"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 other 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 following 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 prison. In 1974 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS  organized „Amber Prix International“ in a nuclear bomb shelter. Following 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 from the Czechoslovakian SSR where he met local bodybuilders. Universities of the Socialist countries used to exchange 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 correspondence 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 recomendation 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. Ministry 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…

BACKGROUND OF DSC. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS PETITION.

1973 bodybuilding prohibition was the reason that many U.S.S.R. bodybuilding organizers, trainers and athletes left the sport. Among those who still were in activities nobody supported intentions of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to fight to stop bodybuilding prohibition. All were afraid to go against the regime. So called „Secretary of the U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation“ Lithuanian ROMANAS KALINAUSKAS (Романас Калинаускас) said to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS: „all You do is Your own risk and Your own intentions. For this reason I will not risk my Communist Party membership. If something will go bad – I will say that I even did not know about these Your works“.

DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was led by the ideas of the Czechoslovakian bodybuilders and their Leader VOJTECH FIALA (Войтех Фиала). „If they can train and make competitions during the bodybuilding prohibition, why we can not? We need to find out the way“.

As we mentioned above, the main author of negative articles about bodybuilding was a former Russian (R.S.F.S.R., Р.С.Ф.С.Р.) weightlifter journalist DMITRIJ IVANOV  (Дмитрий Иванов). DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS wanted to know who is behind him. DMITRIJ IVANOW always based his articles on the 1973 -01-24 order of the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport (U.S.S.R. Goskomsport, Госкомспорт С.С.С.Р.) to prohibit bodybuilding.

Then DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS started correspondence with DMITRIJ IVANOV. Unfortunately the new strict order to prohibit bodybuilding of the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport appeared on December 5, 1977. The order No. 1229 was issued by the U.S.S.R. Minister of Sport Mr. PAVLOV (Председатель комитета по физической культуре и спорту при Совете Министров С.С.С.Р. С.П.ПАВЛОВ). The order said that nevertheless of the 1973 order to prohibit bodybuilding the sport still was alive. In a number of places bodybuilders trained underground and even organized competitions. The Minister wanted to control them. He ordered to go on prohibiting training in gyms and organizing competitons. The Minister told 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) to develop training methodics for bodybuilders. The methodics should be according the requirements of the Ministry. To control how the new order is fulfilled the Minister appointed his assistant Mr. IVANOV (Главное управление физического воспитания населения) pirmininkas L.V.IVANOVAS (Л.В.Иванов).

Just after the order of the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport the same orders were issued in the Ministries of the Socialist Republics. In 1977 Ministry of Sport of the Lithuanian SSR (Lietuvos TSR sporto komitetas prie Lietuvos TSR Ministrų Tarybos) issued the same order to prohibit bodybuilding and to prosecute the bodybuilders. The order was signed by the Deputy Minister ALGIMANTAS KUKSTA (Альгимантас Кукшта).

Then to stop bodybuilding prohibition DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS started correspondence with the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport direct. To discuss the matter he asked the Ministry to arrange a meeting with bodybuilding organizers. Dsc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS received the answer to his letter from the Deputy Minister of the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport Mr.IVONIN (Заместитель председателя министерства спорта С.С.С.Р. В.А.ИВОНИН). The answer of the Deputy Minister was negative. For DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was left the only one way – to address the „bosses“ of the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport. That were the Central Committee of the U.S.S.R. Communist Party  (Центральный Комитет Коммунистической партии С.С.С.Р.) and the U.S.S.R. Ministry Council (Совет Министров С.С.С.Р.).

DSC. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS VISITED MINISTER OF SPORT.

After evaluating the risks DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Др. Эдмундас Даубарас) decided to go to Moscow.

Before going to Moscow DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS found the possibility to visit Minister of Sport of the Lithuanian SSR (Lietuvos TSR Kūno kultūros ir sporto komiteto prie Lietuvos TSR Ministrų Tarybos pirmininkas) Mr. ZIGMAS MOTIEKAITIS (Зигмас Мотекайтис, 1936).

