"AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL".

2023. WORLD BODYBUILDING HISTORY.

ONLY THREE CONTESTS HAD HISTORIC STRATEGIC VALUE.

Today the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation)  International unites 140 Country – Members and organizes nearly 60 annual Amateur and Professional International Events World Wide. Looking from the juridical point of view the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International is no doubt the Real World Bodybuilding Leader.

Crowning it‘s 56 years of  International Bodybuilding activities, the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F.  works on the Unique Global International Bodybuilding Project -  the „World Bodybuilding  Encyclopedia“ («Энциклопедия всемирного культуризма», “Pasaulio kultūrizmo enciklopedija”).

Part One of the Encyclopedia covering period since ancient times to 1973 is finished. Now we are working on the Second Book covering period of time since 1973 until 1991.

ONLY THREE CONTESTS HAD HISTORIC STRATEGIC VALUE.

There are many various level competitions around us and the value to the World‘s sport of every one is different. Through the time today working on the „World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia“ we can clearly see what really every competition means to our sport. During the eighties of the last Century only three contests played great historic role to the Socialist Bodybuilding and to the World‘s Bodybuilding as well. The World was divided politically and the Bodybuilding Sport was prohibited in the Socialist Countries.  It was a big risk for everybody to be connected with this sport. This means that always we look upon the same things from the different point of view. Today we can underline that only three events were extremely important for the further development of bodybuilding:

- 1974 „Georg Tenno Memorial“ (1971 – 1989, «Мемориал Георга Тенно», Tallinn, Estonian SSR, organized Innar Mardo, Иннар Мардо)

1975 I.F.B.B. Europe Championship (Amsterdam, Holland. VOJTECH FIALA from Czechoslovakia had broken the „Iron Wall“ and first time in sport‘s history PETER STACH won the Europe Champion‘s title)

- 1978 „Amber Prix International“ („Gintarinis prizas“, „Янтарный приз», Klaipeda, Lithuanian SSR, organized by DSc. Edmundas Daubaras, Др. Эдмундас Даубарас) opened the new page of the U.S.S.R. bodybuilding.

We will speak about each of the mentioned events and explain the essence. Only due to these competitions our sport looks as it looks now.

UNIQUE „AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL“.

The „Amber Prix International“ („Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз», 1968 – 2022 m. , Klaipeda, Republic Lithuania) was and still is a unique happening. It needs to be studied thoroughly by the specialists of the sport history. There is no othre international contest in the World which is so much connected with the World history.

The „Amber Prix International“ is the oldest traditional competition after the N.A.B.B.A.  (National Amateur Body Building Association) „Mr. Universe“ that is held in the UK since 1950.

We will touch the folowing topics while telling stories about the „Amber Prix International“:

-        During the twenty years lasting prohibition of bodybuilding sport the „Amber Prix International“ together with the „Georg Tenno Memorial“ („Мемориал Георга Тенно», 1971 – 1989, Tallinn, Estonian SSR) were the only ones regular International bodybuilding competitions in the U.S.S.R. and all Socialist countries.

-        The possibility to organize open bodybuilding contests in other places came when in 1978 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS won the fight for bodybuilding against the Highest Communist Institutions of the U.S.S.R.

-        In 1986 during the „Amber Prix International“ in Klaipeda leaders of the U.S.S.R. bodybuilding agreed about the future plans to set the U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding federation and the ways how to develop bodybuilding

-        There were some records. In 1990 at the „Amber Prix International“ participated 89 teams and there were over 50 participants in each category

-        Together with the „Amber Prix International“  in 1990 and in 1991 official U.S.S.R. junior Championships were held

-        Ending the nineties of the last century the Ministry of Sport of the U.S.S.R. (U.S.S.R. Goskomsport, Госкомспорт С.С.С.Р.) named the „Amber Prix International“  as „unofficial USSR Championship“ («неофициальный Чемпионат С.С.С.Р.) and started presenting names of the „Sport master of the U.S.S.R.“ («Мастер спорта С.С.С.Р.») to the winners of the „Amber Prix International“

-        During the history the Chairmen of our competitions  were Prime Ministers of the Republic Lithuania, Ministers and Members of the Parliament

-        Celebrating 40 years of the  „Amber Prix International“  in 2008 the Parliament of the Republic Lithuania voted for the State financing of the „Amber Prix International“. The money was placed to the Budget of the Lithuanian Republic.

-        In 2011 the Official Meeting of the W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation) Interantional President DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS  was organized in Vatican.

