THE BOOK

WORLD SPORT HISTORY. A History of the Amber Prix: 60 Years

On May 7–9, 2027, we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Amber Prix in Klaipėda. It is one of the three oldest international sports tournaments in the world. We will invite distinguished athletes from various countries, prominent public figures and politicians to join the celebrations.

To mark the occasion, we will publish a book in several languages about the history of the Amber Prix and the development of bodybuilding around the world. The book will be unique in bringing together the history of bodybuilding in the “West”—the capitalist world—and the “East”—the socialist world. No one has attempted this before. Drawing on the documents and firsthand experience at our disposal, we aim to tell a story that few others today could tell. The manuscript is complete, and layout work has begun.

We are still discussing the title. For now, we are considering: “The Amber Prix: From a Bomb Shelter to the Blessing of the Vatican.”

In presenting this unique historical book, we will first recognize the people and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Amber Prix and the development of sport worldwide.

First, the Vatican. During an official reception at the Vatican in 2011, we presented the history of our sport. Speaking about the Amber Prix and the banning and persecution of bodybuilding in socialist countries, Cardinal Jozef Tomko described our actions in opposition to the communist regime as “dissident.” He awarded Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, president of the World WFF-WBBF Federation, a medal of Pope Benedict XVI.

The international broadcaster CNN also played an important role. In 2017, for the Amber Prix’s 50th anniversary, CNN produced a report from Klaipėda that was seen by people around the world.

We particularly value the contribution of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania to the Amber Prix and the development of sport worldwide. In 2007, when Klaipėda marked the tournament’s 40th anniversary, the Seimas voted to provide a separate line in the Lithuanian state budget for funding the tournament. For the past three decades, the Seimas has held formal receptions for participants from various countries who came to compete in the Amber Prix.

We also value the contribution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Since the restoration of independence, we have worked with various ministers, including prime ministers, on the development of sport. More recently, we have been grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its professional assistance in addressing issues important to our sport.

For more information, visit the international website www.wff.lt.