COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Arnold Sports Festival, co-produced by California Governor Arnold

Schwarzenegger and Jim Lorimer, is the largest multi-sport festival in the nation. The March 3-6 event will attract an estimated 175,000 attendees to see nearly 18,000 athletes competing in 45 sports and events, including 12 Olympic sports.

The Arnold Fitness EXPO, a highlight of the festival, takes place at the Greater Columbus Convention

Center. It features more than 700 exhibit booths offering the latest in fitness apparel, equipment, training tools, nutrition and entertainment.

New to the festival in 2011 are an IFBB sanctioned Bikini International competition, the Arnold Sports Film Festival, the Arnold Track and Field Championships, the Arnold Hockey Challenge, and the Ultimate Teen Challenge, a weightlifting event. Plus, more features are added to the VIP ticket package.

Arnold Sports Festival

Dates: March 3-6, 2011

Locations: Greater Columbus Convention Center (400 N. High St.), Veterans Memorial (300 W. Broad St.), Nationwide Arena and Dispatch Ice Haus (200 W. Nationwide Blvd.) and The LC Pavilion (405 Neil Ave).

Hours: Thursday 7-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. EXPO hours: Friday

10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Admission: A $10 EXPO ticket provides admission to most events and the EXPO

Web: www.arnoldsportsfestival.com

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com/arnold or 800-745-3000.