2026 SPORT NEWS INTERNATIONAL.

REPORT OF W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. JAPAN.

We are pleased to announce that the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Japan has officially decided to support the “IORIMPIA and W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. JAPAN” event planned for 2027 in Tajimi City.

This important cooperation agreement was arranged by our federation’s appointed W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International President in Japan, Iori Nishizawa. Permission has also been granted to use the embassy’s logo. This regional event is growing into an international fitness event connecting countries and people. This is a significant new step for our federation. The embassy’s support has given us even stronger trust and a solid foundation for future growth. We will continue working together with local administration and many partners toward the successful organization of the event.

The city details, exact date, and full official program are still being finalized. A great beginning!

Official Information is on International Site www.wff.lt

REAL WORLD BODYBUILDING HISTORY.

SOLE MAN AGAINST U.S.S.R. POLITICAL POWER.

FIGHTS AGAINST BODYBUILDING PROHIBITION.

Fifty three years have passed since bodybuilding sport was prohibited and prosecuted in the U.S.S.R. and Socialist countries. Everybody keep silence as they have nothing to say. Yes, in 1973 most bodybuilders left the sport. Somebody went to weightlifting. Somebody went on with bodybuilding illegally. But – who dared to make real steps to fight with prohibition of bodybuilding by political powers? The only one and it was DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. It is the right time to speak about this. We will tell the full story in the nearest future. We will cover the facts, we will present documents and we will make conclusions. Sure – the false „heroes“ will not like this.

SOLE MAN AGAINST U.S.S.R. POLITICAL POWER.

We will speak about the period of time afrer bodybuilding prohibition – after 1973. Topics of the article are:

-        Personalities of bodybuilding

-        Meetings of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS at Ministry of Sport of the Č.S.S.R.

-        Meeting of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS with Minister Sport of Lithuanian SSR

-        Discussions of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS with U.S.S.R. press

-        Petition of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to U.S.S.R. Communist Party Central Committee in Moscow

-        Results, followers.

SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING PERSONALITIES.
SITUATION IN THE WORLD AND IN SOCIALISM.
In 1970, in Belgrade (Yugoslavia), the general secretary of F.I.H.C. (F.I.H., Fédération Internationale Haltérophile, later F.I.H.C., Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturisme, and later I.W.F., International Weightlifting Federation), the British Oskar State, established the sports federation I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders). Until then, I.F.B.B. was a private commercial company, having nothing to do with official sport. Oskar State also organized the membership of the new I.F.B.B. federation in the international G.A.I.S.F. (Global Association of International Sports Federations). After more than twenty years of F.I.H.C. managing bodybuilding globally, since 1971, the I.F.B.B. federation began to lead world bodybuilding.
SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING PERSONALITIES.
Among the personalities of early socialist world bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R. were representatives from the R.S.F.S.R.: Genadij Baldin (Геннадий Балдин), Roman Moroz (Роман Мороз), Vladimir Dubinin (Владимир Дубинин). From Lithuanian S.S.R., they were Vytautas Zumeris, Valerijus Koreškovas (Валерий Корешков) — after the ban on bodybuilding, some chose heavy athletics, some completely left sports, and Vladimir Dubinin, after his loss in the 1974 international tournament “Georg Tenno Memorial” (“Georgo Tenno memorialas”, «Мемориал Георга Тенно», 1971–2025), left bodybuilding for thirteen years and did not interact with anyone from the bodybuilding world.
Later, after the coup in Lithuanian S.S.R. organized in 1973, when Juozas Jusevičius was unfairly removed from leadership, the leadership of Lithuanian S.S.R. bodybuilding was taken over for decades by Romanas Kalinauskas, who organized the coup, along with his irreplaceable assistants from Kaunas: Aleksandras Novikovas and Ramutis Kairaitis.
After the ban on sports in Klaipėda, bodybuilding took its original path. There was no one to follow. The former city bodybuilding leader, Antanas Jonuskutis, left Klaipėda, and those bodybuilders who wanted to continue training scattered to the basements of residential buildings.
Already in 1973, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras organized competitions of the remaining city bodybuilders in the old abandoned Klaipėda prison basement, and in 1974, he held the “underground” “Amber Prix” (Amber Prix International, “Gintarinis prizas”, «Янтарный приз», 1968–2026) tournament in a bomb shelter at the Klaipėda sea trade port. In 1975, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras secretly organized the “Amber Prix” again in one of Klaipėda’s secondary schools, and in 1976, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras held a public tournament with spectators in the Telšiai Culture House. Regardless of the ban on bodybuilding, in 1977, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras organized two public tournaments, including the “Amber Prix,” in the Klaipėda sea trade port cultural center. The halls were packed with spectators.
Similar events took place in other cities of Lithuanian S.S.R. and other Soviet Republics. Everyone was afraid of persecution and acted secretly. During the bodybuilding ban period, in the capital of Lithuanian S.S.R., under the cover of the sports society “Dinamo,” the “Vilnius Bodybuilding School” operated; however, during this period, it did not develop active work—it aimed to wait for better times. The school was led by Ceslav Tamulevic (Чеслав Тамулевич, 1945–2023) and Vitalij Asovskij (Виталий Асовский, 1952–2026).
During the bodybuilding ban years, there were no active organizers in Latvian S.S.R.
In Estonian S.S.R., Innar Mardo (1945–2002) managed to convince his government that, based on the traditions of past strongmen and wrestlers, bodybuilding was a “national sport.” Innar Mardo’s ideas found support in the government.
And that was all—there were no other prominent bodybuilding figures -  organizers in the U.S.S.R. at that time.
In 1975, bodybuilding in the Czechoslovakian S.S.R. was led by Vojtech Fiala. Thanks to personal connections, Vojtech Fiala organized the Czechoslovakian S.S.R. delegation’s trip to the I.F.B.B. European Championship, where Petr Stach became the Overall winner. This was a fantastic event during the period of the bodybuilding ban. In the same year, 1975, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, while exchanging students at universities, worked in Prague, where he met Vojtech Fiala. The Czechs actively engaged Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, as he was the only Soviet bodybuilder to visit their country after the bodybuilding ban. In order to strengthen their position in the eyes of their political authorities, the Czechs demonstrated their “strong” ties with the Soviet Union through relations with Dr. Edmundas Daubaras. At the same time, in order to find out about the state of bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R., the leaders of Czechoslovakian S.S.R. bodybuilding wrote a letter to the before mentioned Genadij Baldin. Genadij Baldin explained that he was no longer involved in bodybuilding, as bodybuilding was disbanded and was under persecution. He wrote that only some individual organizers continued bodybuilding activities in the Baltic countries.

Detailed information, documents, articles and pictures are on International Site www.wff.lt

N.A.B.B.A. IS TELLING LIES OR IT DOES NOT KNOW IT’S OWN HISTORY?

“WORLD BODYBUILDING ENCYCLOPEDIA”.

Contemporary N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association) history writer SI SWEENEY in his articles even does not mention the real first “Mr. Universe” contest. Also he writes incorrect information about the second “Mr. Universe” competition.

The same do writers who write about the I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) history. These they underline that there was nothing before the WEIDER brothers JOE and BEN I.F.B.B. Commercial Company. They neglect the previous BOB HOFFMAN’s (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 - 1985 m.) “Bodybuilding Empire” which WEIDER brothers copied from beginning to the very end.

Many people want to rise themselves and they create unreal stories. Next followers use their creations and go on developing them.

