INTERNATIONAL SPORT UNIVERSITY (I.S.U.)

2026 INTERNATIONAL TRAINER’S AND JUDGE’S SEMINAR

International Sport University International seminar was held on March 29, 2026, in Conference hall of Klaipeda Green Park Hotel, Republic Lithuania. Participants of the seminar: Rector of the International Sport University DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, Director of the administration UGNE RAUDYTE DAUBARIENE, President of the Lithuania sport fitness federation (Lietuvos sportinio fitneso federacija) awarded for the social work with the International U.N.E.S.C.O. Organization Honour Diploma DARIUS DAUBARAS, Professor SVETLANA PUGACHEVA (профессор Светлана Пугачёва), Lecturer ALINA PELEPKO, Secretary RENATA PELEGRIMIENE and participants from Baltic countries.

Lectures were done by Professor SVETLANA PUGACHEVA and Lecturer ALINA PELEPKO.

SHORT HISTORY OF METHODICAL SEMINARS.

First in the U.S.S.R. seminar for bodybuilding trainers was organized in 1986 in Klaipeda (Lithuanian SSR). «U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport» («Министерство спорта С.С.С.Р.») sent a number of weightlifting specialists to Klaipeda where traditional “Amber Prix International” (“Gintartinis prizas”, «Янтарный приз», 1968 - 2025) was held at the same time. The Ministry named “Amber Prix International” as the “U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championship” («Чемпионат С.С.С.Р. по культуризму»). Weightlifting specialists read lectures and presented the “U.S.S.R. Trainer’s Certificates”. When Lithuania restored it’s Independence under support of the Lithuania Ministry of Sport the “National Lithuania Association of Bodybuilding” (L.N.K.A., Lietuvos nacionaline kulturizmo asociacija) was created in 1991.  The Association started organizing annual bodybuilding and fitness trainer’s seminars. Since 2000 World Fitness Federation (W.F.F. – International) started organizing trainers seminars instead of the Association. Needing more thorough teaching the “International Sport University” (I.S.U.) was created in Lithuania in 2015. Since that time I.S.U. is organizing International Trainer’s seminars in various countries. Since 2017 I.S.U. is an associated member of the U.N.E.S.C.O. at the U.N..

More information is on International Site www.wff.lt

2026 METŲ SEMINARAS TEISĖJAMS IR TRENERIAMS.

2026 metų kovo 29 dieną Klaipėdos “Green Park Hotel” konferencijų salėje vyko eilinis Tarpautinio sporto universiteto (International Sport University) seminaras teisėjams ir treneriams. Seminare dalyvavo: Tarptautinio sporto universiteto rektorius Dr. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, administracijos vadovė UGNĖ RAUDYTĖ DAUBARIENĖ, Lietuvos sportinio fitneso federacijos (Lithuania sport fitness federation) prezidentas, už visuomeninę veiklą apdovanotas tarptautinės U.N.E.S.C.O. organizacijos (International U.N.E.S.C.O. Organization) garbės raštu DARIUS DAUBARAS, profesorė SVETLANA PUGAČIOVA (Svetlana Pugacheva, профессор Светлана Пугачёва), dėstytoja ALINA PELEPKO, sekretorė RENATA PELEGRIMIENĖ, klausytojai iš Baltijos šalių.

Temas išdėstė profesorė SVETLANA PUGAČIOVA bei dėstytoja ALINA PELEPKO.

TRUMPA METODINIŲ SEMINARŲ ISTORIJA.

Pirmas seminaras kultūrizmo treneriams buvo organizuotas 1986 metais Klaipėdoje, kur tuo metu vyko tarptautinis “Gintarinio prizo” (“Amber Prix International”, «Янтарный приз», 1968 – 2025 m.) turnyras, pačios ministerijos prilygintas “T.S.R.S. kultūrizmo čempionatui” (“U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Cahmpionships”, «Чемпионат С.С.С.Р. по культуризму»). . T.S.R.S. sporto ministerijos sunkiosios atletikos federacijos specialistai skaitė paskaitas ir išdavė ministerijos pažymėjimus. Atkurus Nepriklausomybę, 1991 metais tarpininkaujant Lietuvos sporto minsterijai (departamentas) buvo įkurta Lietuvos nacionalinė kultūrizmo asociacija (L.N.K.A.). L.N.K.A. ėmė rengti reguliarius užsiėmimus treneriams. Kai 2000 metais Lietuvos sporto ministerija paskelbė, kas nepripažįsta nacionalinių federecijų trenerių pažymėjimų, Pasaulinė fitneso federacija (W.F.F. - International) pradėjo rengti tarptauninius trenerių seminarus. Į organizacinį ir metodinį darbą įsitraukus tarptautinei akademinei bendruomenei (įvairių šalių akademikams, daktarams ir profesoriams), 2015 metais Lietuvos Respublikoje registravome Tarptautinį sporto universitetą (T.S.U., I.S.U., International Sport University), kuris išvystė veiklą Indijoje ir Ukrainoje. Nuo 2017 metų T.S.U. yra asocijuotas U.N.E.S.C.O. narys, kuri veikia prie Jungtinių Tautų Organizacijos (U.N.). Lietuvoje T.S.U. periodiškai organizuoja seminarus įvairių sporto dicsiplinų treneriams, teisėjams.

