Arnold Sports Festival 2015: Dates, Event Schedule, Predictions and More

If you've ever wondered how many sports can be crammed into a four-day mega-event, here's your answer: 50.

The 2015 Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, will bring people from all over the country to the Greater Columbus Convention Center to witness displays of strength (weightlifting), physique (bodybuilding), grace (gymnastics) and more.

The event, co-produced by famed bodybuilder and strongman Arnold Schwarzenegger, is expected to host over 175,000 fans and 18,000 athletes during its incredibly deep event schedule, per the official website.

But it's not all about the sports. Co-producer Jim Lorimer is excited about a different aspect of the event, via Muscle & Fitness:

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The Fitness EXPO is among the must-see attractions at the Arnold Sports Festival for many of the Weekend's 175,000 attendees, and at just $15 per day is the best value in all of sports entertainment. We have attracted all of the top industry companies that will all put together elaborate displays that will once again draw jam-packed crowds to the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

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It's easy to get lost in the proceedings, but the following information should help you follow along.

Note: For a full event schedule, check the event's official site. Do yourself a favor and check it out. It's astounding.

Date	Time (ET)
Thursday, March 5	6-11 p.m.
Friday, March 6	8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday, March 7	8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday, March 8	8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Predictions

Providing predictions for the entirety of the festivities is impossible. Sure, we can predict excitement and probably some overwhelming performances in a variety of disciplines, but that's about it.

One contest worth predicting is the Arnold Classic 212. This competition has always been a focal point of the proceedings, with some of the best bodybuilders in the world competing over the event's history (which dates back to 1989).

The field of 13 competitors is highlighted by one man. Dexter Jackson, 45, is a four-time winner of this event. Don't let his age fool you, though. He last won in 2013 and is still at the top of his game.

He sat out in 2014, but look for him to be back fully prepared to wow everyone in attendance. With $130,000 on the line—the second-largest prize in the sport—expect Jackson to be motivated to show off his impressive physique.

Bodybuilding.com's Roger Lockridge wrote about why Jackson is the favorite:

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Besides his four Arnold Classic wins, he's one of only three men who can lay claim to hold both the Arnold and Olympia titles in their career, along with Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler. With a team that includes nutritionist George Farah and legendary trainer Charles Glass, Dexter is almost always in peak condition, which automatically means he'll be in contention at the end. He finished fifth in the Olympia last year, and nobody who finished ahead of him is in this field, so he must be considered the favorite.

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The Blade seems to have the deck stacked in his favor. It would be his fifth career win in this event, the most all-time.

But others in the field intend on giving Jackson a run for his money. Justin Compton and Marius Dohne, two first-timers in the Arnold Classic, are relative unknowns who could burst into the top six with ease.

A sports festival founded on the tradition of Schwarzenegger's legacy will bring out the best in the field. But that same tradition makes it difficult to pick against the man gunning for his fifth win in Columbus.

Look for Jackson to take home the top spot despite the year off and the age difference between him and the rest of the competition.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn