1991.SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING NEWS.
LITHUANIA BODYBUILDERS LEAVE U.S.S.R. FEDERATION.
Since 1971 until 1998 the I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) federation was the sole International Bodybuilding Federation to represent official recognized sport. Then bodybuilding still was a sport. Since 1989 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was negotiating with his friend I.F.B.B.  President BEN WEIDER. Among other questions both negotiated about the membership of the Lithuania National Bodybuilding Federation in the I.F.B.B.. The membership should be not as a part оf the “U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation” («Федерация культуризма С.С.С.Р.») but as an Independent member. That meant that the I.F.B.B. should recognize the Independent Republic Lithuania. In February 1991 there was referendum to separate with the U.S.S.R. held in Lithuania. 85 percent of citizen said “yes”.
During the process DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS through his fiend German (F.R.G, Federal Republic of Germany) GERHARD HUNGE paid the I.F.B.B. membership fee for Lithuania federation. Other way transaction was not possible as all international transactions were controlled by the bank of the U.S.S.R.. After this DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS sent official request to join the I.F.B.B. federation. In addition to this in order to prove the Country Independence  DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS translated the Constitution of the Republic Lithuania from Lithuanian to English language and sent it to Canada for BEN WEIDER.
This way since 1989 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS had meetings with BEN WEIDER in Moscow and Leningrad (U.S.S.R.), Paris (France), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and New York (USA). Finally after the 1990 “Miss Olympia” BEN WEIDER refused to recognize the Independent Republic Lithuania. He was on Moscow side. Lithuanians were not allowed to join the I.F.B.B.. BEN WEIDER was a businessman and he wanted to make business with the U.S.S.R.. Vice President of the U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation and President of the Bodybuilding Federation of Lithuanian SSR ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS did not support ideas and intentions of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. Even more - after proclaiming the Independent Republic Lithuania ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS joined the new Lithuania Communist Party of Mykolas Burokevichus. As it was during the fierce prohibition of bodybuilding in 1978, now DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was left alone again. Nobody of bodybuilders dared to support him and to stand against the U.S.S.R..
At the same time many of Lithuania bodybuilders supported the National Olympic Committee of the Independent Republic Lithuania and refused to participate in the official U.S.S.R. contests and to join the National teams of the U.S.S.R.. Having no International competitions many famous bodybuilders left sport. For example best U.S.S.R. bodybuilder Lithuanian VIKTORAS JUCYS.
At that time a number of best Lithuania bodybuilders were pupils of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. They were - NATALIJA MURNIKOVIENE, EDMUNDAS REPSYS, VADIM SRYVKIN (Вадим Срывкин), RIMANTAS MAZIONIS.
Athletes needed contests and DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS found the way. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS wrote letters to the N.A.B.B.A. (World Amateur Body Building Association) Chairman OSCAR HEIDENSTAM and W.A.B.B.A. (World Amateur Body Building Association) Owner and President SERGE NUBRET. Both invited Lithuania bodybuilders to their contests: 1991 N.A.B.B.A. Europe Championship in Epinal (France) and 1991 W.A.B.B.A. World Championship in Japan.
I.F.B.B. PRESIDENT VISITS LITHUANIA.
WEIDER DID NOT SUPPORT INDEPENDENT LITHUANIA.
In March, 1991 I.F.B.B. President BEN WEIDER visited capital of the Independent Republic Lithuania Vilnius. Some months ago during meetings with DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS he refused to recognize Independent Lithuania and remained on the U.S.S.R. side. At the same time he wrote a letter to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS asking to arrange his meetings with the Officials of the Republic Lithuania. On the way to Moscow BEN WEIDER planned to visit Lithuania. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS refused to assist him as BEN WEIDER did not change his position towards Lithuania Independence. He explained that Lithuanians will look other International Organizations to participate at the International Contests. BEN WEIDER asked not to be in a hurry but DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS  said Lithuanians are waiting I.F.B.B. membership already three years.
So DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was not with BEN VEIDER during his visit to Vilnius. There was official meeting of BEN WEIDER with the Chairman Parliament Republic Lithuania VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS. President of the Lithuania Olympic Committee ARTURAS POVILIUNAS and his assistant KAZIMIERAS MOTIEKA were present at the meeting too. Also Vice President of the “U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation” («Федерация культуризма С.С.С.Р.») and President of the Bodybuilding Federation of the Lithuanian SSR ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS was at the meeting as well.  BEN WEIDER visited Parliament, presented Diploma of Honour to VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS, had meetings with Lithuanian bodybuilders. Anyway, BEN WEIDER remained on the same position - at that time he did not recognize Independent Republic Lithuania and supported the U.S.S.R..
N.A.B.B.A. WAS FIRST TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT LITHUANIA.
MINISTRY SPORT INITIATES ORGANIZING BODYBUILDING ASSOCIATION.
In 1991 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS  visited Parliament of Republic Lithuania many times. Due to request of the President of Lithuania National Olympic Committee (L.T.O.K., Lietuvos Tautinis Olimpinis Komitetas) ARTURAS POVILIUNAS  DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS brought him official letter that International N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association)  association recognizes Independent Lithuania and Lithuania National Olympic Committee. Among all International Federations of all sports N.A.B.B.A. was first to recognize independent Republic of Lithuania. There were several months until August overthrow in Moscow. Everybody was afraid to support Lithuania. First of all among non supporters was Vice President “U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation” and also president national Bodybuilding federation of Lithuanian SSR ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS.
In order to support bodybuilding sport DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS addressed the Minister of Sport Republic Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublikos sporto ministras) ALGIMANTAS RASLANAS and the President of Lithuania National Olympic Committee ARTURAS POVILIUNAS. Both said that a new National Bodybuilding Organization of Independent Lithuania was needed. ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS with his federation of Lithuanian SSR was out of the game.
Minister of Sport Republic Lithuania ALGIRDAS RASLANAS gave order to assistant  ALGIMANTAS SALAMAKINAS to help DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to prepare documents for registration of the new federation.  In few hours documents were ready and next day new National Bodybuilding Association was registered at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublikos teisingumo ministerija).
President of Lithuania National Olympic Committee ARTURAS POVILIUNAS often mentioned that no International Federations support him. During 1991 March visit to Republic Lithuania I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) President BEN WEIDER refused to recognize Independent Lithuania and also he refused to take Lithuanians to the I.F.B.B. without permittion of the U.S.S.R.. At that time no one of Lithuania bodybuilding organizers dared to make a step against the U.S.S.R.. Everybody waited for something to happen - will Independent Lithuania stand against the U.S.S.R. or all Independence will be finished by Moscow. Again as it was in 1978 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was left alone with his own risky actions.
PRESIDENT “U.S.S.R. BODYBUILDING FEDERATION” ASKS HELP OF DSC. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS.
Many dirty things happen due to various intrigues. So happened in the “U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation” («Федерация культуризма С.С.С.Р.») when it’s President VASILIJ CAIKOVSKIJ (Василий Чайковский) was overturned down. VASILIJ CAIKOVSKIJ was replaced by a Leningrad bodybuilder VLADIMIR DUBININ (Владимир Дубинин). The same things happened in 1988 when the first President “U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation” Olympic Champion JURIJ VLASOV (Юрий Власов) was replaced by VASILIJ CAIKOVSKIJ in 1988.