Listening about “Amber Prix International” during the years of prohibition of sport in the Socialist Countries Vatican Congregat Perfect J. Em. JOZEF KARDINAL TOMKO evaluated efforts of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and named him as „dissident of the Communist regime“. The Vatican Congregat Perfect J. Em. JOZEF KARDINAL TOMKO presented the Vatican Pontific Medal (Medaglia Ufficiale di Pontificato di Sua Santita Benedetto XVI) to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Headquarters State Vatican, Cita del Vaticano, March 29, 2011).

-        In 2015 a number of Members of Parliament Republic and Government Lithuania were present at the „Amber Prix International“. The High Quest Officials called DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS an „Embassador of the Republic Lithuania in the World“ seeing high level of competition and participating many athletes from Europe, Asia, America and Africa.

BACKGROUND OF HISTORICAL 1978 „AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL“.

Until prohibition of bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R. and all Socialist countries a number of International competitions were held.

There were two U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championships (1971, 1972, Russian Federation, R.S.F.S.R., Р.С.Ф.С.Р.); two „Georg Tenno Memorials“ („Georg Tenno Memorial“, «Мемориал Георга Тенно»,  1971, 1972, Tallinn, Estonian SSR); three „Amber Prix International“ (1968, 1969, 1970, “Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз», Klaipeda, Lithuanian SSR) and contests in Lithuanian Vilnius and Kaunas.

In 1973 bodybuilding prohibition started. Estonians led by INNAR MARDO (Иннар Мардо) managed to prove their Government that bodybuilding is „a National Kind of Sport“. Czechoslovakia SSR bodybuilders were led by the President of the National Federation VOJTECH FIALA (Войтех Фиала). VOJTECH FIALA used his personal power and had hidden bodybuilding behind the power exercises. This gave possibilities for Estonians and Czechoslovaks to go on organizing contests.

In 1973 and in 1975 „Georg Tenno Memorial“ was not organized. In 1971, 1972, 1973 „Amber Prix International“ was not organized too. In 1973 just after bodybuilding was prohibited DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Др. Эдмундас Даубарас) without any publicity organized „underground“ bodybuilding contest in Klaipeda prizon. In 1974 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS  organized „Amber Prix International“ in a nuclear bomb shelter. Folowing Czechoslovaks 1975, 1976 „Amber Prix International“ was hidden behind the power exercises too. Similar situation was in other cities of the Lithuanian SSR. Without any publicity and without spectators in 1976 International contest was held in Kaunas. In 1977 International contest was held in a gym of Kedainiai.

In 1976 Russians organized International contest in Kalinin (Калинин, Р.С.Ф.С.Р., now Tver). The contest was prohibited and it was done underground in a small city gym.

The situation was awful and bodybuilders needed to change it anyway. In 1975 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS started correspondence with main U.S.S.R. newspapers, Ministry of Sport of the U.S.S.R. (Goskomsport, Госкомспорт С.С.С.Р.). It lasted four years. Finally to fight for defending bodybuilding DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS wrote a petition. He personally brought the petition to Moscow and presented to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the U.S.S.R. (Центральный Комитет Коммунистической партии С.С.С.Р.) and the Ministry Council of the U.S.S.R. (Совет Министров С.С.С.Р.). All bodybuilding organizers were afraid to support DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and he did it alone on his own risk to be later prosecuted.

RESISTANCE AGAINST PROHIBITION OF BODYBUILDING.

Main reason to prohibit bodybuilding sport was that it came from the „Western“ countries. This way it was against the „Communist morality“. In 1975 having no support of any bodybuilding organizers in fighting with the bodybuilding prohibition in the Socialist World DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Др. Эдмундас Даубарас) went his own way. He was under big impression after return fron the Czechoslovakian SSR where he met local bodybuilders. Universities of the Socialist countries used to exchang students for summer time and DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS lucky was among them.

The U.S.S.R. press used to publish negative articles on bodybuilding after the 1973 political bodybuilding prohibition. Most often it was the U.S.S.R. main sport newspaper „Sovietskij Sport“ («Советский спорт») and the main writer was a former weightlifter journalist DMITRIJ IVANOV (Дмитрий Иванов). Ten years ago when bodybuilding started in the U.S.S.R. DMITRIJ IVANOV used to write „good“ positive articles about bodybuilding but now he worked according the political situation. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS addressed the Chairman of the Office of „Sovietskij Sport“ and asked contacts of  DMITRIJ IVANOV. Then the mutual corespondence started. Copies of the letters DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS used to send to the U.S.S.R. Scientific Institute of the Research of the Phisycal Culture (V.N.I.I.F.K., В.Н.И.И.Ф.К., Всесоюзный научно исследовательский институт физической культуры). At that time the Institute worked on the theoretical basis of bodybuilding. During a number of years the Institute managed to find only the Socialist name of bodybuilding and it was „Athletic Gymnastics“ (атлетическая гимнастика). DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS did everything in a „polite manner“.

The situation of bodybuilding in the Estonian SSR and in the Czechoslovakian SSR was a good example to seek and follow. Under the leadership of INNAR MARDO (1946 – 2002) Estonians managed to prove their Government that bodybuilding id a „National Kind of Sport“. Basing on since 1959 traditions of F.I.H.C. in Socialist countries Czechoslovaks for many years had hidden the essence of bodybuilding behind the power exercises. 

As we mentioned above the Universities of the Socialist countries used to Exchange their students. This way DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS came to Czechoslovakian SSR in 1975. Then he had a number of meetings with VOJTECH FIALA (Войтех Фиала) who was the President of the National Bodybuilding Federation of Czechoslovakian SSR. Bodybuilders of Czechoslovakia were on top at the I.F.B.B. at that time and DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS learned many things of that.

The Headquarters of the National Bodybuilding Federation of Czechoslovakian SSR was placed in Prague in the building of the Ministry of Sport (Č.S.T.V., Československy Svaz Telesne Vychovi). VOJTECH FIALA introduced DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to the Chairman of the Ministry and to the secretary of the federation PETER TLAPAK (Петер Тлапак) . In 1976 PETER TLAPAK won the I.F.B.B. Europe Championship.

One day VOJTECH FIALA organized a trip of  DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to the suburb of Praha to PETER STACH (Петер Стах). PETER STACH won the Over All Champion‘s title of the 1975 I.F.B.B. Europe Championship. He presented to the guest his training methods and posing abilities.

Invited by Czechoslovaks in 1977 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS  two times visited Czechoslovakian SSR again. VOJTECH FIALA organized his trip to the mountains where National Olympic Centre (Национальный Олимпийский Центр) was placed. Financed by the Government in this Centre Czechoslovakia National Bodybuilding Team was preparing to the coming International competitions. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS met bodybuilders and their trainers and inspected the Centre.

At the same time bodybuilding organized professor FRANTISEK BULVA (Франтишек Бульва) organized two meetings of the Council of National Bodybuilding Federation of Czechoslovakian SSR in Brno City. Under the recomemdation of VOJTECH FIALA  DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS took part at these meetings. Then he spoke about the real situation in the U.S.S.R. and learned the „Czechoslovak way“. Also the possiblity to organize contest between U.S.S.R. and Czechoslovakian SSR bodybuilders was spoken over.

Time was running. Nothing was better. Situation was the same after the 1973 prohibition of bodybuilding. Basing of the orders of the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport (U.S.S.R. Goskomsport, Госкомспорт С.С.С.Р.) local Governments followed them. Bodybuilders were prosecuted as any other criminals. Gyms were closed. Bodybuilders had problems at their working places. Who dared to risk to organize competitions?

Most bodybuilding organizers left sport. First U.S.S.R. International Bodybuilding Organization (Committee) that was organized in Kaunas (Lithuanian SSR) in 1968 diminished. For example VLADIMIR DUBININ (Leningrad, R.S.F.S.R., Р.С.Ф.С.Р.) left bodybuilding for thirteen years. Nearly everybody was afraid to do anything. Everybody but not all. Few enthuziasts went on organizing contests. Contests were „underground“ and without public and without any publicity. As it was before all bodybuilding competitions were according in 1959 accepted F.I.H.C. rules – posing was done together with power exercises.

The „underground“ bodybuilders got one more strict order of the U.S.S.R. Minitry of Sport  (Комитет по физической культуре и спорту при Совете Министров С.С.С.Р.) in 1977. It seemed that there is no more way out of this…

The full story we will present soon.

INFORMATION.
More detailed information on the Global International Site www.wff.lt, see forum topics. Also information available on the Facebook pages: W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. International, W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. North America, W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. South America, W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Asia, W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Europe, W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Africa, W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Asia Continental Federation, International Sport University (I.S.U., www.isuniversity.lt), W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. Pro Division, W.P.S.F. World Power Sports Federation.