Daug juridinės ir istorinės informacijos rasite tarptautiniame puslapyje www.wff.lt

WORLD BODYBUILDING ENCYCLOPEDIA.

UNIQUE HAPPENING IN WORLD SPORT HISTORY.

OFFICIAL VISIT TO VATICAN.

Working at the „World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia“ we would like to underline the unique happening in the World‘s sport history. That was the Official Visit of the President of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International federation DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to Vatican.

HOW VISIT TO VATICAN STARTED.

Developing International sport in the beginning of April, 2011 International President W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS visited Poland, Germany, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovakia. Being in Monaco DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS received a call from Italy informing that the Official Visit to Vatican is settled. The way towards Italy started. Right before the visit to Vatican the meeting with the Vatican representative in Italy was organized.

We will publishe a thorough article in parts. Follow the International Site  www.wff.lt   - much information, documents and pictures are already published there.

LITHUANIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL BODYBUILDING MOVEMENT

The First International Bodybuilding Congresses in Lithuania

From the Restoration of Independence to International Leadership

The restoration of the independence of the Republic of Lithuania in 1990–1991 marked not only a profound political transformation, but also the beginning of a new era in Lithuanian sport.

After decades within the Soviet sports system, Lithuanian sporting organizations faced the difficult task of rebuilding their national structures, establishing independent international contacts and securing recognition within the global sporting community.

Bodybuilding was among the sports in which this process became particularly visible.

In May 1991, with the support and mediation of the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Lithuania and personally Minister Algirdas Raslanas, the Lithuanian National Bodybuilding Association (LNKA) was officially registered at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania. The initiative and organizational work behind its establishment were undertaken by Edmundas Daubaras.

For Lithuania, this was more than the creation of another sports organization. It represented an important step toward restoring an independent national presence in international bodybuilding.

The Struggle for International Recognition

The foundations for this development had been laid even before the formal restoration of Lithuanian independence.

In December 1990, Edmundas Daubaras travelled to New York, where he held discussions with Ben Weider, then President of the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness (IFBB). The objective was clear: to secure recognition for Lithuanian bodybuilding and to enable Lithuanian athletes to enter the international arena independently of the Soviet bodybuilding structure.

At that time, however, Ben Weider declined to recognize Lithuania's independence and would not accept Lithuanian bodybuilders into IFBB outside the Soviet federation structure.

Faced with this position, LNKA turned to the National Amateur Body-Builders' Association (NABBA) and began developing international cooperation through that organization.

The decision quickly produced tangible results.

At the NABBA European Championships in France, Lithuanian athletes Natalija Murnikovienė and Rolandas Bučinskas won European titles. Even more importantly from a political and sporting perspective, NABBA formally recognized the independence of Lithuania and the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee from the Soviet Union.

The political situation changed dramatically following the failed August coup in Moscow in 1991. During these decisive months, however, the Lithuanian SSR bodybuilding federation, led by Roman Kalinauskas, Vice-President of the USSR Bodybuilding Federation, did not support Edmundas Daubaras's initiatives and continued to await developments in Moscow.

The subsequent course of events demonstrated how closely the development of Lithuanian sport was connected with the country's broader struggle to establish its independent international identity.

Klaipėda: A New International Sporting Hub

The next major stage began in Klaipėda.

The international Amber Prize bodybuilding tournaments held in Klaipėda in 1994 and 1995 proved highly successful. Their growing international reputation led to an ambitious decision: the 1996 NABBA European Championships would be held in Klaipėda.

The choice was significant. A city on Lithuania's Baltic coast, recently emerged from the Soviet system, was now preparing to welcome athletes, officials and sports leaders from across Europe.

The international momentum continued.

The 1997 European Championships were held in Vilnius, while 1998 saw the WFF World Championships staged in Palanga.

