct 03: On stage under bright lights, contestants in swimsuits pose to show off their figure to the judges and spectators. It's the newest event at the Asian Games - bodybuilding. "It's a sport, it's an art, it's a lifestyle," said Paul Chua, secretary general of the Asian Bodybuilding Federation.

Chua said bodybuilding, which is not an Olympic sport, is the fifth-largest participation sport in the world and popular in 179 countries. A total of 94 bodybuilders from 21 countries will compete for eight gold medals at the Asian Games.

The competition began today at the Busan Citizens Hall before only a handful of spectators - mostly other bodybuilders and their friends.
"Most people don't seem to recognise this as a sport yet, but I think it will change when they see more of it," said South Korean Lee Young-Mi, 23, whose boyfriend Lin Peiqu of China competed in the men's 60-kilogram division. Bureau Report