1990 U.S.S.R. ECONOMIC BLOCKADE TO LITHUANIA.

D.D.R. BODYBUILDERS WANT TO RUIN BLOCKADE.

ECONOMIC BLOCKADE

Socialist Republic of Lithuania was a part of the U.S.S.R. for several decades. On March 11, 1990 Lithuanian Republic restored it‘s Independence. In April, 1990 the U.S.S.R. started economic blockade to young Lithuanian Republic. The blockade lasted 75 days. Most goods could not reach the Country. Especially gasoline and oil products.

THE BEGINNING.

Representing Lithuanian bodybuilding DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS during the „Gorbaciov perestrojka“ was the only one among the U.S.S.R. bodybuilders who was skilled in several foreign languages. Meeting representatives of various countries DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS spoke with them about the political situation in the Lithuanian Republic. Among them were representatives of the German Democratic Republic (G.D.R., Г.Д.Р., Германская Демократическая Республика, D.D.R., Deutsche Demokratische Republik) too. That were the Germans: Jurgen Madaj, Otto Rudiger, Peter Bajerowicz, Joachim Hennig, Peter Butze.

EAST GERMAN BODYBUILDERS OFFERED THEIR HELP TO LITHUANIA.

A number of G.D.R. bodybuilders were great businessmen. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS told them about the economic blockade. The Geramns collected information and evaluated their possibilities. In May, 1990 they offered DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to address the Government of the Lithuanian Republic. Aiming to stop the blockade bodybuilders of the D.D.R. sent DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS a number of telegrammes and offered help for the Lithuanian Republic. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS connected with the Government of the Republic Lithuania and spoke with the Prime Minister KAZIMIERA PRUNSKIENE. The Prime Minister said „Lithuania needs no help. We will manage to solve the problem ourselves“. That was the end of the G.D.R. support to Lithuania. On Octeber 3, 1990 G.D.R. was ruined and joined the F.R.G. (Federal Republic of Germany)

VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS INTERESTED ABOUT HISTORY OF G.D.R. BODYBUILDERS.

Several years ago DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS spoke with the first Leader of the Lithuanian Republic the „Lithuania Patriarch“ VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS told him the story abot the G.D.R. bodybuilders during the economic blockade. VYTAUTAS LADSBERGIS was interested very much in the happening. He asked to give him the telegrammes which were sent to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. The archives of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation) are really huge. Working on the „World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia“ («Энциклопедии всемирного культуризма», „Pasaulinė kultūrizmo enciklopedija“) only now we found the G.D.R. telegrammes. This way we are close to the year of 1991. We will tell more stories about the participation of Lithuania bodybuilders in the Independence process.

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

BODYBUILDING CIRCUS AROUND THE WORLD.

LOTS OF MICKEY-MOUSE FEDERATIONS.

WE SPEAK WITH ATHLETES.

Forty years ago we were explaining athletes about official sport and about the BASIC questions of various federations. This is ABC of every athlete. Do not be dreamers and learn real matters. As we see many do not like the truth. Sportsmen waist their time, energy, money. They are glad about their “great” achievements at competitions. But - this result for official sport is ZERO. Find yourselves who is guilty  - maybe your leaders, maybe trainers, maybe somebody else.

STEP ONE. INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION.

We do not want to offend anybody. All of today working forty International bodybuilding federations play zero role in official recognized sport. That are “mickey - mouse” federations. Just ZERO. Official International Sport organizations do not recognize a single one of them. Let us speak about some of those “federations”. What do You know about Your federation? Since 1990 we came inside of many International Bodybuilding Organizations. Step by step we learned about their zero value in sport. Athletes were cheated and still are cheated.

I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders)

Due to efforts of American BOB HOFFMAN (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 – 1985) since 1947 until 1969 World’s official bodybuilding sport was ruled by a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) International F.I.H.C. (Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste) federation.

