America Media Inc. (AMI) and The International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB), promoters of the 2005 Olympia Weekend, are proud to announce that prize money for the this year's event has been increased from $540,000 to $661,000. That represents a staggering 22% increase of $121,000.

The purse for the Mr. Olympia contest has been raised by $101,000, Ms. Olympia by $10,000 and the Fitness and Figure events by $5,000 each. Breakdown and comparisons to last year for each contest are shown in the attached charts. Another breakthrough is that all Mr. Olympia competitors will take home a check of at least $2,000. The prize money for men now stacks up to $500,000 - by far the richest purse in the sport.

The 2005 Olympia Weekend prize money of $661,000 prize money compares to a combined $403,000 on offer at the second biggest contest of the year, The Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic (see accompanying chart for comparisons between these two biggest events on the calendar.)

The overall $121,000 increase makes good on the promoter's promise to take the sport to ever higher levels and to continue investing in the athletes.