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

60 Years of Lithuanian Bodybuilding: What Has Truly Become History?

The year 2025 marked the 60th anniversary of organized bodybuilding in Lithuania. This milestone provides a unique opportunity to look back on the development of the sport not through emotions or personal memories, but from a historical perspective.

Over six decades, Lithuanian bodybuilding has experienced periods of rapid growth, complete prohibition during the Soviet era, underground activity, the challenges of restoring international recognition after the country's independence, and ultimately worldwide recognition. These historical stages have already been described in numerous publications. This time, however, it is worth asking a different question.

After sixty years, which events have genuinely become milestones in the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding? Which competitions have left a lasting mark rather than remaining merely important sporting events of their time? Which achievements have contributed to promoting Lithuania around the world, and which have gradually faded into history?

Time itself usually provides the answer.

The "Amber Prix" Phenomenon

The first event that deserves mention is the International "Amber Prix" Tournament, first organized in Klaipėda in 1967.

Nearly six decades have passed. Political systems have changed, federations have been established and dissolved, competition rules have evolved, and several generations of athletes have come and gone. Yet the tournament has remained.

Today, the Amber Prix is not only Lithuania's oldest bodybuilding competition but also one of the oldest continuously organized traditional bodybuilding tournaments in the world.

Over the years, thousands of athletes from dozens of countries have competed on its stage. For many of them, the Amber Prix became the gateway to international bodybuilding, while for Lithuania it became an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to organize world-class sporting events.

Its greatest strength has been continuity. In historical terms, continuity is one of the most important measures of significance.

The "Komsomol Cup" – A Competition of Its Era

Another important chapter began in 1979 with the introduction of the Komsomol Cup in Kaunas.

During the Soviet period, it was among the most prestigious bodybuilding competitions held in Lithuania. The strongest athletes of the time competed there, and the event enjoyed considerable recognition within the Soviet sports system.

History, however, judges more than popularity during a particular period. Several decades later, one naturally asks how many people still remember the winners, their achievements, or the competition's influence on international bodybuilding. Time inevitably distinguishes between events that become enduring historical landmarks and those that remain symbols of a particular era.

Independence Opens the Door to the World

The restoration of Lithuania's independence created entirely new opportunities.

In 1996, 1997, and 1998, Lithuania hosted government-supported NABBA European Championships in Klaipėda, Vilnius, and Palanga, followed by the WFF World Championship in 1998.

These were the first international bodybuilding events of such scale organized in independent Lithuania.

The competitions received extensive coverage in the country's largest newspapers, including Respublika and Lietuvos Rytas. Reports were broadcast by Lithuanian National Television, LNK Television, and Eurosport, while special magazines were published and distributed both in Lithuania and abroad.

It was during this period that Lithuania established its reputation as a capable organizer of major international bodybuilding championships.

World Championships That Changed Perceptions

Lithuanian bodybuilding reached an even higher level between 2004 and 2008, when Vilnius hosted the WFF-WBBF Amateur and Professional World Championships, supported by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.

These championships became historic not only because of their size but also because of their innovations.

In 2004, for the first time in bodybuilding history, a World Championship was broadcast live over the Internet worldwide. Today such broadcasts are commonplace, but at that time this represented a remarkable technological breakthrough.

The 2005 World Championship attracted 742 athletes, making it one of the largest bodybuilding championships ever organized.

Another unique feature was the presentation of genuine diamonds to the overall champions—a distinction virtually unprecedented in the history of international bodybuilding.

Each championship was accompanied by the publication of 10,000 full-color magazines and 3,000 DVD documentaries, distributed free of charge during international competitions across many countries. This became an effective long-term effort to promote Lithuania internationally.

Anniversary “Amber Prix” Tournaments

Special recognition should also be given to the anniversary editions of the Amber Prix.

The 40th International “Amber Prix” became an event of national significance. It received financial support from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, while the Parliament allocated dedicated funding through the national budget.

Lithuanian National Television produced a special documentary report.

Professor Alfred Gerstl, President of the Austrian Parliament, sent to Klaipėda an original collection of photographs of his former student, Arnold Schwarzenegger, together with a documentary film about Schwarzenegger's path to international fame. The exhibition was presented during the tournament, while the documentary was shown before the competitions began.

A trilingual commemorative magazine and a documentary DVD were subsequently presented at numerous international bodybuilding events around the world. Articles about the tournament appeared in sports publications in England, Austria, Argentina, and Russia.

The 50th International “Amber Prix” received equally remarkable international attention.

One of its greatest achievements was a feature broadcast by the global television network CNN, introducing Lithuanian bodybuilding to millions of viewers worldwide—an exceptional accomplishment for any sporting event organized in Lithuania.

Is the Title "World Championship" Enough?

In recent years, Lithuania has continued to host international bodybuilding competitions.

For example, an IFBB World Championship was organized in Kėdainiai. However, it received virtually no coverage in the national press or on television, attracted little public attention, and generated almost no lasting documentary record.

This observation is not intended to diminish the sporting value of that championship. Rather, it raises an important historical question:

Is the official title of "World Championship" alone sufficient to make an event historically significant?

Probably not.

History remembers far more than official titles.

It remembers events that become visible to society, receive international recognition, leave documentary evidence, are reported by the media, preserved in books and films, and continue to be remembered decades later.

Looking Toward the Future

In 2027, Klaipėda will host the 60th International “Amber Prix” Tournament.

This will be much more than another annual competition.

It will celebrate sixty consecutive years of uninterrupted history.

The 2026 tournament attracted nearly 300 athletes from ten countries, demonstrating that the event continues to enjoy strong international recognition.

A comprehensive 400-page history of the “Amber Prix” is currently being prepared in Lithuanian, English, and Russian. The publication will include archival documents, rare photographs, historical articles, personal recollections, and previously unpublished materials collected over six decades.

Former champions, sports veterans, international federation officials, public figures, and representatives of the highest institutions of the Republic of Lithuania are expected to attend the anniversary celebration.

It will provide an appropriate opportunity to honor everyone whose dedication has contributed to the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding.

Conclusions

Sixty years is a sufficient period to evaluate Lithuanian bodybuilding objectively.

The historical significance of any sporting event is determined not merely by its official status, the federation under which it was organized, or the number of participants. Its true value is measured by continuity, international recognition, public visibility, documentary legacy, and its ability to remain part of collective memory.

During the past six decades, Lithuania has hosted hundreds of bodybuilding competitions. Most were important to their participants and meaningful in their own time. Yet only a small number have become historical landmarks that transcend sport itself.

Such events strengthen a nation's sporting prestige, shape its international reputation, and become an enduring part of its cultural heritage.

For this reason, the upcoming 60th International “Amber Prix” Tournament represents much more than another bodybuilding competition. It symbolizes the entire history of Lithuanian bodybuilding and demonstrates that lasting achievements are built not upon isolated victories but upon decades of dedicated work, continuity of tradition, international cooperation, and respect for history.

Perhaps this is the most important lesson learned from sixty years of Lithuanian bodybuilding: history is not created by titles alone, but by achievements that withstand the test of time and become part of a nation's lasting sporting heritage.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt