FITNESS AND BODYBUILDING

BODYBUILDING AND FITNESS. WHAT IS IT?

SHORT HISTORY OF WORLD’S OFFICIAL BODYBUILDING SPORT.

If You want official bodybuilding sport – there was F.I.H.C. (Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste) which ruled official bodybuilding sport in the World. Since 1947 until 1969 due to efforts of American BOB HOFFMAN (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 - 1985) through the F.I.H.C. federation bodybuilding was an officially recognized sport and it was very close to be Olympic. Since 1971 until 1998 F.I.H.C. was replaced by the I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders). If You want real big not recognized anytime anywhere muscle battle – since 1950 You have N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association). What else a bodybuilder could dream of? Why appeared so many „mickey – mouse“ federations? Let us take as an example Lithuanian Republic. There are representatives of several „mickey – mouse“ federations. They make various festivals and they are proud of this. Where it could lead? To the festivals in other countries? Are they participant bodybuilders or they are „singers and dancers“ of the „song and dance festivals“? What is the official status of these federations? What is official status of their festivals? Really it is not sport.

F.I.H.C. was a member of the I.O.C. and it influenced the „U.S.S.R. Sport Ministry“ («Министерство спорта С.С.С.Р.») to set the „U.S.S.R. Bodybuilding Federation“ (Comission, «Федерация культуризма С.С.С.Р.») in 1963. The federation was set at the „U.S.S.R. Weightlifting Federation“ («Федерация тяжёлой атлетики С.С.С.Р.»). After 1973 bodybuilding prohibition in the U.S.S.R. and Socialist Countries bodybuilding was prosecuted for twenty years. During this time in the „Western World“ official recognized bodybuilding sport was led by the I.F.B.B. and not recognized bodybuilding activities were ruled by N.A.B.B.A.. At the same time in the Socialist World public U.S.S.R. bodybuilding lived and survived in the Estonian SSR only through „Georg Tenno Memorial“ («Мемориал Георга Тенно», 1971 - 2024) contest organized by INNAR MARDO (Иннар Мардо, 1945 – 2002) and in the Lithuanian SSR only through the „Amber Prix International“ („Gintarinio prizo“ «Янтарный приз», 1968 - 2024) organized by DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. During the prohibition years for political reasons it was not possible to set any International Bodybuilding Organization in the U.S.S.R.. Nevertheless DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS initiated official registration of „Klaipeda Bodybuilding Federation“ („Klaipėdos kultūrizmo federacija“, «Федерация культуризма г. Клайпеда»). It was registered at the governmental „Klaipeda Sport Committee“ („Kūno kultūros ir sporto komitetas“, «Комитет физкультуры и спорта г. Клайпеда»). In all U.S.S.R bodybuilding was prohibited and at the same time in Klaipeda bodybuilding was allowed. For many years „Klaipeda Bodybuilding Federation“ was the only one officially registered bodybuilding federation in the U.S.S.R.. This was the reason that all World‘s Bodybuilding leaders were in touch and correspondence with DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. That were I.F.B.B. President BEN WEIDER, N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association) Chairman OSCAR HEIDENSTAM and W.A.B.B.A. (World Amateur Body Building Association) President SERGE NUBRET. Detailed articles on the topic are at the International Page www.wff.lt .

In 1970 F.I.H.C. General Secretary British OSCAR STATE created the I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) sport federation in Belgrade (Yugoslavia). Until 1970 I.F.B.B. was just a private commercial company, not sport federation. In 1971 again OSCAR STATE opened doors of G.A.I.S.F. (Global Association of International Sports Federations)  to the I.F.B.B.. This way from and after the F.I.H.C. the I.F.B.B. took ruling leadership of the International official sport of bodybuilding. International sport was in shock. Soon in the USA was organized the A.A.U. International Council to stop I.F.B.B. membership in G.A.I.S.F.. I.F.B.B. President BEN WEIDER was present there. He was ready to join the A.A.U. with his new I.F.B.B.. The delegates did not listen to BEN WEIDER and voted not to let him to speak. Fall of bodybuilding sport started in 1998 when after two years trial I.O.C. refused to recognize the I.F.B.B. federation and bodybuilding sport in general.  Bodybuilding was thrown out of the officially recognized sports. Seeing no future WEIDER brothers JOE and BEN sold the I.F.B.B. federation, „Olympia“ contest and all their magazines. In 2008 I.F.B.B. split. I.F.B.B. Vice President PAUL CHUA (Singapore) left the I.F.B.B. of RAFAEL SANTONJA. PAUL CHUA took forty Asia Countries with him. Then PAUL CHUA and the Lower and financist of I.F.B.B. ALEX BAUER published I.F.B.B. juridical and finance documents. There was a big scandal about it. PAUL CHUA and RAFAEL SANTONJA met at International Court of London (UK) where RAFAEL SANTAONJA lost the case. In 2015 I.F.B.B. split again. During N.P.C. (National Physique Committee) professional contest I.F.B.B. President RAFAEL SANTONJA was offended and left America with tears. After this he never came to America again. So after 2015 N.P.C. of JIM MANION came to International Bodybuilding Stage. Since that time because of fierce fight between RAFAEL SANTONJA and JIM MANION bodybuilding sport was finished in total. There is no sport of bodybuilding today any more. Along to this the I.F.B.B. commercial company still goes on working. Nobody is interested in sport – only money... In 2023 G.A.I.S.F. (Global Association of International Sports Federations) was closed and I.F.B.B. lost it‘s last formal officiality. For many years I.F.B.B. propaganda was based only on G.A.I.S.F.. In 2023 W.A.D.A. declared stopping work with I.F.B.B..