Knowing about good friendly relations of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and President I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) BEN WEIDER in January 1991 VASILIJ CAIKOVSKIJ came to Klaipeda (Republic Lithuania) and directly asked DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to speak with BEN WEIDER. VASILJ CAIKOVSKIJ wanted DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to explain about the dirty matters in the “U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation” and to change the voting results. He accused the former Vice President “U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation” ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS as well.
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS refused to help VASILIJ CAIKOVSKIJ as in 1990 and in 1991 BEN WEIDER refused to support the Independent Republic Lithuania and also BEN WEIDER refused to incorporate National Bodybuilding Federation of Lithuanian SSR into the I.F.B.B. without permeation of the U.S.S.R.. At that moment DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS already decided to start working with other International Bodybuilding Organizations but the I.F.B.B..
SOCIALIST WORLD PARTICIPATES AT N.A.B.B.A. EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP.
As there were difficulties with visas to W.A.B.B.A.  (World Body Building Association) World Championship in Japan, DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS decided to participate at 1991 N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association) Europe Championship in Epinal (France). National team of bodybuilders of Lithuania Republic was collected after the 1991 “Amber Prix International” («Янтарный приз», “Gintarinis prizas”, 1968 - 2024). The  team was: NATALIJA MURNIKOVIENE (Наталия Мурниковене), EDMUNDAS REPSYS, ROLANDAS BUCINSKAS, VADIM SRYVKIN (Вадим Срывкин) and EUGENIJ GORELIK (Евгений Горелик). All Lithuanian participants went to France free of charge and paid nothing. At the same time some athletes were getting constant stipendiary for preparation for contests and for the living expenses (for. Exampla NATALIA MURNIKOVIENE). Money for them was collected after selling at that time very popular DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS bodybuilding magazines. All together were issued 37 different magazines. The first one was “Arnold Schwarzenegger Recommends” (1989) and two million copies of only this magazine were sold in Socialist Countries.
During the contest in Epinal DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS got acquainted with the President N.A.B.B.A. Germany KLAUS P.J. HOFFMANN. About this we will write some time later in the third book of the “World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia” («Энциклопедия всемирного культуризма», „Pasaulinė kultūrizmo enciklopedija“ ). Later in 1995 both created W.F.F. -International (World Fitness Federation). At that time KLAUS HOFFMANN left his membership in W.A.B.B.A. and joined N.A.B.B.A. too. So in 1991 first medals of the independent Republic Lithuania were received at 1991 N.A.B.B.A. Europe Championship in Epinal. NATALIA MURNIKOVIENE and ROLANDAS BUCINSKAS became N.A.B.B.A. Europe champions.
After this Vice President of the  “U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation” («Федерация культуризма С.С.С.Р.», “T.S.R.S. kultūrizmo federacijos”) and President of the Bodybuilding federation of the Lithuanian SSR ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS became crazy. He organized awful articles about DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS in Lithuanian press. At the same time ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS planned to join W.A.B.B.A. as the doors of the I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) were closed for Lithuania at that time. Nobody had idea that 1991 “August Overthrow” («Августовский путч») will change everything.
1991 OVERTROW IN MOSCOW.
Nobody even saw in dreams that “1991 August Moscow Overthrow” (августовский путч в Москве) will loose so quick. The hew horizons were opened for all Socialist Countries. In sport too. The U.S.S.R. was fighting to remai alive and all Socialist Countries lighted for their independence.
After the “1991 August Moscow Overthrow” everybody who had been afraid to fight became “alive”. Now they were brave. Among them was Vice President “U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation” («Федерация культуризма С.С.С.Р.») ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS (Романас Калинаускас). Only now he created “Lithuania bodybuilding federation” which later became the I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) member. At the same time DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Др. Эдмундас Даубарас) led his “National Bodybuilding Association” (Национальная ассоциация культуризма Литовской Республики) and was going on to work with N.A.B.B.A. International (National Amateur Body Building Association). We would underline that in May, 1991 the Ministry of Sport Republic Lithuania assisted DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to create his federation. Owner and President of I.F.B.B. BEN WEIDER was acting as ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS. Only after the “1991 August Moscow Overthrow” BEN WEIDER dared to recognize Independent Republic Lithuania and to let Lithuania Bodybuilding Federation to join the I.F.B.B..
No one of the U.S.S.R. bodybuilding leaders knew anything about International Bodybuilding Organizations of the “Western World”. It took much time to get the truth about them. That lasted until when in 1996 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and German KLAUS P.J.HOFFNMAN created the W.F.F. (W.F.F. - International, World Fitness Federation) in 1996. The W.F.F. was registered officially in 1999. Later in 2005 the W.B.B.F. (W.B.B.F. - International, World Body Building Federation) was created and registered in Lithuania. But about this we will speak in the third book of the “World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia” («Энциклопедия всемирного культуризма»).
1991 SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING NEWS.
1991 „AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL“.
At the competition participated athletes from Latvian SSR, Estonian SSR, Lithuanian Republic, R.S.F.S.R., Belorussian SSR, Ukrainian SSR and Poland. First places were awarded with prize money. Each Category Winner received money amount equal to five salaries at Republic Lithuania at that time. Money was collected after selling at that time very popular DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS bodybuilding magazines. All together were issued 37 different magazines. The first one was “Arnold Schwarzenegger Recommends” (1989, «Арнольд Шварценеггер рекомендует», ) and two million copies of only this magazine were sold in Socialist Countries.
RESULTS
Women Bodybuilding
Category Until 52 kgs.
1.BOGDANOVA ILONA (Lithuanian Republic)
2.BELOVA IRINA (Latvian SSR)
3.MOCKEVICIENE DIANA (Lithuanian Republic)
Category Over 52 kgs.
1.MURNIKOVIENE NATALIJA (Lithuanian Republic)
2.MISEVICIENE IRINA (Lithuanian Republic)
KAMINSKAITE IDALIJA (Lithuanian Republic)
Over All Winner NATALIJA MURNIKOVIENE
Men’s Categories
Category Until 65 kgs.
1.CLEBORODOV VIACESLAV (Хлебородав Вячеслав, Lithuanian Republic)
2.VOROBJOV ALEKSANDR (Воробьёв Александр, R.S.F.S.R.)
3.VALANCIUS ALBINAS (Lithuanian Republic)
Category Until 70 kgs.
1.GORELIK JEVGENIJ (Горелик Евгений, Lithuanian Republic)
2.BERKOVICH SEMION (Беркович Семён, Lithuanian Republic)
3.BARTKEVICIUS ARVYDAS (Lithuanian Republic)
1.Category Until 80 kgs.
2.SRYVKIN VADIM (Срывкин Вадим, Lithuanian Republic)
3.ZOLINAS DMITRIJUS (Золин Дмитрий, R.S.F.S.R.)
4.ZUR OLEG (Жур Олег, Ukrainian SSR)
Category Until 90 kgs.
1.ZUR OLEG (Жур Олег, Lithuanian Republic)
2.BURNEIKIS RAIMONDAS (Lithuanian Republic)
3.BYTAUTAS GINTARAS (Lithuanian Republic)
Category Over 90 kgs.
1.REPSYS EDMUNDAS (Lithuanian Republic)
2.MISEVICIUS SAULIUS (Lithuanian Republic)
3.SVEIDUKS MARIS (Latvian SSR).
Over All Winner OLEG ZUR (Republic Lithuania).
1991 “MR. URAL”. BODYBUILDING TIMES OF CARPETS.
Time goes so fast and today in public often comes information which is far away from the truth. People who were not present at certain events are writing articles and books which are based on rumours. They pay no attention to the facts and opinion of the real participants of these events. For example, several years ago in Lithuania was issued a book “Lithuanian bodybuilding history” which carries facts that are not correct. Some time ago in Russia was issued a book about a famous Russia bodybuilder VLADIMIR DUBININ. For thirty  years VLADIMIR DUBININ  was the President of the National I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders)  Federation of  Russia. There are many not correct facts and interpretations on the history of the U.S.S.R. bodybuilding in the book.
Today after thirty years in internet appeared false information about the 1991 International “Mr. Ural” contest. The information is published by a former Russian bodybuilder OLEG ANDREJEV (Олег Андреев). People start discussing the angry letter of an U.S.S.R. official which he wrote on the background of rumors only.
Continuing our work on the unique International project of the “World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia” («Энциклопедия мирового культуризма», „Pasaulio kultūrizmo enciklopedija“)  in 2020 we plan to issue in various languages a book about the history of bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R.. There will be many historical documents, authentic stories and pictures and the reader will have a chance to see the historic happenings on different angle.
