1980. SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING NEWS.

„AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL“. WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN SOCIALIST WORLD?

In 1980 bodybuilding still was prohibited in the U.S.S.R. and Socialist Countries. When in 1978 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS wrote the petition to defend prohibited bodybuilding, he personally brought it to Moscow and presented to the highest U.S.S.R. political powers. The achieved victory let start public competitions in Klaipeda (Lithusnian SSR). Until this contests were illegal and without public. The first official bosybuilding contest was the 1978 „Amber Prix International“ („Gintarinis prizas“,  «Янтарный приз», 1968 – 2025) which was organized by DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. Since 1978 the „Amber Prix International“ got the status of the „Unofficial U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championship“ («Неофициальный чемпионат С.С.С.Р. по культуризму»).

In 1980 three International bodybuilding contests were organized in the U.S.S.R. and all of the were held in the Lithuanian SSR. One of them was the „Amber Prix International“ which was held in the Palace of Culture of the City Klaipeda. The organizers did not expect so big crowd of spectators. So the doors of the palace were broken by entering crowd at the very beginning.

The second contest was held in Kaunas and that was political „Comsomol Cup“ („Komjaunimo taurė“, «Кубок комсомола»). The Category Winners were STANISLAV POLIAKOV (Станислав Поляков, Latvian SSR) and Lithuanians VLADAS KAPCEVICIUS, SAULIUS MISEVICIUS ir EUGENE ZURCEV (Евгений Журцев). The Over All Winner was VLADAS KAPCEVICIUS.

One more contest was organized in Vilnius. That was the competition „Lithuanian SSR versus Hungarian SSR“. Hungarians did not come with strong bodybuildiers and all first places went to the Lithuanians: EUGENE GORELIK (Евгений Горелик), VLADAS KAPCEVICIUS, SAULIUS MISEVICIUS and EUGENE ZURCEV.

In 1980 the traditional „Georg Tenno Memorial“ («Мемориал Георга Тенно», 1971 - 2024) was not organized in the Estonian SSR. When in 1979 INNAR MARDO (Иннар Мардо, 1946 – 2002) and best U.S.S.R. bodybuilder of that time Estonian OLEV ANNUS returned from competition in Czechoslovakian SSR they guarreled in between. Letters of INNAR MARDO to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS say that OLEV ANNUS wrote bad letters about INNAR MARDO to political powers of the Estonian SSR. Due to this INNAR MARDO lost his gym and his position of the President of the National Bodybuilding Federation of the Estonian SSR. Also the Communist powers of the Estonian SSR prohibited 1980 „Georg Tenno Momorial“.

The leadership of bodybuilding in the Estonian SSR took OLEV ANNUS and brothers ARRO. INNAR AMARDO as well as DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS did not stop bodybuilding activities due to the conflicts. Both went on working on their own.

In 1980 separatly from the National Bodybuilding Federation of the Estonian SSR INNAR MARDO and INDREK OTSUS went to „Trener“ contest in the Czechoslovakian SSR. INDREK OTSUS won against the 1975 Over All I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) Europe Champion PETER STACH again and reveived the title of the Over All Winner. The other Winners of the Categories were Czechoslovakians JOZEF GROLMUS, STEFAN JUST and IRZY MRACEK.

INFORMATION.
More detailed information on the Global International Site www.wff.lt, see forum topics.

60 YEARS WE ARE CREATING WORLD SPORT HISTORY.

CHAIRMEN INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION VISITED PRESIDENT REPUBLIC LITHUANIA.

On January 22, 2026 International Chairmen of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation)  visited historic President of the Republic Lithuania Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS.

At the several hours lasting discussion with Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS took part President of the International W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. federation DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, for social work awarded with Honour Diploma of the International U.N.E.S.C.O. organization President of the Lithuania Sport Fitness Federation DARIUS DAUBARAS, representing „Rotary“ Club of the Lithuanian Republic Docent of the Klaipeda University historic VIDIMANTAS RAUDYS.

BLOCKADE TELEGRAMMS

In 2015 communication with Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS spoke about 1990 possibilities to ruin the U.S.S.R. economic Lithuania blockade. At taht time knowing about the difficulties with goods and products bodybuilders of German Democratic Republic (D.D.R.) proposed their help to the Lithuanian Republic. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS received their two telegrams. Germans suggested to address the Governmemt of Lithuania as nobody had so much money at that time. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS called to the Government and spoke with the Prime Minister KAZIMIERA PRUNSKIENE. Then she refused the help of the D.D.R. businessmen and bodybuilders. Hearing this Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS asked to give him those telegramms. The archieves of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International are really rich and big. Only now the telegramms were found. During the 2026 visit to the President Republic Lithuania Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS presented him the telegramms.

INTERNATIONAL HONORABLE AWARD.

No one other President of the Republic Lithuania is so much historically connected with International Bodybuilding sport but Professor Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS. During the meeting with Professor International W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. President DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS awarded Dr. VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS with the Highest International Honour Award – the „International Honour Gold Medal“.

Detailed historic article is on the way. Follow International Page www.wff.lt

WORLD BODYBUILDING ENCYCLOPEDIA.

1970 – 1980 BEST U.S.S.R. BODYBUILDERS.

BEGINNING.

Working on the „World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia“ («Энциклопедией всемирного культуризма», „Pasaulinė kultūrizmo enciklopedija“) we are analysing lots of historic happenings and facts. Today we can list five bodybuilders of the U.S.S.R. who were most famous since 1970 until 1980. That were representing famous „Vilnius Bodybuilding School“ LEONAS PIVORIUNAS (his trainer was CESLAV TAMULEVIC, 1946 - 2021), VLADIMIR DUBININ (Владимир Дубинин, R.S.F.S.R., Leningrad, was training himself), representing „Vilnius Bodybuilding School“ PRANAS MURAUSKAS ((his trainer was CESLAV TAMULEVIC) and two Estonians - OLEV ANNUS and INDREK OTSUS. Both were trained by INNAR MARDO (1945 – 2002).

The Article will be continued and we will speak about each of the mentioned above Athletes. Follow International Page www.wff.lt

Dr. Edmundas Daubaras Initiated the Establishment of the USSR Bodybuilding Federation in 1986.

Facts Known by Few.

During Mikhail Gorbachev’s period of “perestroika,” the persecution of bodybuilding in the Soviet Union became more formal than real. After the international “Amber Prix” tournament held in 1986, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras invited the most influential figures in Soviet bodybuilding of that time to his apartment. Among them were representatives of the RSFSR, Vladimir Subov and Vladimir Dubinin, as well as the representative of the Ukrainian SSR, Arkadij Kasanskij.

Vladimir Dubinin had been invited to the “Amber Prix” tournament by Dr. Edmundas Daubaras. Vladimir Dubinin after losing at the 1974 “Georg Tenno Memorial” competition, had withdrawn from sports activities for thirteen years and had almost completely disappeared from the bodybuilding community.

The main topic of the meeting was the necessity of establishing an official USSR Bodybuilding Federation. Dr. Edmundas Daubaras explained the existing situation to the RSFSR representatives and proposed initiating the federation’s creation. Preparatory work through the USSR Weightlifting Federation was to be carried out by the RSFSR representatives.

Why Was Romanas Kalinauskas Not Present at the Meeting?

There were several reasons for not inviting him. Earlier, Romanas Kalinauskas had not supported Dr. Edmundas Daubaras in his struggle against the ban on bodybuilding. According to witnesses, he had stated that he would not “risk his Communist Party membership card.” Moreover, he repeatedly obstructed Dr. Edmundas Daubaras’ initiatives. However, once the petition of Dr. EDmundas Daubaras defending bodybuilding succeeded and the situation changed, Romanas Kalinauskas stood beside those who had actively fought for the recognition of the sport.

Beginning in 1975, during university student exchange programs, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras visited Czechoslovakia several times. There he met with the President of the Czechoslovak SSR Bodybuilding Federation, Vojtech Fiala, and Vice President Professor František Bulva.

Under supervision of the sport ministry of the Czechoslovakian SSR it was agreed that the best Czechoslovak bodybuilders would be invited to Lithuania within the framework of the “Amber Prix” tournament, and later the strongest USSR athletes would travel to compete in Czechoslovakia. The first joint competition was scheduled for 1979.

However, seeing that Dr. Edmundas Daubaras’ plans were nearing implementation, Romanas Kalinauskas allegedly sabotaged the project, which had been prepared for several years, by filing complaints with various authorities. According to contemporaries, the primary reason was personal ambition and jealousy, as he himself had not contributed to what was then considered a unique international bodybuilding initiative.

History offers many examples of individuals who, lacking the courage or ability to act themselves, attempt to obstruct those who take initiative and strive for change.

Get much more detailed information and documents 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