At the meeting DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS spoke about his planned visit to  the Central Committee of the U.S.S.R. Communist Party  (Центральный Комитет Коммунистической партии С.С.С.Р.) and to the U.S.S.R. Ministry Council (Совет Министров С.С.С.Р.). Also both spoke about the petition of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to fight against bodybuilding prohibition. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS spoke to the Minister about the easy situation for bodybuilding in the Czechoslovakia SSR and Estonian SSR (Чехословацкая ССР и Эстонская ССР). The Minister was stable – the order of the U.S.S.R. Minister of Sport to prohibit bodybuilding  is above everything.

The Minister advised DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS not to go to Moscow and not to present his petition to defend bodybuilding sport. Mr. ZIGMAS MOTIEKAITIS was sure that after this DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS will be punished.

DSC. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS PETITION AGAINST BODYBUILDING PROHIBITION.

The situation of bodybuilding sport was very complicated after the 1977 bodybuilding prohibiting Order No. 1229 of the Minister of Sport of the U.S.S.R. S.P.PAVLOV (Председатель комитета по физической культуре и спорту при Совете Министров С.С.С.Р. С.П.ПАВЛОВ) and after the same orders of the Ministries of Sport of the Socialist Republics. Most thought that bodybuilding is finished. Then DSc. Edmundas Daubaras risked to fight against bodybuilding prohibition and wrote a thirteen pages petition. Was he afraid? Yes. But the wish to free bodybuilding was bigger than the fear.

It was not possible to send the petition by post. All letters addressed to the high political institutions of the U.S.S.R. were stopped by the local services. DSc. Edmundas Daubaras had to go to Moscow personally of to present his petition himself. So he did. DSc. Edmundas Daubaras went to Moscow and presented the petition to the Central Committee of the U.S.S.R. Communist Party  (Центральный Комитет Коммунистической партии С.С.С.Р.) and the U.S.S.R. Ministry Council (Совет Министров С.С.С.Р.).

In front of the U.S.S.R. Ministry Council K.G.B. agents stopped DSc. Edmundas Daubaras. They spoke about the aims of the visit and scrutinized the petition. After that they let DSc. Edmundas Daubaras go inside the building.

Short contence of the DSc. Edmundas Daubaras petition:

The petition was politisized. Otherwise nobody even would read it. DSc. Edmundas Daubaras explained the situation of bodybuilding in the World, Socialist countries and the U.S.S.R.. He underlined the positive sides of bodybuilding sport.

Big part of the petiton was discussion over the above mentioned Order No. 1229 of the Minister of Sport of the U.S.S.R. S.P.PAVLOV. also DSc. Edmundas Daubaras discussed the unreal facts presented by journalist DMITRIJ IVANOV (Дмитрий Иванов)  in his „Sovetskij Sport“ («Советский спорт») article „Izlom“ («Излом»).

Covering the topic DSc. Edmundas Daubaras suggested to organize a common meeting of the representatives of the Ministry of Sporto f the U.S.S.R., the V.N.I.I.F.K. (В.Н.И.И.Ф.К., Всесоюзный научно исследовательский институт физической культуры) and bodybuilders. All bodybuilding questions could be discussed and the solution could be found.

RESULTS OF DSC. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS DEFENDING BODYBUILDING PETITION.

So, in 1978 finally the petition of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to defend bodybuilding sport was personally by DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS presented to Moscow (Capital of the U.S.S.R.). The addresses were the Central Committee of the U.S.S.R. Communist Party (Центральный Комитет Коммунистической партии С.С.С.Р.) and the U.S.S.R. Ministry Council (Совет Министров С.С.С.Р.). After it DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS returned from Moscow to Klaipeda (Lithuanian SSR). What was next? Punishment? Prosecution? Loosing job? There was a two week silence. Once the phone at the appartment of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS rang. It was the Chairman of the Propaganda department of the Central Committee of the U.S.S.R. Communist Party who spoke to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. The Chairman was interested in the details of the petition.

After some days DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS received another call from Moscow. The same Chairman asked about the details of the petition again.  DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was tensious as the high representative of the U.S.S.R. Communist Party said nothing definite to him.

