“AMBER PRIX” – WHAT IS IT? HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

For more than six decades, the name “Amber Prix” has resonated throughout the world. What is it? Once a traditional bodybuilding tournament, today it has grown into a broad movement promoting wellness, fitness, and professional sport. Thanks to the activities of the international WFF-WBBF Federation, the “Amber Prix” has become a significant international sporting phenomenon.

During the period when bodybuilding was banned in the Soviet Union, the “Amber Prix” competition became the unofficial USSR Bodybuilding Championship, later recognized as such by the USSR Ministry of Sports. At that time, for many athletes from across the Soviet Union, this tournament effectively served as both the World and European Championship. The highest sporting achievements were associated with victories and prize-winning places at the “Amber Prix” competition.

In his efforts to rehabilitate bodybuilding, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras spent years corresponding with leaders of the USSR Weightlifting Federation, the central Soviet sports press, and meeting with the Minister of Sports of the Lithuanian SSR, Zigmas Motiekaitis. Eventually, he decided to prepare and submit an official petition defending bodybuilding to the highest political authorities in Moscow. At that time, not a single well-known bodybuilding organizer, coach, or athlete supported this initiative — on the contrary, most advised him to abandon the idea.

It was through the efforts of Dr. Edmundas Daubaras that permission was granted to organize the “Amber Prix” tournament in Klaipėda. Later, under the leadership of Romanas Kalinauskas, Kaunas bodybuilders began organizing the traditional “Komsomol Cup” competitions. These initiatives continued until the collapse of the Soviet Union.

After Lithuania restored its independence, the “Amber Prix” tournament continuously received support from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. On the occasion of the tournament’s 40th anniversary, the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania adopted a decision to provide state funding for the event through a separate line in the national budget.

Today, the “Amber Prix” is not only a part of sports history, but also an international symbol of bodybuilding and wellness that promotes Lithuania throughout the world. Throughout the history of the “Amber Prix” tournament, athletes from various countries around the world have participated, representing all continents. Exceptional records were also achieved: in 1998, as many as 91 city teams participated in the “Amber Prix” tournament; in 2008, athletes from 32 countries competed in the event held in Klaipėda; and in 2026, around 300 athletes took part in the tournament.

More information about these historical events and the activities of the international federation can be found on the official website: www.wff.lt

KLAIPĖDA’S TRADITION CONTINUED. The “Amber Prix” Tournament, 1969–1970.

In 1969, a strong wave of sporting enthusiasm swept across Lithuania, including the rapidly growing sport of bodybuilding. Public interest in this new athletic discipline was remarkable. Bodybuilding competitions were staged at prestigious venues such as the Vingis Park stage in Vilnius and the Kaunas Sports Hall, attracting significant public attention. The events were covered extensively by the press and even broadcast on national television.

The results of the earliest bodybuilding tournaments, however, should be viewed with some reservation. Judged by modern bodybuilding standards, the outcomes would likely have been very different. At the time, bodybuilding competitions always included a strength component, which encouraged competitors to invite weightlifters to participate. As a result, many early champions owed their victories primarily to outstanding performances in strength exercises rather than to muscular development or physique aesthetics.

This became particularly evident during the 1970 competition held in Kaliningrad (RSFSR), where Klaipėda weightlifters Algis Eidukas and Alfonsas Mėcius outperformed nearly all the bodybuilders and emerged victorious. Among the champions, only Antanas Mineikis could be considered a true bodybuilder in the modern sense, distinguished both by his impressive muscular physique and strong results in the strength events.

The 1969 “Amber Prix” tournament was held at the Palace of Culture of the Klaipėda Construction Trust. In keeping with tradition, the competition consisted of two parts: athletes first competed in strength exercises and later demonstrated their physiques.

The event featured musical accompaniment by the popular jazz ensemble “Žėrutis.” On this occasion, former rower and member of Klaipėda’s amateur circus group Antanas Mineikis not only won his height category but also captured the overall champion title. In his category, he defeated the favorite and reigning 1968 champion Leonas Pivoriūnas.

In the second height category, victory went to Klaipėda heavyweight athlete Alfonsas Mėčius, while the first category was won by Kaunas representative Giršas Langevičius. Prize-winning places were also secured by Klaipėda athletes Kestutis Rumsas, Petras Lenkauskas, Jonas Vaiciulis, and Bronius Kilinskas.

By 1970, the “Amber Prix” tournament attracted somewhat less attention, as Lithuania was hosting several other international bodybuilding events, while the national team celebrated a successful appearance at competitions in the Polish People’s Republic. The winners of the fourth “Amber Prix” tournament categories were Antanas Mineikis, Pranas Cesnulevicius, and Juras Janciauskas. The latter two, together with the 1968 overall “Amber Prix” champions Valdas Aliubavicius and Leonas Pivoriunas, represented the Vilnius sports club “Viktorija,” which had already gained recognition as the center of the emerging “Vilnius School of Bodybuilding.”

The school was led by the talented coach Ceslav Tamulevic (1945–2023), whose influence played an important role in the development of Lithuanian bodybuilding.

In 1970, Antanas Mineikis was declared the overall winner of the “Amber Prix” tournament. Among the prize winners were also Klaipeda athletes Nikolaj Caika, Kestutis Rumsas, and Genadij Sevelkov.

Following the 1970 tournament, Klaipeda organizer Antanas Jonuskutis withdrew from organizational activities. Until bodybuilding was officially banned in the Soviet Union and other socialist countries in 1973, the “Amber Prix” tournament was no longer continued.

Nevertheless, the popularity of bodybuilding continued to grow. In 1971 and 1972, two “USSR Bodybuilding Championships” were organized within the territory of the RSFSR. Lithuanian athletes participated in both events, although no representatives from Klaipėda took part. In 1971, Estonian athletes established the international tournament Georg Tenno Memorial, which became one of the most prominent traditions in Baltic bodybuilding.

More information is on International Site www.wff.lt

HISTORY THEFT OR NAIVETY?

WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IN SPORT WORLD.

International bodybuilding today is facing more than just athletic competition. A far more serious battle is unfolding — one over history, names, and influence.

And at the center of that battle, one name keeps appearing: Graeme Lancefield.

“1968”: fact or convenient myth?

It is publicly claimed that basing on the “Amber Prix International” contest the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F.) dates back to 1968. It sounds impressive — deep roots, long tradition, authority.

But critics are asking a very specific question:
does that date belong to the W.F.F. of Graeme Lancefield — or has it simply been “borrowed” from other historical events?

If history is being rewritten, this is no longer interpretation. It becomes narrative engineering.

Old scenario, new players

Those familiar with the bodybuilding world have seen this before. The National Amateur Body-Builders' Association (N.A.B.B.A.) has already gone through a similar split, when Joe Lopez attempted to establish an alternative international structure.

The outcome was short-lived. But the pattern is recognizable:

separation, creation of a “new international” body, and flexible interpretation of history.

N.A.B.B.A.: “we have nothing to do with this”

Current N.A.B.B.A. president Eddy Ellwood has made it clear — the organization distances itself from any connection with the structure led by G. Lancefield.

This is not diplomatic language. It is a direct disassociation.

And a clear signal that the issue goes far beyond a simple misunderstanding.

Who pays the price?

While officials argue over history, the real cost is paid by the athletes.

They are invited into competitions that:

use well-known and prestigious names, rely on unclear or disputed origins, and sometimes create impressions that may not reflect reality.

Athletes come for sport — but find themselves in the middle of organizational conflict.

How long can the obvious be ignored?

If an organization relies on history — it must be verifiable.
If it uses names — they must be legitimate.
If it claims international status — it must be recognized, not self-declared.

Otherwise, one word remains: imitation.

Courts as the next step?

More and more frequently, legal action is being mentioned in relation to:

use of organizational names, appropriation of historical events, and potentially misleading information.

If that happens, the debate will end. Only facts — and rulings — will remain.

No diplomacy left

International sport cannot be built on vague histories and questionable narratives.

Today, the question is no longer “who is right.”
The question is — who can prove it.

And perhaps more importantly:
how long will the sporting community tolerate a reality where history becomes a tool, rather than a fact?

Official documents and more information is on International Site www.wff.lt

THEY BANNED BODYBUILDING.

HE HELD THE COMPETITIONS ANYWAY.

From illegal competitions in Soviet Lithuania to a Pope’s medal in the Vatican — a story that sounds almost impossible today

1976. Soviet Lithuania.

Bodybuilding was banned.

The authorities did not want it. The system regarded it as something foreign, suspicious and unnecessary.

But someone decided that a ban would not be the final word.

Edmundas Daubaras began organizing bodybuilding competitions.

Public competitions.

At the time — illegal in the eyes of the authorities.

And this is where a story began that, decades later, would lead from Lithuania to Moscow — and ultimately to the Vatican.

NOT IN A GYM. AGAINST THE SYSTEM.

Today, bodybuilding competitions seem completely ordinary.

A stage. Spotlights. Athletes. Judges. Medals.

But in Soviet Lithuania, everything was different.

In 1976–1977, organizing public bodybuilding competitions meant challenging the system.

Athletes wanted to train.

They wanted to compete.

They wanted to demonstrate the results of their work.

And the system said: no.

The answer was simple:

“The competitions will take place anyway.”

And they did.

In Klaipėda, the authorities later permitted bodybuilding competitions to be held.

But that was not the end of the story.

It was only the beginning.

1978. A PETITION — TO MOSCOW

When organizing competitions was no longer enough, an even bolder step was taken.

In 1978, Edmundas Daubaras wrote a petition defending bodybuilding.

And he did not take it to some local authority.

Not to a sports club.

Not to a newspaper editorial office.

He took it to Moscow. To the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

It was an attempt to address the system itself.

Directly.

Without intermediaries.

To demand recognition of the right of a sport to exist — a sport to which the system had imposed restrictions.

Today, individual circumstances of that period may be interpreted in different ways. But one fact cannot be denied:

A man living under the Soviet system chose to openly defend something that the system sought to restrict.

DECADES PASSED.

Time changed the world.

The Soviet Union disappeared.

The Iron Curtain fell.

Bodybuilding became an international sport.

And a story that had once been associated with bans and state control eventually reached a completely different place.

The Vatican.

2011. THE VATICAN.

During an official reception for WFF-WBBF leaders at the Vatican, representatives of the Catholic Church were introduced to this history.

They learned about the position of bodybuilding under the communist system.

About the bans.

About the first competitions.

About the petition to Moscow.

About the activities of Edmundas Daubaras.

And then something happened that nobody at the beginning of this story could have predicted.

Cardinal Jozef Tomko described Edmundas Daubaras’s actions toward the communist regime as dissident in nature.

And there was more.

Edmundas Daubaras was awarded a medal of Pope Benedict XVI.

Later, the WFF-WBBF federation received an official letter from the Vatican blessing the federation’s activities.

From illegal competitions in Soviet Lithuania — to the Vatican.

From prohibition — to blessing.

Could there be a more striking historical irony?

60 YEARS. AND ONE EXTRAORDINARY STORY.

Today, WFF-WBBF celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Six decades of sporting history.

But among the countless dates, championships, athletes and titles, there is one story that stands out.

Because it did not begin under comfortable circumstances.

Not in a free country.

Not at a time when everything was permitted.

It began when people had to fight for the very right to organize bodybuilding competitions.

And that is precisely why this story deserves to be remembered.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES A MEDAL IS NOT FOR MUSCLES.

In sports history, medals are usually awarded for victories.

For records.

For championship titles.

But in this story, the medal presented at the Vatican carried an entirely different meaning.

It became a symbolic recognition of the work of a man who began acting at a time when even the right to organize bodybuilding competitions could not be taken for granted.

1976–1977 — illegal competitions.

1978 — petition to Moscow.

2011 — the Vatican.

Medal of Pope Benedict XVI.

Recognition by Cardinal Jozef Tomko.

Official Vatican blessing of WFF-WBBF activities.

That is the journey.

And so, as the federation marks its 60th anniversary, one can say it very simply:

WHEN THE SYSTEM SAID “NO” — SPORT SAID “YES.”

And history remembered it.

WFF-WBBF REPRESENTATIVE IN IRELAND MARIK STEFANOVIC – 2026 WORLD CHAMPION!

Ireland is represented in the international WFF-WBBF bodybuilding federation by Marik Stefanovic, who proudly claimed the World Champion title at the 2026 WFF-WBBF World Championship in Nida, Lithuania.

With a history dating back to 1968, the International WFF-WBBF Federation brings together members from 141 countries and organizes approximately 60 international sporting events worldwide every year.

Marik Stefanovic, Chairman of WFF-WBBF in Ireland, participated in the 2026 World Championship held at the Lithuanian resort of Nida, where he achieved 1st place in his age category, earning the prestigious title of 2026 World Champion.

THE ROAD TO 2027 – 60 YEARS OF THE HISTORIC AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL!

The International WFF-WBBF Federation is now preparing for one of its most significant international events of 2027: the 60th anniversary of the historic AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL, one of the world's oldest bodybuilding competitions.

The prestigious event will take place on May 7–9, 2027, in Klaipėda, Lithuania.

The Irish national team will be led by Marik Stefanovic, who will represent Ireland at this historic international bodybuilding celebration.

The 2027 Amber Prix International promises to bring together athletes, national representatives and bodybuilding enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate six decades of international bodybuilding history and tradition.

Ireland is ready for the 2027 international challenge!

More information:
International WFF-WBBF Federation
www.wff.lt