In 1970 general secretary of F.I.H.C. British OSCAR STATE (Oscar State, Obe, 1911-1984) during Belgrade (Yugoslavia) Congress created the I.F.B.B. sport federation. Until that time I.F.B.B. was a private company and played zero role in official sport. Again due to the efforts of OSCAR STATE in 1971 I.F.B.B. became a member of G.A.I.S.F. (Global Association of International Sports Federations) and ruled World’s official bodybuilding sport until 1998.

In 1998 after two years trial I.F.B.B. was thrown out of the I.O.C.. Since that time bodybuilding is no more sport. Only former Communist Countries and several Asia Countries still recognize and finance National I.F.B.B. federations. Full article about the I.F.B.B. You can find on International Site www.wff.lt

N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association).

After long correspondence with N.A.B.B.A. Chairman OSCAR HEIDENSTAM we were working with N.A.B.B.A. since 1991 until 2005. After some time N.A.B.B.A. Chairman IVAN DUNBAR informed us that N.A.B.B.A. is not an association of federation - it is by law a public club. How officially registered in Lithuania Republic sport federation can be a member of a public club? Sounds childish… After death of OSCAR HEIDENSTAM in 1991 until now N.A.B.B.A. had no another leader like him. Full article about N.A.B.B.A. is already published on International Site www.wff.lt

W.F.F. (World Fitness Federation).

In 1995 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, German KLAUS HOFFMANN (Klaus P.J.Hoffmann), Austrian PETER PAPULA, Greek ANARGIROS TSOPOURIDIS came to Germany where they established World Fitness Federation (W.F.F. - International). Power zones were set up - KLAUS HOFFMANN took the leadership on the “Western” countries and DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS went on leading “East” countries. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS  brought former socialist countries in the game. Supported by the Government Republic Lithuania in 1996, 1997, 1998 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS organized European Championships in Klaipeda, Vilnius and Palanga. At that time there was no official registration of the W.F.F. federation - somehow KLAUS HOFFMANN was against it. The situation did not satisfy us. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was closely working with the Ministry of Sport of the Lithuanian Republic. According the law we needed official registration. Virtual W.F.F. was nothing. Then in 1998 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS registered official W.F.F. federation and organized the 1998 W.F.F. World Championship in Palanga (Lithuanian Republic). The championship was supported and financed by the Government Republic Lithuania. It was televised by “Eurosport” television. Step by step KLAUS HOFFMANN left the W.F.F. federation. In 2003 he told he can not organize International contests any more. Uniting both parts of the federation the full power of W.F.F. went to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. Exceptional prestige of W.F.F. rose up after tremendous 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 W.F.F. World Championships which were held in Vilnius and Klaipeda (Lithuanian Republic). For example - at 2005 W.F.F. World Championship in Vilnius participated 742 athletes from 42 countries. Lithuania Parliament voted to finance 2008 W.F.F. Event in Klaipeda through the separate line in the Budget of the Republic Lithuania. All above mentioned championships were supported and financed by the Government Republic Lithuania. Seeing great growth of the W.F.F. federation KLAUS HOFFMANN stopped connection with the federation and in 2005 registered his own W.F.F. federation in Germany. This federation was closed in 2013.

GAMES OF GRAEME LANCEFIELD.

Several years ago appeared Australian GRAEME LANCEFIELD who was unknown to the International Sport Society. GRAEME LANCEFIELD used the name of W.F.F., our W.F.F. history (working since 1968, “Amber Prix International”, etc.). When we wrote that we will address the International Court, then GRAEME LANCEFIELD stopped using traditional W.F.F. history. But he uses W.F.F. name anyway. Still it is not clear if W.F.F. of GRAEME LANCEFIELD egzists by law or it is only his private games. Anyway there are many not educated athletes who do not know our sport history and who do not know anything about W.F.F. federation. This way GRAEME LANCEFIELD can play his games. Detailed articles about W.F.F. federation will be published in the third part of the “World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia” soon. Look for the information on International Site www.wff.lt .

