World Fitness Federation (WFF).
World Body Building Federation (WBBF).
(Since 1968, 123 Country-Members from All Continets, 60 Annual International Events).
2016. EDDIE ELLWOOD. THE QUESTION OF THE BEST UK PRO BODYBUILDER.
Today the WFF-WBBF (World Fitness Federation, World Body Building Federation) International Headquarters received a letter from the Best UK Pro Bodybuilder, a famous Strongman EDDIE ELLWOOD. EDDIE ELLWOOD was asking to give him information about how and when DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and KLAUS HOFFMANN formed the WFF-WBBF International.
WFF (WORLD FITNESS FEDERATION).
STEPPING OFFICIAL WAY.
Today many members of the International Sport Society still do not know the World’s Bodybuilding History. They know it only from one side and it is only a half of it. For example, many times NABBA (National Amateur Body Building Association) Officials speaking about the WFF mention the year of the 1968. But only few of them know, that this is only because in 1968 we started organizing one of the World Oldest International Traditional Bodybuilding Contest “Amber Prix International” in Lithuania. Historically WFF starts it’s International activities in 1968. Having political and economical confrontation between the Western and the Eastern World the “Iron Wall” divided the World for decades. Then also for several decades the “Amber Prix International” became the unofficial World Championship of the Socialist World which by the number of the Countries and by the territory covered half of the World. Champions of the “Amber Prix International” were as good as the Champions of the Western World. The number of the participating Countries and participating Bodybuilders was the same in the both parts of the World. But in all Socialist Countries Bodybuilding was prohibited as sport. Always organizing the “Amber Prix International” we were in conflict confrontation with the Communist Regime and that was the reason that in 2011 Vatican named us the “Disidents” and presented Roman Pope’s Medal (see in various languages International Bodybuilding Site www.wff.lt, read Articles on the main page and forum topics “History of the World Bodybuilding. How it was in real” and “Encyclopedia of the World Bodybuilding”).
THE START.
In 1991 together with DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Republic Lithuania) KLAUS HOFFMANN (representing Germany) joined English Public Club named „NABBA UK“ (getting pressure of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS the former President of NABBA-International and our friend IVAN DUNBAR declared, that NABBA UK is registered as “Public Club” and NABBA-International has no Official Registration by law. Still there is no officially registered International Sport Organization under the name „NABBA-International“).
Both DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and KLAUS HOFFMANN were working on developing fitness and Bodybuilding Internationally. At that time both of them did it through their International Events: DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, representing the famous "Amber Prix International" and KLAUS HOFFMANN, representing "Miss Figure World Grand Prix" Contests.
In 1995 the great huge project of developing fitness World Wide started – that was the World Fitness Championships. And that was the idea of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and KLAUS HOFFMANN.
This new International Fitness Project was named "World Fitness Federation" (WFF).
1995 WFF INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS (La Valetta, Malta).
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Lithuania), ANARGIROS TSOPOURIDIS (Greece), KLAUS HOFFMANN (Germany) decided to set a new International Fitness Federation (WFF) that will rule the Sport of Fitness and Bodybuilding World Wide.
1996 WFF INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS (Stuttgart, Germany).
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Lithuania), PETER PAPULA (Austria), ANARGIROS TSOPOURIDIS (Greece), KLAUS HOFFMANN (Germany) made the finishing touches setting the WFF-International and decided to organize the first WFF World Championship in Kaiserslautern (Germany).
1997 WFF INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS (Vilnius, Lithuania).
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Lithuania), PETER PAPULA (Austria), ANARGIROS TSOPOURIDIS (Greece), KLAUS HOFFMANN (Germany) decided to organize WFF World Championship in Linz (Austria).
The new Aerobic Fitness Category was presented in Linz for the first time.
Though the International work was done, the International Contests were organized, but the highest level WFF reached in 1998 at the World Championships in Palanga (Lithuania).
That was really the first great common International Event.
1998 WFF World Championship was supported and sponsored by the Government
Lithuania. Minister of the Municipal Affairs KESTUTIS SKREBYS was the Head Organizing Committee then. The Event was supported by the Sport Ministry Republic Lithuania. It collected nearly two hundred athletes from twenty one Country.
The 1998 World Championship showed the wide possibilities in developing sport of
Fitness and Bodybuilding World Wide. At the same time some negative things were evident.
Among them was a big juridical problem in our activities – until this only legal work in post Soviet Countries is possible. Especially International work! We needed the legal Status of our activities.
Otherwise the organization can not be supported by any Government, Public Organizations, reviewed by Press and Television, it can not be sponsored by great commercial firms.
Have a look: we call „International Sport Organization“ and finally there is no Registration, Seal, Bank Accounts and lots of other necessary official things. That was at least not serious and that was the difference from the "Western" sport organizations and today’s WFF-WBBF International (and still is!).
WFF had to get juridical registration as an International Sport Organization working World Wide.
1998 WFF-INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS (Palanga, Lithuania).
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, EDITA SENDRIENE (Lithuania), ANARGIROS TSOPOURIDIS (Greece), KLAUS HOFFMANN (Germany), BOB DIVILKA (Czech), VLADIMIR SUBOV, IGOR CVETKOV (Russia), OLEG BURINSKIJ, MARIS SVEIDUKS (Latvia), VASILIJ BESPALENKO (Ukraine), BOB DIVIKLKA (Czech), GEORGIJ KATULIN (Belarussia).
The main question was to prepare the WFF International juridical registration.
KLAUS HOFFMANN told us that he had no interest in the Official Registration of WFF. Then the Congress decided that the registration of WFF-International will be performed by the "Amber Prix International” Executive Committee led by DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and with that way KLAUS HOFFMANN being aside of this process and being "out of the game".
1999 WFF-INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS (Daugavpils, Latvia).
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, JURIJ STEPANOV, VYTAUTAS JUKNEVICIUS (Lithuania), IGOR CVETKOV, DMITRIJ KORNIUCHIN (Russia), OLEG BURINSKIJ, MARIS SVEIDUKS (Latvia), VASILIJ BESPALENKO (Ukraine), WILMA KERN (Switzerland), INNAR MARDO, PAVEL KOSENKO (Estonia).
The International Congress approved the Constitution of the WFF-International, the Judging Rules and elected the International Executive Committee.
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Lithuania) was elected to the position of the President
of newly registered WFF-International, OLEG BURINSKIJ (Latvia) was elected to the position of the Vice President of WFF-International.
2000 WFF INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. TWO WFF (Northeim, Germany).
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS (Lithuania), PALLE RASMUSSEN (Denmark), PETER LAGERMAD (Holland), JORDANOV PETROV (Bulgaria), TIMO BOGDANOFF (Finland), INNAR MARDO and PAVEL KOSENKO (Estonia), OLEG BURINSKIJ (Latvia), IGOR CVETKOV, ANDREJ BASOV, DMITRIJ CIZOV (Russia), DMITRIJ KRASKOVSKIJ (Belarus), KAI KAKNES ANDRE (Norway), VASILIJ BESPALENKO (Ukraine), PHILIPPO MASSARONI (Italy).
Finally the WFF-International became juridical registration in Lithuania and two International WFF organizations appeared: one was officially registered by Law (WFF of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS) and another without any official registration (WFF of KLAUS HOFFMANN).
In order not mix both International WFF Federations the Official WFF was called „WFF Eastern Hemisphere“ (President DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS) and Not Official „WFF Southern Hemisphere“ (President KLAUS HOFFMANN).
In order to coordinate the common work of the both International Federations President of the registered Official WFF-International DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was elected to the position of the Vice President of "WFF Southern Hemisphere" as well.
The International Congress decided:
- The Official WFF-International organizes annual WFF Europe Championship and "Amber Prix International"
- The "WFF Southern Hemisphere" organizes annual WFF World Championship
and WFF "Universe" Contest.
Then in 2000 the first WFF Europe Championship was held in Daugavpils (Latvia) and the first WFF „Universe“ in Baden (Austria).
2001 WFF INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS (Tallinn, Estonia).
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, EDITA SENDRIENE (Lithuania), PALLE RASMUSSEN (Denmark), PETER LAGERMAD (Holland), JORDANOV PETROV (Bulgaria), TIMO BOGDANOFF (Finland), INNAR MARDO and PAVEL KOSENKO (Estonia), OLEG BURINSKIJ (Latvia), IGOR CVETKOV, ANDREJ BASOV, DMITRIJ CIZOV (Russia), DMITRIJ KRASKOVSKIJ (Belarus), KAI KAKNES ANDRE (Norway), VASILIJ BESPALENKO (Ukraine), SERGEJ SERGEJEV (Israel).
The Congress approved the good work of the WFF-International as the Scandinavian Countries joined the federation.
2002 WFF INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS (Moscow, Russia).
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, EDITA SENDRIENE (Lithuania), PETER LAGERMAD (Holland), PALLE RASMUSSEN (Denmark), PAVEL KOSENKO (Estonia), OLEG BURINSKIJ (Latvia), IGOR CVETKOV, ANDREJ BASOV, DMITRIJ CIZOV (Russia), DMITRIJ KRASKOVSKIJ (Belarus), KAI KAKNES ANDRE (Norway), VASILIJ BESPALENKO (Ukraine), SERGEJ SERGEJEV (Israel).
The Congress underlined the support of the Governmental and Public Institutions of various Countries to the International activities of WFF. That proves that WFF has chosen right priorities.
After the meeting in Stuttgart (Germany) of the WFF President DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS with the Owner and the President of „Fame“, „America Pageant“, „Muscle mania“ LOUIS CWICK (USA), became finally clear that all these American International Organizations are his private properties.
2003 WFF INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS (Northeim, Germany).
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, EDITA SENDRIENE (Lithuania), KLAUS HOFFMANN (Germany), PALLE RASMUSSEN (Denmark), PAVEL KOSENKO (Estonia), OLEG BURINSKIJ (Latvia), IGOR CVETKOV, ANDREJ BASOV (Russia), DMITRIJ KRASKOVSKIJ (Belarus), VASILIJ BESPALENKO (Ukraine), ANARGIROS TSOPOURIDIS (Greece), SPINDLER (Austria), PHILIPPO MASSARONI (Italy).
That was a common Congress of both WFF federations.
KLAUS HOFFMAN told that he lost his main sponsors and he can not organize WFF World Championship any longer.
The Congress decided that the Official WFF federation will organize WFF World Championship every year, and the „WFF Southern Hemisphere“ will remain organizing „Universe“ Contest only.
Then the 2003 WFF World Championship was held in Moscow (Russia).
2004 WFF INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS (Riga, Latvia).
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, EDITA SENDRIENE (Lithuania), JORGE CEDALE (Argentina), MIKE MITCHELL (UK-Scotland), PALLE RASMUSSEN (Denmark), JORDANOV PETROV (Bulgaria), TERRO LINTUNEN, TIMO BOGDANOFF (Finland), PAVEL KOSENKO (Estonia), OLEG BURINSKIJ (Latvia), IGOR CVETKOV, ANDREJ BASOV, DMITRIJ CIZOV (Russia), DMITRIJ KRASKOVSKIJ (Belarus), KAI KAKNES ANDRE (Norway), VASILIJ BESPALENKO (Ukraine), MASSIMO MONACO (Italy).
The Congress:
- set the WFF Professional Division
- approved WFF Pro Contest Rules
- appointed to the WFF Pro Division Director‘s position ANDREJ BASOV (Russia).
- The Congress decided to organize the first Pro World Championship in Vilnius (2004, Lithuania).
2005 WFF INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS (three places: Sapri (Italy), Palanga (Lithuania), Moscow (Russia).
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL:
DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS, EDITA SENDRIENE (Lithuania), JORGE CEDALE (Argentina), MIKE MITCHELL (UK-Scotland), BIAGIO FILIZOLA (Italy), PALLE RASMUSSEN (Denmark), LADISLAV SANDOR (Slovakia), JORDANOV PETROV (Bulgaria), TERRO LINTUNEN, TIMO BOGDANOFF (Finland), PAVEL KOSENKO (Estonia), OLEG BURINSKIJ (Latvia), IGOR CVETKOV, ANDREJ BASOV, DMITRIJ CIZOV (Russia), DMITRIJ KRASKOVSKIJ (Belarus), KAI KAKNES ANDRE (Norway), SPARTAK VASKOVSKIJ and VASILI BESPALENKO (Ukraine).
The Congress underlined fast growing of the International Federation.
WFF aim and priority was the developing Fitness World Wide on the highest level possible and at the same time communicating with Governmental and Public Institutions of various countries.
Being not registered officially KLAUS HOFFMAN‘s „WFF Western Hemisphere“ could not do it. So two WFF federations went their own way: one official and another just as it is...
INFORMATION.
More information on the International Site www.wff.lt, see forum topics. Also information available on the Facebook pages: WFF-WBBF International, WFF-WBBF North America, WFF-WBBF South America, WFF-WBBF Asia, WFF-WBBF Europe, WFF-WBBF Africa, WFF-WBBF Asia Continental Federation, International Sport University.