How could one describe 20 great reasons for coming to the Festival del Fitness in Rimini? by Chet Vienne Personally, I could think of 2000 reasons, but, if I''m limited to 20, I thought I''d present them to you as sort of a ''top 20'' hit list or musical compilation. So, here is my eclectic soundtrack of music and what makes the title of each song apply to some of the many things the Festival del Fitness has to offer! FESTIVAL DEL FITNESS SOUNDTRACK 1. Summerjam – THE UNDERDOG PROJECT – This ain''t nothing but a ''summerjam'' bronze skin and cinnamon tans WHOA, this ain''t nothing but a ''summerjam'', we''re going to party as much as we can! The song lyrics just about say it all. The ''mid-June'' timing of the Festival del Fitness makes it the official event to start off the summer! Hey, even the video for the song ''Summerjam'' was filmed in the exact Miami Beach location of the ''Miami Beach Sport & Fitness Festival''! 2. Fashion Party – ACE OF BASE - You know, there is style and fashion…and then there is ''fitness'' style and fashion…If fashion could be considered the ''cutting edge'' of pop culture…fitness fashion should be considered the ''bleeding edge''. Come see how ''you'' should be walking the streets come summer! 3. P.L.A.Y. – J LO – You can play just about anywhere you want! Go play in the pool during an acquagym class. Go play in a masterclass given for free at one of the stands like Nike, or Crunch, or FreeMotion Fitness, or, Free Pride, or Meeting, or many more. Go play in the sand with the gladiators at the Manrico stand. Go play with the best instructors in the world at Aerobica Stellare. Go play on a rock climbing wall, or on a bungee cord, or in a skate park, or on a PGA Italia golf course. Go ahead, PLAY, you deserve a little fun! 4. Spin That Wheel – TECHNOTRONIC – For more than 7 years now, the festival has hosted some of the largest ''Spinning'' and ''Indoor Cycling'' classes in the world…There is no doubt that under the roof of the festival, for 4 days, you will find the largest collection of indoor cycling bikes that you will find anywhere…This year, ''Tomohawk'' Indoor cycles will feature classes which will take you on a mind bending journey, through the use of music, lights, visual animation, and qualified instruction. You won''t want to miss it! 5. Pipeline – THE VENTURES – Ever see a real inline skating ''half pipe'' or been to an X-games theme park? Well, here''s your chance to strap on your inline skates and see what they can really do! It''s kind of Venice Beach, California, the ESPN ''X''-Games, and Central Park, Manhattan all rolled into one! 6. What Have You Done For Me Lately? - JANET JACKSON – An important feature of the Festival del Fitness are the major companies and sposors who, each year, construct some of the most elaborate stands to be seen anywhere in the world! Each year it seems the stands get larger and larger, and the animation that they offer to the public (in the form of events, workout classes, and/or dance performances) gets better and better…It is a virtual 'Disneyland' of fitness! 7. Free Your Mind – IN VOGUE – Here we''re talking about Freemotion Fitness…The most revolutionary new concept in resistance and strength training that has come along in the past 30 years…One must stop by the FreeMotion stand to try these machines…I guarantee everyone that within the next 5-10 years, this equipment will be the central part of every fitness center. 8. SF…You Got Me! – VILLAGE PEOPLE – OK, OK, I know…The song by the Village People was 'San Francisco, You got me!' In this case, we''re referring to SF as 'Sport & Fitness' magazine''s 'SF Games'…This is a simple yet challenging event that anyone who can walk, run, bike, do pushups, jump, and shoot baskets can participate in…Past winners of this event have won valuable prizes like trips to Miami, Fla. And the chance to compete against other SF Games champions worldwide! 9. Heroes – DAVID BOWIE - Want to be a hero? Want to challenge a Gladiator? At the stand of Manrico Cashmere & SportCashmere, you can become a hero and win prizes while doing so. How? www.manrico.com is running a game called the SportCashmere GrandPrix in which participants earn points towards prizes and deeply discounted merchandise. During the festival, the Manrico stand will offer another way to win. Simply challenge of their 'gladiators' in an event like arm wrestling, a tug of war, or beach sand run or frisbee toss! Spectators can also win simply by requesting a free 'bet' ticket and correctly choosing the winner of each event. Get in the game! 10. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World – PRINCE - It can certainly be said that the Festival del Fitness attracts some of the most important Vip's and celebrities in the world…I'll never forget two years ago when I was sitting down eating lunch inside the festival and Martina Colombari (the '2nd' most beautiful girl in the world…the 'most' beautiful girl I will not mention by name, but she knows who she is because I''ve told her so) comes in and sits right next to me! I almost died right there! I ran into Cindy Crawford one night at dinner, and then there was Carol Alt who actually came up on stage with me during one of my aerobics classes…I wonder who I'll see this year? 11. Joanna – KOOL & THE GANG – Actually, Kool & the Gang liked 'JoAnna', but I'm going to change the title to 'Adrianna' (as in Adrianna Volpe)…I met Adrianna last year at the festival and can''t wait to see her again…We were supposed to do a TV show together last year which got changed at the last minute after September 11. Maybe THIS will be our year! 12. Fame – IRENE CARA – Want to become famous yourself? SF Magazine is looking for some new fresh faces. Just sign up for the casting call, and you could grace the cover of an upcoming issue of SF magazine! Hey, it's a great way to get back at your 'ex'! Or, just follow around one of the many different film crews who are reporting on the event for television. You could get on TV and say 'hi' to your mom and tell her you''re all right. That way you save yourself a telephone call! 13. He Got Game – PUBLIC ENEMY – Need something to watch or do while you're stuffing your face with Nutella from the 'Nutelleria' stand, or one of the other great food suppliers within the festival? Simply walk over to the 'streetbasketball' blacktop and see who''s 'really' got game…You'll see arial slam dunks and acrobatic basketball like you've never seen before! Be sure to bring your videocamera! Just try not to smudge any Nutella on the lens while you're filming! 14. I Want Muscles – DIANA ROSS – In the early years, the Festival had its feet firmly planted in the world of muscles & bodybuilding with the likes of Joe & Ben Weider, Lee Haney, Cory Everson and other superstars of the world of the 'Big Ones'…On several occasions, the festival itself has been the host to the World Professional Bodybuilding Championships, and even Mr. Olympia! This year is no exception as the festival will feature bodybuilding & Ms. Fitness competitions, as well as thousands of square meters of the newest gym equipment and nutritional products. 15. Ombelico del Mondo – JOVANOTTI – There is no doubt that the Festival del Fitness in Rimini is the premiere sport & fitness event in the world. There is absolutely no other event which compares to it! 16. We Are the Champions – QUEEN – What is your flavor of champion? A sport aerobic champion, a martial arts champion, a bodybuilding or ms. fitness champion, a 5K roadrace champion, a strongman champion, an SF Games champion, a beach volleyball or beach soccer champion…The festival is the host to all of these types of championships and more! Some are reserved for professionals, some are open to the public, so, whether you watch or play, there will be many champions crowned! 17. Anticipation – CARLY SIMON – You know, to me the Festival del Fitness is not just the 4 days of the event…To me, the event begins even 4 'months' or more in advance…So, there is the 'anticipation' phenomenon…The whole thing kind of reminds me of the lead up into the Oscars ceremony…NOBODY simply shows up to the Oscars! They have gowns, and tuxedos to prepare, the press is all over every story, the star-gazers cue up to watch their favorite personalities pass by. Even behind the scenes, the television producers, and choreographers, and people involved in 'running the show' are hard at work…It is always a wonderful show, and in the end, everyone is a little tired, but nobody can wait to do it all again next year! 18. A Hard Day's Night – THE BEATLES – Don't forget that the Festival del Fitness in Rimini is right next door to Riccione. So, in spite of your 'hard' day of play, you can extend your fun into the discoteca and dance the night away or attnd one of the many celebrity party events! 19. Bag it Up - GERRI HALLIWELL – Hey, everyone likes free stuff right? Just think, for a couple of euro (the price of admission into the fiera), you can do all of your Christmas shopping in June! And it may not cost you anything! Just pass by each of the stands and participate in some of the many activities offered. Most of them have gadgets and free T-shirts, etc. to give away as promotional items. There are also many items for sale at deeply discounted prices. So, bring your bag and fill it up! 20. Take Me Home – CHER, SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTOR – Every event eventually comes to a close and it comes time to go home. With the Festival del Fitness its a different kind of feeling than that which you have at, for example, a discoteca where you simply are tired and want to sleep for 2 days. Instead, going home after the festival is like going home after having purchased a new wardrobe. You can''t wait to get home because you want to start trying on all the new things you just acquired!