1947. FIRST “MR. UNIVERSE” CONTEST.

The first real “Bodybuilding Empire” was created through the A.A.U. (Amateur Athletic Union)  in the USA by American BOBO HOFFMAN. In real A.A.U. united USA National Federations and it was the Ministry of Sport in the USA. They use to call BOBO HOFFMAN “the father of America Weightlifting”. A.A.U. since 1939 was organizing USA bodybuilding “Mr. America” contests. BOB HOFFMAN wanted to make bodybuilding an official recognized sport through A.A.U. and F.I.H. (Federation Internationale Halterophile). USA weightlifting though A.A.U. was a member of the International Weightlifting Federation F.I.H. Later F.I.H. name was changed to F.I.H.C. (F.I.H.C., Federation Internationale Halterophile et Culturisme) when F.I.H. started ruling World’s bodybuilding sport. BOB HOFFMAN decided to do the same with bodybuilding.

In 1947 F.I.H. organized the World Weightlifting Championship and International Congress in Philadelphia (USA). Under the efforts of BOB HOFFMAN the International Congress decided to lead and control World’s bodybuilding on official level. It was immediately decided to organize the first in Sport’s History International Bodybuilding “Mr. Universe” contest alongside with the F.I.H. World Weightlifting Championship in Philadelphia. Then the Over All “Mr. Universe” Champion was a pupil of BOB HOFFMAN a famous America weightlifter STEVE STANKO. That was a Historical Happening and STEVE STANKO became a Historical Person.

1948. SECOND “MR. UNIVERSE’ IN LONDON.

It was a tradition of F.I.H. not to organize World Weightlifting Championship in “Olympic” years. What to do with the second F.I.H. bodybuilding „Mr. Universe“ comprtition? Then the idea to organize the F.I.H. bodybuilding “Mr. Universe” during the 1948 “Olympic Games” struck BOB HOFFMAN. There were real ways because F.I.H. was a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.). BOB HOFFMAN addressed British OSCAR STATE who was the President of B.A.W.L.A. (British Amateur Weight Lifting Association) to assist him. At the same time B.A.W.L.A. asked the Chairmen of the British Bodybuilding “Health and Strength” Magazine to assist them too. Through F.I.H. departments in various countries B.A.W.L.A. invited athletes to the contest in London. At the same time BOB HOFFMAN brought USA bodybuilders to compete. There were 1800 spectators at the second F.I.H. “Mr. Universe” in London. All money profit of the competition went to B.A.W.L.A.. After several preliminary rounds the finalists were ANDRE DRAPP (France) and Americans JOHN GRIMEK and STEVE REEVES. JOHN GRIMEK was proclaimed the Over All Winner of the second F.I.H. “Mr. Universe”. STEVE REEVES spoke on microphone saying that “John Grimek is the greatest bodybuilder who ever lived“.

1950. FIRST N.A.B.B.A. “MR. UNIVERSE”.

In 1950 under the efforts of the Chairmen of “Health and Strength” Magazine N.A.B.B.A. association was created in the Great Britain. As the former N.A.B.B.A. President  IVAN DUNBAR told us – N.A.B.B.A. Association was juridically registered as a „Public Club“. In 1950 N.A.B.B.A. organized the first “Mr. Universe” in London. The Over All Champion was STEVE REEVES (USA). At the same time a member of the International Olympic Committee F.I.H.C. went on organizing it’s own “Mr. Universe” contest. Comparing with N.A.B.B.A. “Mr. Universe” F.I.H.C. competitions were the official ones. For the two decades no one could confront F.I.H.C. as the official Bodybuilding Sport was under F.I.H.C. control. Even the Commercial I.F.B.B. Company of the WEIDER  brothers JOE and BEN could not imagine to think being equal to F.I.H.C..

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

The WFF-WBBF Professional “World Grand Prix” Held at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic

The history of the World WFF-WBBF Federation includes many remarkable international events, but one of the most memorable took place in 2012. That year, the professional “World Grand Prix” was organized at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Moscow—an exceptional occasion in the history of world bodybuilding, as a major international professional championship was hosted on the premises of a diplomatic mission.

The venue offered ideal conditions for such an event. The Slovak Cultural Center, owned by the Embassy, included a hotel and a modern concert hall, allowing athletes’ accommodation, the competition, and official ceremonies to be held in one location.

The WFF-WBBF amateur “World Grand Prix” tournaments have been organized since 1990, while the professional series began in 2010. Over the years, these competitions have become one of the Federation’s most prestigious international projects, bringing together leading athletes from different countries.

The 2012 tournament was organized by Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, President of the World WFF-WBBF Federation, Federation Vice President Andrej Basov, and Slovak patron of sport Štefan Hrčka. In recognition of his contribution to the development of the sport, the event was officially named the “Stefan Hrcka Pro World Grand Prix.”

Participation was by personal invitation only. Thirty-six professional athletes representing Iran, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Estonia, and Lithuania competed in two weight categories for a total prize fund of 30,000 US dollars. At the time, this was already the fourth WFF-WBBF professional tournament held in 2012 with the same substantial prize fund.

Winners Up to 90 kg Mikhail Malek (Russia) Shahram Hassankhani (Iran) David Tukhtayev (Russia) Over 90 kg Abolfazi Aghakhani (Iran) Mehdi Aghababaei (Iran) Aleksandr Shevtsov (Estonia)

Following the competition, an international press conference was held to present the activities of the World WFF-WBBF Federation and the official results of the professional championship. The press conference was organized by multiple “Universe” champion, official WFF-WBBF representative in the United States, Hollywood actor, producer, and director Alexander Nevsky.

Conclusions

The 2012 “Stefan Hrcka Pro World Grand Prix” became one of the most distinctive events in the history of the World WFF-WBBF Federation. Hosting the championship at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Moscow demonstrated not only an exceptional organizational standard but also the Federation’s growing international reputation and its close cooperation with diplomatic and public institutions.

The substantial prize fund, invitation-only participation, and international media coverage reflected the increasing prestige of professional bodybuilding within the WFF-WBBF movement. More than a decade later, this championship remains one of the Federation’s most unique and representative international professional events, highlighting its commitment to promoting bodybuilding on a truly global stage.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt

IN THE WEST – F.I.H.C., N.A.B.B.A. AND I.F.B.B.. IN THE EAST – US. THE SITUATION HAS NOT CHANGED TO THIS DAY.

Looking back through the prism of the previous century, the key foundations of world bodybuilding history become increasingly clear.

For a long time, political circumstances divided the world into two parts – the “capitalist” West and the “socialist” East. The two worlds were isolated from one another, and bodybuilding, like many other sports, developed along separate and largely independent paths.

In the West, officially recognized bodybuilding was led from 1947 to 1969 by the international weightlifting federation F.I.H.C. (Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste), under the significant influence of American Bob Hoffman (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898–1985). Later, from 1971 to 1998, the leading role was assumed by I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders).

The unofficial, internationally unrecognized bodybuilding movement in the West was represented by N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body-Builders' Association), established in Great Britain in 1950.

THE BEGINNING

In the socialist world, attempts were made to organize bodybuilding through F.I.H.C. In 1963, a bodybuilding organization – an athletic gymnastics commission – was established within the USSR Weightlifting Federation.

This was the first international-type bodybuilding organization in the socialist world. At the time, however, bodybuilding in the USSR was still in its infancy. The Weightlifting Federation had little interest in actively developing what was essentially a new sport introduced from above, and the organization gradually faded away.

In 1968, in Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet bodybuilding enthusiasts established a new USSR bodybuilding organization (commission). It remained active until 1973, when bodybuilding was banned and persecuted in the USSR and other socialist countries.

During this period, the organization managed to hold two USSR bodybuilding championships and establish a tradition of international competitions – the “Amber Prix” in Lithuania and the “Georg Tenno Memorial” in Estonia.

THE YEARS OF THE BODYBUILDING BAN

After bodybuilding was banned in 1973, a period of confusion and uncertainty followed. The former USSR bodybuilding organization was largely forgotten. Official competitions were discontinued, but the bodybuilding movement did not disappear.

In 1974, DSc. Edmundas Daubaras illegally organized the “Amber Prix” tournament in a bomb shelter belonging to the Klaipėda Seaport. That same year, Estonian Inaras Mardo organized the “Georg Tenno Memorial” in Tallinn.

In Estonia, the tournament was held semi-legally. The authorities were persuaded that, given Estonia's long and internationally renowned tradition of strongmen, bodybuilding could be regarded as a distinctive part of the country's national sporting heritage.

These two tournaments – Lithuania's “Amber Prix” and Estonia's “Georg Tenno Memorial” – became the most important symbols of continuity in the bodybuilding tradition of the socialist world. Despite bans and persecution, they continued to be organized.

THE USSR BODYBUILDING FEDERATION OF 1987

During the period of perestroika, the greater freedoms emerging in public life made it possible for bodybuilding to organize more openly again.

In 1987, the USSR Bodybuilding Federation was established in Kubinka, RSFSR. The traditional international competitions of the socialist world – the “Georg Tenno Memorial” and the “Amber Prix” – continued to be held.

It appeared that bodybuilding had finally broken free and would soon merge with the Western sporting system. Caught up in a kind of euphoria, the bodybuilding community of the socialist world immersed itself in the Western sport it had discovered through heavily promoted bodybuilding magazines and long admired from afar.

Yet it soon became clear that reality was considerably more complicated.

AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE USSR

In 1991, the USSR collapsed, and the bodybuilding forces of the former socialist world also fragmented. National federations and organizations emerged in the newly independent states, while sports organizers continued to develop, drawing knowledge and experience from the West.

Over time, however, as this interpretation of bodybuilding history maintains, another side of the picture became apparent. Western bodybuilding was not as advanced in every respect as it had appeared from a distance. In the socialist world, distinctive approaches to athletic preparation and sports organization had been developed over decades, and these traditions remained alive.

These differences also became apparent in the activities of international bodybuilding organizations.

WORLD FITNESS FEDERATION

In opposition to the growing trend toward bodybuilding gigantism, in 1995 DSc. Edmundas Daubaras and German Klaus P. J. Hoffmann took the initiative to establish an international organization – the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F. – International).

In 1996, the federation's founding meeting was held in Stuttgart. Austrian Peter Papula and Greek Anargiros Tsopouridis also participated.

Klaus Hoffmann relied on representatives of N.A.B.B.A. member countries, while Edmundas Daubaras relied on countries of the former socialist world. The aim was to create an international organization that would continue the distinctive bodybuilding traditions of Eastern Europe and the former socialist world.

Over the decades, a kind of international bodybuilding system had emerged: I.F.B.B. for athletes prepared to accept stricter anti-doping controls, N.A.B.B.A. for bodybuilders committed to its traditional approach without doping control, and W.F.F. for an organization whose roots were connected with the bodybuilding tradition of the former socialist world.

THE “AMBER PRIX” AND THE “GEORG TENNO MEMORIAL”

Today, viewed from a historical perspective, one may argue that one of the most important foundations of bodybuilding in the socialist world was not a single institution, but a living tradition of international competitions.

Its most prominent symbols were the “Amber Prix” tournament in the Lithuanian SSR and the “Georg Tenno Memorial” in the Estonian SSR.

These tournaments survived political bans, organizational changes and the collapse of the USSR. Their history reflects a distinct path of bodybuilding development that, for decades, evolved separately from the Western bodybuilding system.

Therefore, the history of world bodybuilding should not be viewed solely through the activities of Western organizations such as F.I.H.C., N.A.B.B.A. and I.F.B.B. Alongside them existed an independently developed Eastern bodybuilding tradition, built on people, organizations and, above all, a competition tradition that continued for decades without interruption.

More about this history, its people, organizations and key events will be presented in forthcoming articles.

Follow the international website: www.wff.lt