Suddenly the telephone of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was swiched off and through his work he was invited to the Headquarters of the Depertments of the Communist Party of Klaipeda City. The Chairman of the Department of the Communist Party of Klaipeda City JONAS GURECKAS (Секретарь комитета коммунистической партии г. Клайпеда Ионас Гурецкас) met DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS in person. During a long discussion DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS told him about his voyage to Moscow, abouth the bodybuilding in the World, in the the U.S.S.R., in the Lithuanian SSR and in Klaipeda City. Finally the Chairman JONAS GURECKAS told to DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS  to stop contacting High Officials of the U.S.S.R.. He said DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS that they permit him to organize bodybuilding competitions in Klaipeda City. Bodybuilders had to train in several definite gyms which were controlled by the Municipal Department of Sport of Klaipeda.

Unexpected decission of the U.S.S.R. Highest Officials was really shocking. The petition of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS rised the question of bodybuilding on such high political and governmental levels. This way the positive decission was got. That was the VICTORY. That was the Victory of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, of the World bodybuilding, of the bodybuilding in Socialist Countries, of the U.S.S.R. bodybuilding and bodybuilding in the Lithuanian SSR as well. The prohibition of bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R. still egzisted, the prosecution of it in the Socialist Countries went on. But the permition to train and to organize official bodybuilding contests in Klaipeda City was received.

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” (“Gintarinis prizas”, “Янтарный приз», 1968 – 2023) 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). But about this we will speak later.

WHEN BODYBUILDING WAS PROHIBITED.

IN 1978 „AMBER PRIX“ BECAME OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL BODYBUILDING CONTEST.

We have mentioned something before but there are some items to underline again.

In 1973 bodybuilding sport was prohibited in the U.S.S.R. and Socialist Countries. The only one Contest was allowed – that was the „Georg Tenno Memorial“ («Мемориал Георга Тенно, 1971- 1989, Tallinn, Estonian SSR, see our previous articles). Due to bodybuilding prohibition the „Georg Tenno Memorial“ also was not regular. In 1973 and in 1975 Estonians could not manage to organize the Competition.

After bodybuilding prohibition started in the eighties of the last century only few underground International Contests were organized. Hiding of prosecution in 1974 in Klaipeda (Lithuanian SSR) DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS organized the „Amber Prix“ („Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз», 1968 – 2023) in a bomb shelter. The Over All Winner was VYTAUTAS ZENKEVICIUS (Витаутас Зенкявичус). In 1975  DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS organized „Amber Prix“ at one of Klaipeda secondary schools. The Over All Winner was RICARDAS KRINICKIS (Ричардас Криницкис, Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR). Both Contests were illegal and without any public. Just to be on the safe side both Contests were held with power exercises.

In 1976 the International Contest was organized in Kalinin (now Tver, Russian Federation, Тверь, Р.С.Ф.С.Р.). The Over All Winner was RICARDAS KRINICKIS. Competition was done illegaly without public in a local gym. 

In 1976 the International Contest was organized in Kaunas (Lithuanian SSR). It was done in a factory outside the city. The Over All Winner was OLEV ANNUS (Estonian SSR, Олев Аннус). Also this contest was illegal and without public.

In 1976  DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS organized „Amber Prix“ in a small Lithuanian city of Telsiai. It was held together with power exercises. The same way several „Georg Tenno Momorials“ were held in Estonia by INNAR MARDO (Иннар Мардо, 1946 – 2002). Though the sport was prohibited, DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS managed to press the Telsiai administration and it permitted to do the Competition finals in a city Palace of Culture. The hall was full of spectators. The Over All Winner was RICARDAS KRINICKIS.

In 1977 the International Contest was organized in a small city of Kedainiai. The venue place was a local gym.  The Competition was without public. Category Winners were EUGENE GORELIK (Евгений Горелик), RICARDAS KRINICKIS and OLEV ANNUS. The Over All Winner was OLEV ANNUS.

Paying no attention to bodybuilding prohibition DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS organized 1977 the „Lithuania Bodybuilding Cup“ («Кубок Литовской ССР»). Also in the same 1977 year he organized the „Amber Prix“. Both competitions were done in public. Both were organized with a crowd of spectators in the Palace of Culture of Klaipeda Port (дворец культуры Клайпедского морского торгового порта). The Category Winners of the „Amber Рrix“ were EUGENE GORELIK, RISARDAS KRINICKIS and STASYS CUKANOVAS (Стасис Цукановас). Then the Over All Winner of „Amber Prix“ was STASYS CUKANOVAS (Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR). At before in 1972, 1974 at the „Goerg Tenno Memorial“ all „Amber Prix“ first places went to the representatives of the famous „Vilnius Bodybuilding School“ («Вильнюсская школа культуризма»). The School was led by CESLAV TAMULEVICH (Чеслав Тамулевич) and VITALIJ ASOVSKIJ (Виталий Асовский).

To celebrate 10 years of a local gym in 1978 another illegal Contest was organized in Kaunas. Again it was illegal and without public.

This way we reached the time when in 1978 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS under his risk wrote the petition and personally brought it to the Capital of the U.S.S.R. Moscow. The petition was to defend the bodybuilding sport (петиция Др. Эдмундаса Даубараса в защиту культуризма). DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS presented the petition to the U.S.S.R. Central Committee of the Communist Party (Центральный Комитет Коммунистической Партии С.С.С.Р.) and to the  U.S.S.R. Ministry Council (Совет Министров С.С.С.Р.). As a result of this the Communist Party gave permittion to train for bodybuilders of Klaipeda city. Also DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was permitted to organize „Amber prix“ competition in Klaipeda. 

PETITION OF DSC. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS BROKE PROHIBITION OF BODYBUILDING.

1978 „AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL“.

It is evident that most bodybuilders do not know the history of bodybuilding. Most take as a surprise what we are presenting in our articles. Somenow it is a historic shock for them. We are presenting here the final results of the 1978 „Amber Prix International“ (‚Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз», 1968 - 2023) until the authors of the „World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia“ („Pasaulio kultūrizmo enciklopedija“, «Энциклопедия всемирного культуризма») are working on with the folowing historic materials. We must underline that this contest was held during the severe prosecution of bodybuilding. As the specialists and historians of bodybuilding say the 1978 „Amber Prix International“ was the unofficial „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championship“ („neoficialus T.S.R.S. kultūrizmo čempionatas“, «неофициальный чемпионат С.С.С.Р. по культуризму»). And after the 1978 this contest remained the „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championship“ until 1988 (in 1988 the first U.S.S.R. Official Cup of Bodybuilding was held, „первый официальный кубок С.С.С.Р. по культуризму“). Later the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Sport (U.S.S.R. Goskomsport, Госкомспорт С.С.С.Р.) recognized the „Amber Prix International“ as it had been the „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championship“. By the way the stage of the 1978 competition, prizes and medals were decorated as the  „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Championship“ - „Amber Prix“.

Final Results of the 1978 „Amber Prix“ International“.

Participated bodybuilders from R.S.F.S.R., Ukrainian SSR, Estonian SSR, Belorussian SSR, Latvian SSR, Lithuanian SSR.

Juniors

First Hight Category

1. CHLEBORODOV VIACESLAV (Хлебородов Вячеслав, Lithuanian SSR)

2. BOGDANOVIC VALERIJ (Богданович Валерий, Belorussian SSR)

3. JANCIAUSKAS POVILAS (Lithuanian SSR)

Second Hight Category

1. UCKUS BENAS (Lithuanian SSR)

2. DOLGOV BORIS (Долгов Борис, Lithuanian SSR)

3. APULSKIS RIMAS (Lithuanian SSR)

Third Hight Category

1. PETRAUSKAS RICARDAS (Lithuanian SSR)

2. REMEIKA ALBERTAS (Lithuanian SSR)

3. IVANAUSKAS ALGIS (Lithuanian SSR)

Main Categories

First Hight Category

1. GORELIK JEVGENIJ (Горелик Евгений, Lithuanian SSR)

2. KAPCEVICIUS VLADAS (Lithuanian SSR)

3. ZITINSKIJ BORIS (Житинский Борис, Estonian SSR)

Second Hight Category

1. CUKANOVAS STASYS (Цукановас Стасис, Lithuanian SSR)

2. JELUFIMOV VLADIMIR (Елуфимов Владимир, Estonian SSR)

3. REIM RAIVO (Рейм Райво, Estonian SSR)

Third Hight Category

1. ANNUS OLEV (Estonian SSR)

2. ZURCEV EUGENE (Журцев Евгений, Lithuanian SSR)

3. BESAKIRSKAS ALBERTAS (Lithuanian SSR).

Over All Winners

VIACESLAV CHLEBORODOV – juniors, OLEV ANNUS – Main Categories.

INFORMATION.
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