Those who are interested in real World bodybuilding history can read in various languages historic articles on International Page www.wff.lt .

FITNESS. WHAT IS IT?

BODYBUILDING. WHAT IS IT?

We look upon fitness and bodybuilding through sixty years of our activities in this sport. We represent fitness through World Fitness Federation (W.F.F., W.F.F. - International) and we represent bodybuilding through World Body Building Federation (W.B.B.F., W.B.B.F. - International). We will give a thorough explanation in our “World Bodybuilding Encyclopedia” («Энциклопедия всемирного культуризма»). Now we will present only a short revue.

BODYBUILDING.

During the latest years we underline that bodybuilding turned on the wrong was and got into terrible situation. Basic reason of this is politics of the owners of the I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) and N.P.C. (National Physique Committee) organizations. They became crazy about money and forgot the sport. If we look through the eyes of official recognized sport only I.F.B.B. has some value. All other International bodybuilding organizations play zero role in the World’s sport. That are activities of a number of ambitious ill minded people. Businessmen never cared for sport - only money. Since 1998 bodybuilding is no more sport. In 1998 International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) threw away the I.F.B.B. federation and refused to recognize bodybuilding as sport. That was the end of bodybuilding sport. Then I.O.C. members visited the I.F.B.B. Europe Championship in Switzerland and after ten minutes they left it. Any doping control was not needed. Everything was clear as daylight. After 1998 seeking to get governmental money a number of National I.F.B.B. Bodybuilding Federations former “Socialist” countries went on fooling their Ministries of Sport. They were hiding themselves behind the membership in G.A.I.S.F. (Global Association of International Sports Federations) and W.A.D.A. (World Anti Doping Agency). but in 2023 G.A.I.S.F. was closed and in 2023 W.A.D.A. refused to go on working with the I.F.B.B.. official recognition of the I.F.B.B. disappeared. Contemporary bodybuilding monsters and thousands of deaths of bodybuilders prove it. Bodybuilding will be never a sport again.

1. B.B.F.. WORLD BODYBUILDING FEDERATION.

We are not getting rid of bodybuilding. No. We are in bodybuilding sixty years. Lots of famous bodybuilders, organizers and trainers grew up in our federation. It is a pity, but bodybuilding as sport has no future any more. Anyway W.B.B.F. along with W.F.F. will go on organizing competitions for bodybuilders. Today bodybuilding has no more respect, no more support and recognition. But bodybuilders will not disappear. They will go on with what they love and compete. We will be together anyway. 

FITNESS.

“Fitness” means a healthy activities. It is evident that fitness is not connected with bodybuilding. Bodybuilding is in opposition to health. Today bodybuilders, especially women bodybuilders, are hiding themselves behind the name of “fitness”. Having muscular doping bodies they found various names of “wellness”, “classics” “athletics” etc. fitness categories. But if any looks on them on contest stage - nothing changed. They are muscular bodybuilders. It is contemporary bodybuilding - not fitness.

Forty year ago  we were the first to popularize “fitness” on International level. Then fitness was something new and we went on making many experiments on it. Thirty years ago we started “Aerobic fitness”, then “Fit-kids”, “Power fitness” and “disabled fitness” appeared. Other International sport organizations always copied us. They do it today too. Seeing us to do REAL FITNESS politicians of various countries supported us but did nothing on Global level. We hope we will reach there our goals too.

W.F.F.. WORLD FITNESS FEDERATION.

Underlying terrible situation in bodybuilding W.F.F. - International addressed W.A.D.A. in 2007. W.A.D.A. Director RUNE ANDERSON wrote a letter saying W.F.F. is “formally a W.A.D.A. member”. Then some financial questions stopped us to fulfill the plan. We hope to do it in 2025. After 2024 successful International events in Kandava (Republic Latvia), Parnu (Republic Estonia), Klaipeda, Vilkaviskis and Nida (Republic Lithuania) we organized two International fitness congresses in Klaipeda. Basing on the activities of U.N.E.S.C.O. member International Sport University (I.O.C.) we seek official recognition at the U.N., I.O.C. and W.A.D.A.. When bodybuilding is finished on official level as sport - our fitness has a great future. Remember - fitness is not connected with doping bodybuilding never mix them both.

More detailed information is on International Sites www.wff.lt

CONTEST INFORMATION is on www.worldfitness.lt .