The organizer of the 1990-1991 “Mr. Ural” Contest in Ural Ufa City was ALTAF GALEJEV. For a number of years ALTAF GALEJEV  used to come with Ufa bodybuilding team to the  officially recognized World’s oldest traditional bodybuilding contest “Amber Prix International” (1968-2022, “Gintarinis prizas”, «Янтарный приз»). Participating at the 1991 “Mr. Ural” Contest contemporary President of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation) International DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS  and his wife were the invited personal guests of the organizer ALTAF GALEJEV.
Though at the 1991 “Mr. Ural” together with the U.S.S.R. bodybuilders participated teams of Germany, Holland and U.S.A. – the judges were only of the U.S.S.R. side. These judges in years were known one to another. To say more – these judges were trainers of the sportsmen, who participated at the 1991 “Mr. Ural” Contest and their personal interest in the competition results was very plain and clear. Even more: Lithuanian Judge ARVYDAS MILVYDAS some time before started working as the director of Vilnius sport centre. He had possibilities to offer money to bodybuilders. So he did. ARVYDAS MILVYDAS offered money to a number of known bodybuilders who were for many years trained by a famous U.S.S.R. trainer VITALIJ ASOVSKIJ. The bodybuilders of VITALIJ ASOVSKIJ without any hesitation left him and run to ARVYDAS MILVYDAS. Today when sport became totally commercial  it is nothing special about this, many athletes use to do this. But in the U.S.S.R. of 1991 it was a single unfair happening on the moral side. Having no trainer’s experience before it ARVYDAS MILVYDAS appeared at “Mr. Ural” Competition in Ufa with his team of known bodybuilders.
After the calculation of the 1991 “Mr. Ural” Contest results the awards ceremony started. Among the usual traditional awards for the winners were the carpets. To understand the situation now we should explain the situation of life in the U.S.S.R.. It is impossible to understand it easy for the contemporary people. Due to political situation for many years cars, carpets, spare parts for cars etc. were impossible to get in the U.S.S.R.. Only the trade unions of the U.S.S.R. were giving special licences for the best workers to buy these things. For German, Holland and U.S.A. participants of the 1991 “Mr. Ural” these carpets were of no value. But the representatives of the U.S.S.R. looked upon this differently. For them the carpets were of great value.  A scandal started during the award ceremony. German, Holland and the U.S.A. representatives did not agree with the judging and they insisted to cancel the judging results.
It was a break at the contest announced. Then the contest organizer ALTAF GALEJEV  collected official representatives of Germany, Holland and U.S.A. for a special meeting. The only one at the competition knowing well the English and the German languages DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was present at the meeting too. The German team was led to Ufa by a famous National trainer of the German team. The team consisted of famous International athletes and among them AUREL HILLEBRAND – one of the winners of the 1991 Europe Championship. At the meeting the representatives spoke that “they came to a bodybuilding contest and not to the place of dividing carpets. Why ALTAF GALEJEV invited them to UFA if there is only the manipulation with carpets?” After the  discussion all of the representatives decided to change the results only in one category. They replaced Lithuanian OLEG ZUR with AUREL HILLEBRAND giving the first place to the German bodybuilder. Also OLEG ZUR had to give back to the German the carpets... AUREL HILLEBRAND  did not want to take the carpets saying he came to the bodybuilding competition and he does not need them. We would like to remind that later in 2004 Lithuanian OLEG ZUR was the over all I.F.B.B. World Champion in Moscow. By the way the 2004 I.F.B.B. World Championship was also full of intrigues. Any can find in various languages the historic documents, articles at the International Page www.wff.lt , read information on the main page and in the forum topics.
Returned from 1991 “Mr. Ural” home the Lithuania bodybuilders were upset.  They told their story to the Secretary of the U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS. Hearing only one side and based only on words and rumours ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS wrote an angry letter to the President of the U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation VLADIMIR DUBININ. Then a special Congress of the U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation Council was announced. The Congress put punishment to the 1991 “Mr. Ural” organizer  ALTAF GALEJEV. Then ALTAF GALEJEV left the I.F.B.B. and started working with another International Federation.
FECEBOOK does not allow long texts.

Full article and more information is on International Site www.wff.lt

WORLD BODYBUILDING HISTORY.

IMPORTANT MOMENTS INTERNATIONAL.

KINGDOM OF MAROCCO.

During 60 years of activities W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness federation, World Bodybuilding Federation) International had many interesting and important moments of International Work. Working on „World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia“ („Pasaulio kultūrizmo enciklopedija“, «Энциклопедия всемирного культуризма») we recover many steps of our work and we will present them to International sport society now. We underline that our Internet Site www.wff.lt every day has about 10 000 visitors and every month it collects about 400 000 readers.

W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International is in touch with Marocco bodybuilders since 1984. Aiming to make relations better in 2007 International W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. President DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS had a meeting with the Honour Embassador of the Kongdom of Marocco in the Lithuanian Republic Mr. JUOZAS PODLIPSKIS. Vice President Parliament Republic Lithuania ALFREDAS PECELIUNAS was present at the meeting too.

Official Documents, Articles on Global Page www.wff.lt

2026 MEGA EVENTS INTERNATIONAL

37-th Am-Pro World Championship

45-th Am-Pro „World Grand Prix“

3-d „Neringa Mayor‘s Cup“

October 24 - 25, 2026, Nida Resort, „Agila“ Palace, Lithuania

Official Documents, Articles, Statistics on Global Page www.wff.lt

CONTEST REGISTRATION on www.worldfitness.lt

60 years of “Amber Prix”.

THE BOOK. Introduction

The history of bodybuilding has traditionally been written through the achievements of outstanding athletes, the evolution of physique competitions, and, above all, the rise of the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB) after the 1970s. As a result, the earlier institutional foundations of bodybuilding have received comparatively limited scholarly attention. In particular, the establishment of international governing structures after the Second World War, the relationship between bodybuilding and the international weightlifting movement, and the development of bodybuilding within the socialist countries remain insufficiently examined.

This monograph argues that bodybuilding became an internationally organized sport considerably earlier than is generally assumed. Its institutional foundations were established between 1947 and 1969 through the creation of international governing bodies, the introduction of officially sanctioned championships, the gradual standardization of competition rules, and the emergence of national administrative structures. These developments transformed bodybuilding from a loosely organized physical culture activity into a sport administered through international and national institutions.

Particular attention is devoted to the period during which bodybuilding was administered within the Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste (FIHC), whose role has largely been overshadowed in later historical accounts by the expansion of the IFBB. Although the IFBB subsequently became the dominant international bodybuilding organization, the administrative structures established under the FIHC provided the first internationally recognized framework for governing bodybuilding competitions. Reconstructing this earlier phase is therefore essential for understanding the institutional origins of the sport.

A second objective of this study is to examine the introduction of bodybuilding into the socialist countries. Existing historical narratives have generally portrayed bodybuilding as a predominantly Western phenomenon until the late twentieth century. Contemporary documentary evidence, however, demonstrates that organized bodybuilding had already begun to develop within the Soviet Union during the 1960s through officially organized competitions, emerging administrative structures, and increasing international contacts.

Within this broader process, Lithuania occupied a distinctive position. Lithuanian organizers were among the principal initiators of organized bodybuilding within the Soviet Union, organized some of the earliest international bodybuilding competitions held in the socialist world, and established the “Amber Prix International” tournament, which became one of the most influential amateur bodybuilding competitions in Eastern Europe and later in the World. These developments demonstrate that Lithuania's contribution extended beyond regional sporting activity and formed part of the broader institutional development of international bodybuilding.

Accordingly, this monograph does not seek to rewrite the general history of bodybuilding. Instead, it reconstructs one specific dimension of that history: the institutional evolution of international bodybuilding between 1947 and 1969. By analysing the creation of governing organizations, official competitions, administrative structures, and international cooperation, the study demonstrates how bodybuilding acquired institutional legitimacy within both Western and socialist sporting systems.

The study is based upon official competition records, congress proceedings, organizational documents, contemporary sporting publications, and archival materials relating to the administration of bodybuilding and weightlifting. These sources make it possible to reconstruct a formative period in the history of bodybuilding that has received comparatively limited attention in the existing historiography.

Rather than focusing primarily on individual champions or the evolution of training methods, the chapters that follow examine the organizations, institutions, and administrative decisions that shaped the early development of international bodybuilding. Beginning with the incorporation of bodybuilding into the international sports system in 1947, the study traces the establishment of official international championships, the expansion of bodybuilding into the socialist countries, the creation of Soviet organizational structures, and the emergence of Lithuania as one of the principal centres of bodybuilding development in Eastern Europe and later in the World.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt

The 2017 “Amber Prix” International Tournament

In 2017, the international fitness and bodybuilding tournament “Amber Prix” celebrated its 50th anniversary in Klaipeda, Lithuania. Over five decades, the tournament has become one of the oldest and most prestigious fitness and bodybuilding events in Europe, earning international recognition and respect within the sports community.

In the same year, the World Amateur and Professional Championships were held in Kaunas, Lithuania, while the European Championships took place in Germany. In 2017, India hosted the international WFF–WBBF “World Grand Prix” tournament and the 6th Asian Championship.

The jubilee edition of the “Amber Prix” attracted special international attention. Through the mediation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, the global television network CNN prepared and broadcast a report on the event, reaching billions of viewers worldwide. Following the competition, the heads of foreign delegations were officially received at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

198 аthletes from 17 countries participated in the tournament: Belgium, Belarus, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, India, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan.

Competition Results

(Top Three Places in Each Category)

Fit-Kids Division Up to 10 Years Aleksandra Stukanova (Russia) Varvara Ponomarenko (Russia) Egle Mickute (Lithuania) Up to 12 Years Yekaterina Kozelkina (Russia) Yelena Truselko (Ukraine) Nadezhda Marchenko (Ukraine) Aerobic Fitness Open Category Yuliya Gerasimova (Russia) Asta Butkute (Lithuania) Yekaterina Sudarenko (Ukraine) Fitness Model Division Juniors up to 18 Years Karolina Beinaroviča (Latvia) Kristina Tutkute (Lithuania) Yelizaveta Troshina (Lithuania) Youth up to 21 Years Rugilė Blaskeviciute (Lithuania) Yelizaveta Redkina (Lithuania) Anna Morozova (Russia) First Category Ugnė Kukyte (Lithuania) Jana Zenovic-Leskevic (Latvia) Yelizaveta Mironenko (Russia) Second Category Sandra Mockute (Lithuania) Židrūnė Mikelenaite (Lithuania) Yelena Bitineva (Latvia) Third Category Ugnė Gotautaite (Lithuania) Yelena Lisitskaya (Uzbekistan) Kerstin Kristine Kremer (Germany) Bikini Division Youth up to 21 Years Angelina Gvozdeva (Russia) Sonia Lorzić (Serbia) Evelina Stumbryte (Lithuania) First Category Vaida Narkiene (Lithuania) Giedrė Cernecke (Lithuania) Karolina Engelin (Germany) Second Category Marlies Vileke Hoornaert (Belgium) Olga Listopadova (Belarus) Laila Trapp (Germany) Veterans over 40 Years Marina Legenzova (Lithuania) Ineta Rijniece (Latvia) Irina Wagner (Germany) Figure Division First Category Halina Halavei (Cyprus) Rasa Senkute (Lithuania) Larisa Rusakevich (Uzbekistan) Second Category Asta Butkute (Lithuania) Yekaterina Grebenkova (Russia) Giedre Savickaite (Lithuania) Third Category Natalia Abramova (Russia) Filiz Ivenic (Turkey) Monika Schreiber (Germany) Men's Categories Athletes with Disabilities Arturas Bolycevas (Lithuania) Sports Fitness Division Youth up to 21 Years Markas Dolgunovas (Lithuania) Laurynas Griskevisius (Lithuania) Vladimir Kondratyev (Russia) Veterans over 60 Years Vladimir Muran (Russia) First Category Mindaugas Stonkus (Lithuania) Oguntade Ajadi Lookman (Belgium) Haluk Kucuk (Belgium) Second Category Artiom Sokolov (Russia) Gytis Neverauskas (Lithuania) Brahim Benhaddou (Belgium) Muscle Model Division First Category Rahul Joshi (India) Viktar Shpakouski (Belarus) Sandro Piccirillo (Italy) Second Category Anton Spilniuk (Cyprus) Ajay Kumar Godara (India) Denis Antonov (Russia) Body Athletic Division First Category Sergey Strelnikov (Cyprus) Alexey Kuzmichyov (Russia) James Anthony Hellewell (United Kingdom) Second Category Sergey Taratynov (Russia) Sien Cuvelier (Belgium) Anton Trekhnov (Russia) Bodybuilding Up to 100 kg Yevgeny Baishev (Russia) Alexey Kochedykov (Russia) Mantas Leksius (Lithuania) Over 100 kg Maros Kanasz (Slovakia) Andrius Blazys (Lithuania) Viktor Morozov (Russia) Veteran Bodybuilding Up to 50 Years Normunds Jurans (Latvia) Aleksandr Budaragin (Russia) Ravil Roman Denikayev (Russia) Over 60 Years Freddy Gaston Van Puyenbroeck (Belgium) Vidmantas Malakauskas (Lithuania) Vasyl Adnenko (Ukraine) Overall Champions

Women: Halina Halavei (Cyprus)

Men: Maros Kanasz (Slovakia)