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NOTHING COMES OF NOTHING.
PART TWO. BEGINNING OF BODYBUILDING SPORT.
We will not speak now about the bodybuilding happenings in the very beginning of the twentieth century. At that time bodybuilding was not sport. Just a number of enthusiasts were pending time this way.
When we mean the beginning of bodybuilding as sport we should start with the USA. Until there was no Ministry of Sport in the US all sports were governed by the Amateur Athletic Union (A.A.U.). A.A.U. was established in 1888. Аmong other sports A.A.U. was governing National Weightlifting Federation. On International level weightlifting was governed by a member of I.O.C. International F.I.H. (Federation Internationale Halterophile) Federation. Called as “Father of America Weightlifting” American BOB HOFFMAN (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 - 1985) was one of the F.I.H. leaders then. When under initiative of BOB HOFFMAN in 1947 F.I.H. took International bodybuilding under it’s control the name was changed to F.I.H.C. (Federation Internationale Halterophile et Culturisme).
BOB HOFFMAN used to produce an sell supplements, sport equipment and sport magazines. He was selling his products though the members of the F.I.H. that represented various countries. Nobody else could do the same. For example private I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) company owner Canadian BEN WEIDER had nothing to do with F.I.H. and all doors were closed for him. BOB HOFFMAN was seeking official recognition for bodybuilding.
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 Sport Federations and it was the Ministry of Sport in the USA at that time. 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.. Through A.A.U. and F.I.H. also he wanted to present bodybuilding sport to the World. USA weightlifting though A.A.U. was a member of the International Weightlifting Federation F.I.H.
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.C. not to organize World Weightlifting Championship in “Olympic” years. What to do with the second F.I.H.C. bodybuilding „Mr. Universe“ competition? Then the idea to organize the F.I.H.C. bodybuilding “Mr. Universe” during the 1948 “Olympic Games” struck BOB HOFFMAN. There were real ways because F.I.H.C. 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.C. 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.C. “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.C. “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. (National Amateur Body Building Association) was created in the Great Britain. As a 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 N.A.B.B.A. “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 even to think being equal to F.I.H.C..
FULL ARTICLE and more information is on International Site www.wff.lt
PART TWO. BEGINNING OF BODYBUILDING SPORT.
We will not speak now about the bodybuilding happenings in the very beginning of the twentieth century. At that time bodybuilding was not sport. Just a number of enthusiasts were pending time this way.
When we mean the beginning of bodybuilding as sport we should start with the USA. Until there was no Ministry of Sport in the US all sports were governed by the Amateur Athletic Union (A.A.U.). A.A.U. was established in 1888. Аmong other sports A.A.U. was governing National Weightlifting Federation. On International level weightlifting was governed by a member of I.O.C. International F.I.H. (Federation Internationale Halterophile) Federation. Called as “Father of America Weightlifting” American BOB HOFFMAN (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 - 1985) was one of the F.I.H. leaders then. When under initiative of BOB HOFFMAN in 1947 F.I.H. took International bodybuilding under it’s control the name was changed to F.I.H.C. (Federation Internationale Halterophile et Culturisme).
BOB HOFFMAN used to produce an sell supplements, sport equipment and sport magazines. He was selling his products though the members of the F.I.H. that represented various countries. Nobody else could do the same. For example private I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) company owner Canadian BEN WEIDER had nothing to do with F.I.H. and all doors were closed for him. BOB HOFFMAN was seeking official recognition for bodybuilding.
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 Sport Federations and it was the Ministry of Sport in the USA at that time. 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.. Through A.A.U. and F.I.H. also he wanted to present bodybuilding sport to the World. USA weightlifting though A.A.U. was a member of the International Weightlifting Federation F.I.H.
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.C. not to organize World Weightlifting Championship in “Olympic” years. What to do with the second F.I.H.C. bodybuilding „Mr. Universe“ competition? Then the idea to organize the F.I.H.C. bodybuilding “Mr. Universe” during the 1948 “Olympic Games” struck BOB HOFFMAN. There were real ways because F.I.H.C. 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.C. 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.C. “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.C. “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. (National Amateur Body Building Association) was created in the Great Britain. As a 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 N.A.B.B.A. “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 even to think being equal to F.I.H.C..
FULL ARTICLE and more information is on International Site www.wff.lt