06-06-2026, 08:57 AM
THE 1977 STRUGGLE AGAINST THE POLITICAL DECISIONS OF THE USSR AUTHORITIES.
1977: THE INTENSIFICATION OF BODYBUILDING PERSECUTION IN THE USSR
In 1977, Edmundas Daubaras once again travelled to the Czechoslovak SSR for two months under a university exchange program. The sports activity program was similar to that of previous years and included meetings with the President of the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation, Vojtech Fiala, as well as with the federation’s vice-president, Professor Frantisek Bulva.
Seeking to demonstrate loyalty to their government, the Czechoslovak officials organized a meeting for Edmundas Daubaras, as a representative of Soviet bodybuilding, with the leadership of the Czechoslovak Ministry of Sports. At that time, the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation already had its own office within the ministry, where the federation’s secretary, the well-known bodybuilder Peter Tlapak, was working.
Vojtech Fiala also arranged Edmundas Daubaras’ visit to the national Olympic training center located in a mountain resort area. At that time, members of the national bodybuilding team were preparing there for the World Championships. Meetings and discussions took place with athletes and coaches.
Later, Edmundas Daubaras visited the city of Brno, where Professor Frantisek Bulva organized two meetings of the Council of the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation. Edmundas Daubaras attended these meetings as a guest and delivered a presentation on the situation of bodybuilding in the USSR.
1977: THE INTENSIFICATION OF BODYBUILDING PERSECUTION IN THE USSR
In 1977, the persecution of bodybuilding in the USSR intensified even further. The USSR Ministry of Sports issued directives calling for stricter measures against bodybuilding, and the sports ministries of the Soviet republics repeated and actively enforced these orders. At the same time, a coordinated campaign against bodybuilding began in the Soviet press. Particularly aggressive criticism came from journalist Dmitry Ivanov of the newspaper Sovietsky Sport. As pressure mounted, nearly all prominent bodybuilding organizers throughout the USSR fell silent.
Refusing to accept the situation and drawing inspiration from the examples he had witnessed in Czechoslovakia, Edmundas Daubaras began corresponding with the editorial office of Sovietsky Sport, the USSR Weightlifting Federation, and officials of the USSR Ministry of Sports. However, these efforts produced no positive results.
At the end of 1977, Edmundas Daubaras, together with the best bodybuilders of the city, took part in the “Georg Tenno Memorial” held in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It was one of the most prestigious bodybuilding competitions in the USSR at the time. The most successful performance came from Patras Stanius, who won third place in the junior category.
More information is on International Site www.wff.lt
1977: THE INTENSIFICATION OF BODYBUILDING PERSECUTION IN THE USSR
In 1977, Edmundas Daubaras once again travelled to the Czechoslovak SSR for two months under a university exchange program. The sports activity program was similar to that of previous years and included meetings with the President of the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation, Vojtech Fiala, as well as with the federation’s vice-president, Professor Frantisek Bulva.
Seeking to demonstrate loyalty to their government, the Czechoslovak officials organized a meeting for Edmundas Daubaras, as a representative of Soviet bodybuilding, with the leadership of the Czechoslovak Ministry of Sports. At that time, the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation already had its own office within the ministry, where the federation’s secretary, the well-known bodybuilder Peter Tlapak, was working.
Vojtech Fiala also arranged Edmundas Daubaras’ visit to the national Olympic training center located in a mountain resort area. At that time, members of the national bodybuilding team were preparing there for the World Championships. Meetings and discussions took place with athletes and coaches.
Later, Edmundas Daubaras visited the city of Brno, where Professor Frantisek Bulva organized two meetings of the Council of the Czechoslovak Bodybuilding Federation. Edmundas Daubaras attended these meetings as a guest and delivered a presentation on the situation of bodybuilding in the USSR.
1977: THE INTENSIFICATION OF BODYBUILDING PERSECUTION IN THE USSR
In 1977, the persecution of bodybuilding in the USSR intensified even further. The USSR Ministry of Sports issued directives calling for stricter measures against bodybuilding, and the sports ministries of the Soviet republics repeated and actively enforced these orders. At the same time, a coordinated campaign against bodybuilding began in the Soviet press. Particularly aggressive criticism came from journalist Dmitry Ivanov of the newspaper Sovietsky Sport. As pressure mounted, nearly all prominent bodybuilding organizers throughout the USSR fell silent.
Refusing to accept the situation and drawing inspiration from the examples he had witnessed in Czechoslovakia, Edmundas Daubaras began corresponding with the editorial office of Sovietsky Sport, the USSR Weightlifting Federation, and officials of the USSR Ministry of Sports. However, these efforts produced no positive results.
At the end of 1977, Edmundas Daubaras, together with the best bodybuilders of the city, took part in the “Georg Tenno Memorial” held in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It was one of the most prestigious bodybuilding competitions in the USSR at the time. The most successful performance came from Patras Stanius, who won third place in the junior category.
More information is on International Site www.wff.lt