These were major international sporting events for Lithuania. They received the support and financial backing of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, while television coverage was provided by Eurosport, including reports lasting up to an hour.

The level of hospitality offered to participants was equally remarkable for the period. International guests and Lithuanian athletes were accommodated and provided with meals free of charge in hotels in Klaipėda, Palanga and Vilnius.

The message was unmistakable: Lithuania was no longer merely seeking a place in international bodybuilding. It was becoming a host, organizer and active participant in the international development of the sport.

THE BIRTH OF INTERNATIONAL CONGRESSES IN LITHUANIA

The championships were accompanied by another development of lasting importance.

Prior to the 1996 and 1997 European Championships, international bodybuilding congresses were organized in Lithuania. These gatherings brought together leaders and representatives of bodybuilding organizations from numerous countries.

The congresses were not simply administrative meetings held to coordinate competitions.

They became forums for discussing the future of bodybuilding, the development of international organizations and the emergence of new sporting disciplines.

One of the most significant subjects was the future of fitness.

At the time, organized fitness was still in its formative stages internationally. Edmundas Daubaras argued that fitness had the potential to develop along an independent path rather than remaining merely a subdivision of bodybuilding.

This vision would prove consequential.

Over the following decades, fitness increasingly established itself as a distinct international sporting discipline. The separation of the two disciplines continued to develop, ultimately reaching a new stage with the 2024 World Championships in Nida, when fitness was formally separated from bodybuilding within the organizational framework described by the WFF-WBBF movement.

THE 1996 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS – KLAIPĖDA

The 1996 congress brought together representatives of 15 countries.

The congress leadership included Edmundas Daubaras, Richardas Krinickis, a multiple winner of the Amber Prize tournament and head of the State Control Committee, and German representative Klaus Hofmann.

The participating delegations were:

France – Serge Delselle; Estonia – Vladimir Jelufimov; Israel – Alex Stuknov; Ukraine – Yuri Yeriomenko, Gennady Dern; Russia – Vladimir Shubov, Nikolai Nikulin; Czech Republic – Bob Divilek; Belgium – Roland Block; Greece – Anargiros Tsopouridis; United Kingdom – Jim Charles, Alan Gordon; Latvia – Maris Šveiduks, Aivars Visockis; Italy – Paola and Filippo Massaroni; Bulgaria – Zdravko Ivanov; Belarus – Georgy Katulin; Lithuania – Yuri Stepanov, Saulius Kirmelevičius.

The gathering was significant because it brought together representatives from countries that only a few years earlier had occupied very different positions within the European political and sporting landscape.

In this sense, the congress in Klaipėda was itself a reflection of the changing map of European sport.

THE 1997 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS – VILNIUS

The following year, the international congress moved to Lithuania's capital.

In 1997, representatives met in the conference hall of the Villon Hotel in Vilnius, one of the city's prestigious venues at the time.

The international leadership structure had also developed. Klaus Hofmann served as President of the International NABBA Association, while Edmundas Daubaras served as its Vice-President.

The 1997 congress expanded its international representation to 17 countries.

The congress leadership consisted of Edmundas Daubaras and Klaus Hofmann.

The participating representatives were:

Greece – Anargoros Tsopouridis, Dora Tsopouridis; United Kingdom – Alan Gordon; Ukraine – Vasily Bespalenko; Russia – Vladimir Shubov; Czech Republic – František Zamola, Bob Divilek; Belarus – Fidelis Sedykh, Georgy Katulin; France – Jose Martinez, Eleonora Jauks; Germany – Tamara Konz, Andreas Muller; Belgium – Roland Block; Italy – Filippo Massaroni; Switzerland – Jimmy Largis; Latvia – Maris Šveiduks, Aivars Visockis; Estonia – Aleksander Selnichinas; Austria – Karin Rosner; Israel – Victoria Miller, Elli Hanna; Netherlands – Karl Aartaas; Lithuania – Saulius Kirmelevičius.

The Vilnius congress confirmed that Lithuania had become an established meeting point for international bodybuilding leaders.

The significance of these gatherings extended beyond the competitions themselves. They created a platform where representatives from different countries could exchange ideas, establish contacts and consider the long-term development of bodybuilding and fitness.

THE CREATION OF THE WORLD FITNESS FEDERATION

The international discussions taking place in Lithuania coincided with another important development.

In **1995, Edmundas Daubaras and German bodybuilding leader Klaus Hofmann initiated the establishment of the World Fitness Federation (WFF).

The organization initially operated under a dual-presidency structure. Edmundas Daubaras represented the countries of the East, while Klaus Hofmann represented the West.