N.A.C. (National Athletic Committee)

When in 2000 KLAUS HOFFMANN stopped working properly with W.F.F. federation in Germany, several people left German W.F.F. an then appeared N.A.C.. N.A..C. is National German organization. No official International or National Institutions recognize and support N.A.C.. N.A.C. has nothing to do with official sport. Working more that twenty years N.A.C. did nothing noticeable for our sport. All N.A..C. events were made in Europe only. Outside Europe nobody even heard of N.A..C.. Maybe somebody can say what are aims of N.A.C.??? In 2005 in Italy Chairmen N.A.C. addressed President W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. International (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation) DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. They wanted to cooperate activities. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS refused - there was no future and no sense in that.

N.P.C. (National Physique Committee)

For many decades amateur bodybuilding in USA was ruled by A.A.U. (Amateur Ayhletic Union). Established in 1888 A.A.U. was a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.). In the USA even a member of G.A.I.S.F. (Global Association of International Sports Federations) I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders), federation could not fight against N.P.C.. Remember, in 1970 F.I.H.C. (Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste)  General Secretary OSCAR STATE in Belgrade (Yugoslavia) created the I.F.B.B. sport federation. Until that time I.F.B.B. was a private company. Finally after discussion with I.F.B.B. President BEN WEIDER a member of A.A.U. JIM MANION left A.A.U. and established N.P.C. in 1983. This way N.P.C. escaped of doping control too. JIM MANION agreed with WEIDER brothers JOE and BEN this way - all World Amateur bodybuilding was ruled by I.F.B.B. of BEN WEIDER and Amateur bodybuilding in USA was ruled by N.P.C. of JIM MANION. At the same time N.P.C. was representing I.F.B.B. in USA. Professional bodybuilding was under JOE WEIDER. N.P.C. had been never recognized by any Official International Sport Organization. In 2015 after death of WEIDER brothers previous agreement had no more power and N.P.C. left the I.F.B.B. of Spanish RAFAEL SANTONJA. RAFAEL SANTONJA was thrown out of America and never appeared there any more. Fighting for money at the moment N.P.C. with it’s contests goes aggressively around the World pushing I.F.B.B. of RAFAEL SANTONJA out of the game.

W.A.B.B.A. (World Amateur Body Building Association).

Several years athletes of Lithuanian Republic participated at W.A.B.B.A. competitions. Lithuanians never organized a single W.A.B.B.A.  contest in the country. Collecting 2-3 athletes of other National federations W.A.B.B.A.  organizers used to go abroad to compete. In general there were no results in this activities.

W.A.B.B.A.  appeared in 1976 after in 1975 I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) President BEN WEIDER because of sexual affairs threw away from his federation his Vice President and famous France bodybuilder SERGE NUBRET. Having no knowledge about International Sport requirements SERGE NUBRET registered only name and logo of W.A.B.B.A.. Nothing was serious and official. Our last information of W.A.B.B.A. is that it belongs to a protein shop of French FABIAN DE BECK. In fact in 1975 it was the first time I.F.B.B. was split and divided. SERGE NUBRET took out of I.F.B.B. a number of National Presidents and Athletes from Asia and Africa countries.

OTHER FEDERATIONS

Looking through 100 years history of bodybuilding we can make some conclusions.

During the last century several decades World was divided into Capitalist (Western) and Socialist (Eastern) parts. Both parts were separated by the “Iron Wall” and did not communicate in between anyway. Bodybuilders of both parts did not communicate too. Also have in mind that bodybuilding was prohibited in the Socialist World since 1973 until 1987.

When Socialist World was ruined in 1995 was created World Fitness Federation (W.F.F. - International) which took the leadership of bodybuilding in some Europe and former Socialist countries. Later International fitness and bodybuilding were separated and since that time fitness was ruled by W.F.F. - International and bodybuilding was ruled by the World Body Building Federation (W.B.B.F. - International).

During the last thirty years appeared about forty “International” bodybuilding federations led by ill minded people. For every clever bodybuilder is evident - if one is not afraid of doping control - there is with it’s law and finance problems in 1970 in Belgrade (Yugoslavia) by F.I.H.C.  (Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste) General Secretary OSCAR STATE created International Federation of Body Builders (I.F.B.B.); when one do not want doping control - there is old traditional National Amateur Body Building Association (N.A.B.B.A.). Everything is clear as daylight - the three above mentioned organizations rule International bodybuilding and fitness. Why other bodybuilding federations needed? What are their aims? Seems like childrens game... These federations have never been recognized by any Governmental or International Sport Structure. Their work is of zero value. First we met this nonsense forty years ago when two bodybuilders of Estonian SSR went to Italy to participate at “Europe” Championship. After coming back they kept silence. The reason was - there were only several participants from two countries - Italy and Estonia. The organizer was a private person representing no federation. In 2000 - 2005 Lithuanian bodybuilders were participating at the contests of the International federation of homosexual bodybuilders (today bodybuilders of Republic Poland are active in this field). Ok, anyway we can understand organization like this. From time to time we hear about another misunderstanding - the International Federation of “natural bodybuilders”. Natural bodybuilders are like alcoholics without alcohol... Every day primitive bodybuilders are fooled and cheated.

Since 1999 Italians started to participate at International W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. contests. They organized Italian contest for many years and now they wanted to organize official International contests in Italy. We told them how to create official federation. Now they have logo, they have name and still there is no federation. Organizers of this Italian group used to fight in between. So this way for several years another “International” federation appeared in France. After another Italian fight ten years ago one more “International” federation appeared in Slovenia.

Bodybuilders have problems with brains?

Today many idiotic categories appeared at bodybuilding contests - like bikini, wellness... Whom you are fooling? It is women bodybuilding and be smart - it is bad women bodybuilding. You want to say it is fitness? No - fitness is without doping. All activities with doping is bodybuilding. Do not lie for yourself and for other people. Let these “bikinies” and “welness” bodybuilders participate together with a real bodybuilder... Nonsense - they are weak athletes and they have no chances to participate at normal bodybuilding contests successfully. This is the reason that “bikinies” appeared. With men’s bodybuilding situation is the same. For example - lazy bodybuilders do not train legs. For them we have “Men’s Physique” category. Participants are representing bodybuilding and in fact they are bad bodybuilders. No legs, no calves... In normal bodybuilding fight they have no chances... So what is the value of their wins? Nothing... Weak bodybuilders participate at contests of “mickey - mouse” federations and in “mickey - mouse” categories and they become champions. What is the value of their titles? Nothing... Is anybody really proud of this?

The article will be continued. Full information is on International site www.wff.lt

2008 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

UNIQUE ORIGINAL COMPETITION.

In 2008 W.F.F. -W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation)  World Championship was held in Bydgoszcz (Poland). The competition was organized by city Mecenat JERZY GOTOWSKI and city Vice Mayor KAZIMIERZ DROZD.

The preparation started one year before with huge confrontation with the I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) Chairman of trainers PAVEL FILEBORN. Before the event eight various level press conferences and meetings were organized. Among them official meetings of the International President W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS with the Minister of Sport Republic Poland ZBIGNIEW PACELT and Mayor City Bydgoszcz KONSTANTY DOMBROWICZ.

HIGH INTERNATIONAL AWARDS.

During the preparation of the World Championship a number of Officials of the Republic Poland were awarded with the  W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. “International Honour Silver Medal”. Among them Minister of Sport Republic Poland ZBIGNIEW PACELT, Mecenat JERZY GOTOWSKI, Mayor City Bydgoszcz KONSTANTY DOMBROWICZ.

MINISTER SPORT POLAND. OFFICIAL VISIT.

As we mentioned above high I.F.B.B. Official POWEL FILEBORN in order to ruin the 2008 W.F.F. World Championship was writing public letters. To stop this process organizers of the World Championship addressed the Minister Sport Poland ZBIGNIEW PACELT. W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. Officials were invited to the Ministry of Sport in Warsaw where they met the Minister. During the meeting required juridic W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. and I.F.B.B. questions were spoken over. Supporting the W.F.F. World Championship ZBIGNIEW PACELT wrote official letter. This letter stopped all I.F.B.B. aggressiveness. We would like to remind that due to doping usage International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) refused to recognize I.F.B.B. federation and bodybuilding as sport. Also I.F.B.B. statements that W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. International was not among W.A.D.A. (World Anti Doping Agency) members were stopped. At that time the National President of the W.F.F. - W.B.B.F. Poland was ANDRZEJ MACIEJEWSKI. For many years ANDRZEJ MACIEJEWSKI was the Vice President of the I.F.B.B. Poland. He collected materials from press accusing I.F.B.B. Official PAWEL FILEBORN being involved in doping business and corruption. Polish athletes accused PAWEL FILEBORN selling doping usage schemes for 1 000 USD and proposing to cancel doping disqualifications for 10 000 USD. For this reason PAWEL FILEBORN was for a long time in various courts. Doping business of PAWEL FILEBORN was in popular Polish newspapers - among them in “Zycie Warszawy”, “Wiadomosczy dnia”, “Interia.pl”, “Kulturystyka” and others. By the way, after this doping scandals PAWEL FILEBORN was several times in Lithuania. There at I.F.B.B. seminars he teached Lithuanians about his personal ptactice and knowledge.

INTERNATIONAL JUDGES AND ORGANIZERS

International Judges and Organizers from Argentina, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Germany, Serbia, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus, Belarus, Denmark, Ukraine, Hungary, Croatia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzogovina participated at the event.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CATEGORY WINNERS

MILENKOVIC PETAR (Serbia), MICHAILOV DIAN (Lithuania), ZIGALA MIRIAN (Slovakia), KHASALOV FEDIR (Ukraine), GIRYA DMYTRO (Ukraine), RASMUSSEN PALLE (Denmark), KRIVCIKOV DMITRIJ (Russia), NADOLSKI WOJCIECH (Poland), BLINOV SERGEJ (Russia), ZAJANCKOVSKIJ ANTON (Lithuania), CSERNUS ANNA (Hungary), ROCLAWSKA PAULINA (Poland), CZENASC ESZTER (Hungary), ZIGALOVA MIRIAMA (Slovakia), BEKUS ANITA (Poland), CERVENA LENKA (Czech), BUDOVIC TANJA (Bosnia and Herzogovina), BOCIAN NATALIA (Poland), DUNDERSKI KSENIA (Serbia), MARTINKOVA EVA (Slovakia), MILERIUTE JOLANTA (Lithuania), TOLEDO JAMILA VANESSA (Argentina), ZIGALOVA MARIETTA (Slovakia). Over All Champions: NATALIA BOCIAN (Fitness), JOLANTA MILERIUTE (Bodybuilding Women), WOJCIECH NADOLSKI (Bodybuilding Men). 

Detailed story is on the way. Follow International Site www.wff.lt 

1976–1977 “AMBER PRIX” TOURNAMENTS.

THE FIRST PUBLIC BODYBUILDING COMPETITIONS IN THE USSR AFTER THE BAN.

In 1976, Edmundas Daubaras organized the “Amber Prix” tournament together with the “Zemaitija Cup” in the city of Telsiai, Lithuania. The strength events were held in one of the city’s schools, while the physique presentation program took place at the Telsiai Culture Palace. These competitions became the first publicly held bodybuilding contest in the Soviet Union after bodybuilding had been officially banned.

At that time, bodybuilding in the USSR was prohibited and actively persecuted by Soviet authorities. Nevertheless, Edmundas Daubaras succeeded in convincing the administration of the Culture Palace that the event violated no regulations. The competition was openly advertised to local residents, and the hall was filled with spectators. Organizing such an event involved considerable personal risk, but the tournament proceeded successfully and without consequences from the authorities.

Athletes from Vilnius, Klaipeda, and Siauliai participated in the event.

Winners of the 1976 Tournament

Junior Group Winners

Rimas Apulskis Stasys Stanius Rimas Cesaitis

Youth Group Winners

Antanas Basermanas Aimontas Dolgichas Evaldas Sorius

Adult Group Winners

Valentinas Vandys Risardas Krinickis

Overall Champions

Rimas Apulskis Evaldas Sorius Rišardas Krinickis

For comparison, an international bodybuilding event held in Kaunas the same year took place secretly in a factory cultural hall outside the city and without spectators. Another international bodybuilding competition organized in Kalinin (now Tver, RSFSR) was officially prohibited by authorities, yet athletes still staged the contest in a tiny local sports club as an act of protest. Only a small circle of supporters attended.

In 1976, while training at the Vilnius “Viktorija” club, Edmundas Daubaras met lawyer Grigorij Leonov, who had just graduated from the Faculty of Law at Vilnius University and had been appointed as a people’s judge in Klaipėda.

After Grigorij Leonov moved to Klaipeda, Edmundas Daubaras persuaded him to assume leadership of the city’s bodybuilding movement. The reasoning was practical: a judge’s position opened doors among city officials and made it easier to establish legal opportunities for athletes. While Edmundas Daubaras continued to manage organizational matters, Grigorij Leonov worked on creating legitimate legal foundations for bodybuilding activities in Klaipeda.

In 1977, the “Klaipeda Bodybuilding Federation” was officially registered under the Klaipeda City Sports Committee. This was an unprecedented development in the entire Soviet Union. Although bodybuilding remained banned throughout the USSR, Klaipeda now had an officially functioning bodybuilding federation. It remained the only legally operating bodybuilding federation in the Soviet Union until 1987, when the USSR Bodybuilding Federation was established under the USSR Ministry of Sports.

By legal means, all unofficial bodybuilding clubs in Klaipeda were closed, leaving only three clubs operating under the federation:

“Gintaras” — headed by Edmundas Daubaras “Satrija” — headed by Sigitas Vilutis “Alksnyne” — headed by Oleg Serov

The public competitions in Telsiai caused a sensation throughout the Soviet bodybuilding community. Many were astonished that such an event could take place openly. The leader of bodybuilding in the Estonian SSR, Innar Mardo (1945–2002), sent a letter of support to Edmundas Daubaras and promoted the “Amber Prix” tournament in Czechoslovak sports publications.

Encouraged by the success in Telsiai, Edmundas Daubaras, assisted by his father Vytautas Daubaras, organized the 1977 “Amber Prix” tournament at the Klaipeda Seaport Culture Palace. This event featured only physique presentation categories without strength exercises. Once again, the tournament was public, and local athletes personally spread information about the competition among supporters. The hall was filled with enthusiastic spectators.

Athletes from Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipeda participated in the 1977 tournament, which further strengthened Lithuania’s role as the center of unofficial Soviet bodybuilding during the years of prohibition.

1977 “Amber Prix” Tournament

In 1977, Edmundas Daubaras organized the public “Amber Prix” bodybuilding tournament at the Klaipeda Seaport Culture Palace. Athletes from Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipeda participated in the competition. The hall was full of spectators invited by the athletes and their supporters. These contests became one of the first public bodybuilding events in the Soviet Union after the sport had been officially banned.

Junior Division First Height Category

1st place – Viaceslav Chleborodov (Vilnius)
2nd place – Edvardas Burba (Klaipėda)
3rd place – Rimas Apulskis (Klaipėda)

Second Height Category

1st place – Boris Dolgov (Vilnius)
2nd place – Benas Uckus (Kaunas)
3rd place – Nikolajus Kuznecovas (Vilnius)

Third Height Category

1st place – Stepan Nevera (Vilnius)
2nd place – Evaldas Sorius (Klaipėda)
3rd place – Edvardas Miseniovas (Kaunas)

Adult Division First Height Category

1st place – Algimantas Kersulis (Vilnius)
2nd place – Vytautas Daubaras (Vilnius)
3rd place – Jonas Zurauskas (Kaunas)

Second Height Category

1st place – Kestutis Petrosius (Vilnius)
2nd place – Risardas Krinickis (Vilnius)
3rd place – Stasys Maksimovas (Kaunas)

Third Height Category

1st place – Stasys Cukanovas (Vilnius)
2nd place – Albertas Besakirskas (Kaunas)
3rd place – Vytautas Zenkevicius (Klaipėda)

Overall Winners

Junior Division – Borisas Dolgovas
Adult Division – Stasys Cukanovas

THE 1977 STRUGGLE AGAINST THE POLITICAL DECISIONS OF THE USSR AUTHORITIES. 1977: THE INTENSIFICATION OF BODYBUILDING PERSECUTION IN THE USSR

In 1977, Edmundas Daubaras once again travelled to the Czechoslovak SSR for two months under a university exchange program. The sports activity program was similar to that of previous years and included meetings with the President of the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation, Vojtech Fiala, as well as with the federation’s vice-president, Professor Frantisek Bulva.

Seeking to demonstrate loyalty to their government, the Czechoslovak officials organized a meeting for Edmundas Daubaras, as a representative of Soviet bodybuilding, with the leadership of the Czechoslovak Ministry of Sports. At that time, the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation already had its own office within the ministry, where the federation’s secretary, the well-known bodybuilder Peter Tlapak, was working.

Vojtech Fiala also arranged Edmundas Daubaras’ visit to the national Olympic training center located in a mountain resort area. At that time, members of the national bodybuilding team were preparing there for the World Championships. Meetings and discussions took place with athletes and coaches.

Later, Edmundas Daubaras visited the city of Brno, where Professor Frantisek Bulva organized two meetings of the Council of the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation. Edmundas Daubaras attended these meetings as a guest and delivered a presentation on the situation of bodybuilding in the USSR.

1977: THE INTENSIFICATION OF BODYBUILDING PERSECUTION IN THE USSR

In 1977, the persecution of bodybuilding in the USSR intensified even further. The USSR Ministry of Sports issued directives calling for stricter measures against bodybuilding, and the sports ministries of the Soviet republics repeated and actively enforced these orders. At the same time, a coordinated campaign against bodybuilding began in the Soviet press. Particularly aggressive criticism came from journalist Dmitry Ivanov of the newspaper Sovietsky Sport. As pressure mounted, nearly all prominent bodybuilding organizers throughout the USSR fell silent.

Refusing to accept the situation and drawing inspiration from the examples he had witnessed in Czechoslovakia, Edmundas Daubaras began corresponding with the editorial office of Sovietsky Sport, the USSR Weightlifting Federation, and officials of the USSR Ministry of Sports. However, these efforts produced no positive results.

At the end of 1977, Edmundas Daubaras, together with the best bodybuilders of the city, took part in the “Georg Tenno Memorial” held in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It was one of the most prestigious bodybuilding competitions in the USSR at the time. The most successful performance came from Patras Stanius, who won third place in the junior category.

You can find more information on international site www.wff.lt

Indian Athletes Have Developed a Strong Affection for the “Amber Prix” Tournament

Athletes from a number of Asian countries actively participate in the activities of the International WFF-WBBF Federation. Among the most prominent are India, Pakistan, and Turkey, while Egypt has also become increasingly active in recent years.

We first met Indian bodybuilders in 2008 at the WFF-WBBF “World Grand Prix” held in Greece. Closely following the activities of the international federation, Indian organizers staged the first WFF-WBBF India National Championship in 2010 and invited the federation’s leaders to attend. Since then, our cooperation has continued to grow, and we have participated in various events in India on as many as nineteen occasions.

Over the years, Indian athletes have become regular participants in the prestigious “Amber Prix” tournament held in Klaipeda, Lithuania. Many of them have won titles in their respective categories, while two Indian representatives, Dharminder Singh and Navtej Singh, achieved an exceptional distinction by becoming Overall Champions of the tournament.

The success of Indian athletes once again highlights the growing strength of bodybuilding in India and the close ties that have been established with the international WFF-WBBF community.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt