With tremendous excitement surrounding the revised format, the 2004 World's Strongest Man contest has begun.

This year's format has undergone a radical change, with the strongmen competing one pair at a time as they work their way through the events. Among the pairings that resulted from the drawing are: Svend Karlsen and Magnus Samuelsson in the deadlift, and Mariusz Pudzianowski and Svend Karlsen in the squat.

There was also a drawing for the doping control, and Mariusz Pudzianowski and Svend Karlsen won.

Magnus Samuelsson is still on his way over, as his wife gave birth to their daughter over the weekend - congratulations to the Samuelssons! - but everyone else has arrived and is ready to go.