This arrangement reflected the geopolitical realities of the period. Europe was emerging from decades of political division, and international sports organizations were themselves adapting to a rapidly changing environment.

The WFF provided a framework in which representatives from different regions could cooperate within a common international sporting structure.

In 2003, after Klaus Hofmann withdrew from active involvement in the WFF, Edmundas Daubaras continued as the organization's leading figure.

A VISION THAT OUTLIVED THE ERA

Looking back, the international bodybuilding congresses held in Lithuania in 1996 and 1997 can be understood as more than historical episodes surrounding European Championships.

They were part of a broader transformation.

For Lithuania, they represented the country's return to the international sporting community after decades of Soviet control. For international bodybuilding, they provided a meeting place where organizations from different parts of Europe and beyond could establish new relationships and discuss the future of the sport.

Most importantly, they became a forum for ideas.

Among those ideas was the conviction that fitness could and should develop as an independent international sporting discipline. What initially appeared to be a forward-looking concept gradually became a reality as fitness established its own identity, competitions and organizational structures.

LITHUANIA'S PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL SPORTING HISTORY

The history of Lithuanian bodybuilding in the 1990s should therefore be viewed in a broader context.

It was not simply a story about national championships, individual athletes or the organization of competitions. It was part of Lithuania's return to the international community.

In a relatively short period, Lithuania progressed from rebuilding its national bodybuilding structures to hosting European and World Championships, organizing international congresses and participating in the creation of new international sporting organizations.

Klaipėda, Vilnius and Palanga became venues where athletes, officials and sports leaders from many countries met at a time of profound change in European history.

The international congresses of 1996 and 1997 remain an important chapter in this story.

They demonstrate how sport can become an instrument of international cooperation and how a newly independent country can, within a remarkably short period, move from seeking international recognition to actively shaping the future of a global sporting movement.

Lithuania was not merely returning to the international bodybuilding arena. It was helping to build a new chapter in it.

World sport history. 2001 WFF World Championship in Zwickau: The International Fitness Scene in One Place.

From November 23–25, 2001, the WFF World Championship was held in the German city of Zwickau. It was one of the important international fitness events of that period, bringing together athletes from various countries. In the same year, the WFF European Championship was held in Tallinn, Estonia, while the World Championships moved to Germany.

This championship was also significant in the broader history of the WFF. The World Fitness Federation was established in 1995. At that time, it was led by two presidents: Dr. Edmundas Daubaras represented the “Eastern” countries, while Klaus P. J. Hoffmann represented the “Western” countries. After Hoffmann withdrew from WFF activities in 2003, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras remained the sole head of the international federation.

A Broad Competition Programme

The championship programme covered more than one specific fitness discipline. The official results include categories such as “Mr. Fitness Juniors,” “Mr. Junior Performance,” “Mr. Fitness,” “Mr. Extreme Fitness,” “Mr. Athletic Fitness Over 30 Years,” as well as the women’s “Miss Fitness,” “Miss Athletic Fitness,” and “Miss Performance Fitness Over 30 Years” categories. In addition to individual events, pairs competitions were also organised.

This structure shows that the championship sought to accommodate different groups of athletes. Younger participants had their own categories, separate events were intended for athletes over 30, while in some categories the emphasis was placed not only on an athlete’s individual physique and preparation but also on the overall stage performance.

As a result, the championship in Zwickau was more than a single standard individual fitness competition. It was a multi-discipline event in which athletes could compete according to different criteria and in different age or performance groups.

Junior Competitions

One part of the championship was dedicated to younger athletes. The official list for the “Mr. Fitness Juniors” category contains seven participants. First place went to Germany’s Patryk Wieczorek, second place to Lithuania’s Vladimir Petrov, and third place to Tobias Schasten of Germany. The results table also lists the points awarded by the judges and the final rankings.

The presence of junior categories at the World Championship was significant because the WFF competition system was not limited to experienced adult athletes. Younger competitors could also participate in an international championship and compete against athletes from other countries in their age group.

International competition was also evident in the women’s junior events. In the “Miss Junior Fitness” category, the first two places were taken by Lithuanian representatives Jelena Marchenko and Eglė Barisevičiūtė, while third place went to Latvia’s Anita Nitecka.

Thus, the junior section formed a separate and important part of the overall championship programme, aiming to showcase not only the current leaders of the sport but also the younger generation of athletes.

Diversity of Adult Categories

Competition among adult athletes was even broader. The men’s programme included various categories, among them “Mr. Fitness,” “Mr. Extreme Fitness,” and “Mr. Athletic Fitness Over 30 Years.”

In the “Mr. Extreme Fitness” category, first place went to Greece’s Vasilis Zachilis, while second place was taken by Lithuania’s Julijus Grishajev.

A separate category was designated for athletes over 30. In the “Mr. Athletic Fitness Over 30 Years” group, the winner was Germany’s Andreas Wilms. Second place went to Danish athlete Henning Kristensen, while third place was taken by Germany’s Udo Walther.

The women’s programme also featured several different events. For example, in the “Miss Performance Fitness Over 30 Years” category, first place went to Germany’s Corina Mayer. She was followed by fellow German athlete Silvia Schor, while third place went to France’s Marie Piere Ripert.

In another women’s event, “Miss Athletic Fitness,” the winner was Russia’s Svetlana Pugachova, while second place went to Germany’s Susan Malekpur-Shirazi.

These results show that the championship sought to distinguish between different types of athletic preparation and performance, giving participants the opportunity to compete in categories suited to their particular strengths.

Pairs Performances

Pairs competitions held a special place in the championship programme. They offered a different perspective on fitness competition, as the focus was not only on an individual athlete’s physical preparation but also on the joint performance of two people.

In the “Fitness Pairs” category, first place went to the German pair Cornelia Trost and Thomas Riedel. Second place was awarded to the Dutch pair Chantelle Tanke and Raymond Punter, while third place went to Germany’s Tanja-Leona Meyer and Philip Magenheimer. Latvian pairs were also listed further down the results.

Another event was “Fitness Performance Pairs.” First place went to the German pair Lucie and Udo Walther, second place to Russia’s Svetlana Pugachova and Artiom Ovsojan, and third place to Germany’s Corina Mayer and Andreas Trienbacher. Other participants included representatives from Latvia, Estonia and Croatia.

The pairs events added further variety to the championship and allowed athletes to compete not only individually. They were also one of the areas in which cooperation between athletes from different countries and the importance of stage performance were particularly evident.

An International Judging Panel

The international judging panel was an important part of the championship. Official documents list judges from Greece, Lithuania, the United States, Russia, Belarus, Austria, Germany, France and other countries.

Among the judges were Anargiros Tsopouridis of Greece, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras and Edita Sendrienė of Lithuania, Bob Gruskin of the United States, Andrej Basov of Russia, Fidel Sedych and Tatjana Kovalco of Belarus, Markus Schlager of Austria, Tamara Konz and Wolfgang Iben of Germany, and Oliver Ripeir of France.

Such a judging panel emphasised the international character of the championship. The evaluation was not carried out solely by representatives of the host country; the geographical composition of the judging team was considerably broader.

Overall Championship Winners

In addition to the winners of the individual categories, the culmination of the championship was the selection of the overall winners. According to the official results, the “Mr. Over-All Winner” title was awarded to Lithuania’s Mindaugas Kvasys, while Germany’s Corina Mayer became the “Miss Over-All Winner.”

The overall winner title was distinctive because it was not tied exclusively to one particular category. It represented an overall assessment of the championship and gave additional significance to the entire competition programme. Following the individual category contests, these two athletes were listed as the overall winners of the 2001 WFF World Championship.

The Geographical Diversity of the Championship

The results of the championship in Zwickau reflect a broad geographical representation of participants. The official lists include representatives from Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Greece, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Croatia, Estonia, Denmark, Sweden, the United States, Israel and other countries.

This is particularly evident in the pairs categories and in the men’s and women’s individual events, where representatives of other European countries regularly appear alongside German athletes in the results tables. Such distribution of participants allows the championship to be viewed as an international sporting platform where athletes from different countries could compare their preparation and competitive experience.

The Significance of the 2001 Championship

The 2001 WFF World Championship in Zwickau was an event in which several different areas of fitness came together. Individual men’s and women’s events, junior categories, groups for athletes over 30, an extreme fitness category and pairs competitions formed a diverse programme.

The championship results also reveal the geographical character of the international fitness scene of that period. Athletes from many European countries participated, as well as representatives from the United States and Israel. Not only the athletes but also the judging panel had an international composition.

The Zwickau World Championship can therefore be regarded as one of the WFF events of that period in which an effort was made to bring different forms of fitness competition together on a single stage. From juniors to veterans, and from individual performances to pairs events, the entire programme reflected the broad approach to fitness sport adopted by the WFF at the time.

The competition held in Zwickau from November 23–25, 2001, remains an interesting historical record that provides an insight into the international fitness competition system taking shape at the time, its categories, judging structure and the geographical diversity of its athletes.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt