07-25-2026, 08:48 AM
UNPRECEDENTED GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS IN VILNIUS
Bodybuilders' Gift to the President of the World Federation
While preparing to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of its activities in 2005, the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. – World Fitness Federation / World Body Building Federation) organized one of the largest and most significant events in its history—the World Amateur and Professional Championships. The event took place at the Vilnius Congress Concert Hall and became an outstanding occasion not only in the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding but also in the development of international physique sport.
A total of 742 athletes from nearly forty countries participated in the championships. This number remains the highest ever recorded in the history of W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. world championships and stands as an all-time federation record. The achievement demonstrated both the rapid international growth of the federation and its increasing prestige within the global bodybuilding community.
Another remarkable feature of the championships was the live television broadcast transmitted worldwide. At that time, such a broadcast represented a highly complex and expensive technical undertaking. The project was supported by the Lithuanian telecommunications company AB "Lietuvos Telekomas," which allocated 144,000 Lithuanian litas (approximately €41,000) for the broadcast. The live transmission significantly enhanced the international visibility of both the federation and Lithuania as a country capable of organizing world-class sporting events.
The championships also received official support from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The opening ceremony was attended by Algirdas Raslanas, Director General of the Lithuanian Department of Physical Education and Sports. Among the distinguished guests were Members of the Lithuanian Parliament and Government, including Julius Dautartas, Antanas Bosas, and Kęstutis Virketis. Their participation reflected the importance attached to the event as an international sporting and diplomatic occasion.
The honorary diplomas presented to the athletes were signed by Algirdas Butkevičius, then Minister of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania, who would later become Prime Minister.
The Overall World Champions were Aleksandr Baldin (Russia), Rachel Kauppila (Finland), and Lithuania's Jolanta Mileriūtė. The international corporation "Fabrikantas" presented each of them with original diamonds, symbolizing the prestige and exceptional status of their victories.
Following the championships, an international press conference was held at ELTA, the Lithuanian National News Agency. Afterwards, the heads of the foreign delegations were officially received at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, where a ceremonial luncheon was hosted in their honor. These meetings further strengthened international cooperation and contributed to the continued expansion of the federation around the world.
Bodybuilders' Gift to the President of the World Federation
The most emotional moment of the championships came during the awards ceremony. After the presentation of medals and trophies, representatives of the participating countries and numerous athletes surprised W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. President Dr. Edmundas Daubaras with an extraordinary gift—a bronze bust of himself.
The surprise had been secretly prepared well in advance and remained completely confidential until the final moments of the ceremony. The initiative belonged to Natalija Murnikovienė, one of the most celebrated Lithuanian female bodybuilders of all time, who had been coached for many years by Dr. Edmundas Daubaras. Together they achieved numerous victories at European and World Championships, becoming one of the most successful coach-athlete partnerships in Lithuanian bodybuilding history.
The bronze bust symbolized not only personal gratitude toward an outstanding coach but also the appreciation of the international bodybuilding community for a man whose life's work had become inseparable from the development of the W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. Federation. It recognized his decades of organizational leadership, his efforts in establishing international cooperation, organizing World Championships, and promoting the independent development of international bodybuilding.
Conclusions
The W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. World Amateur and Professional Championships held in Vilnius became one of the most important events in the history of the federation. The record number of participants, the worldwide live television broadcast, the official support of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, and the attendance of numerous international delegations demonstrated that the federation had reached the highest level of international recognition during that period.
Equally significant was the symbolic tribute paid to W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. President Dr. Edmundas Daubaras. The presentation of a bronze bust was an exceptional gesture of respect, rarely seen in the history of international sport. Such honors are traditionally reserved for individuals whose achievements have had a lasting impact on the development of an entire sport.
The World Championships held in Vilnius not only strengthened the city's reputation as an important venue for major international bodybuilding events but also became a significant chapter in the history of Lithuanian sport. Their organizational success, international scale, and enduring historical importance continue to rank among the most remarkable achievements in the history of the W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. Federation.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
Bodybuilders' Gift to the President of the World Federation
While preparing to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of its activities in 2005, the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. – World Fitness Federation / World Body Building Federation) organized one of the largest and most significant events in its history—the World Amateur and Professional Championships. The event took place at the Vilnius Congress Concert Hall and became an outstanding occasion not only in the history of Lithuanian bodybuilding but also in the development of international physique sport.
A total of 742 athletes from nearly forty countries participated in the championships. This number remains the highest ever recorded in the history of W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. world championships and stands as an all-time federation record. The achievement demonstrated both the rapid international growth of the federation and its increasing prestige within the global bodybuilding community.
Another remarkable feature of the championships was the live television broadcast transmitted worldwide. At that time, such a broadcast represented a highly complex and expensive technical undertaking. The project was supported by the Lithuanian telecommunications company AB "Lietuvos Telekomas," which allocated 144,000 Lithuanian litas (approximately €41,000) for the broadcast. The live transmission significantly enhanced the international visibility of both the federation and Lithuania as a country capable of organizing world-class sporting events.
The championships also received official support from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The opening ceremony was attended by Algirdas Raslanas, Director General of the Lithuanian Department of Physical Education and Sports. Among the distinguished guests were Members of the Lithuanian Parliament and Government, including Julius Dautartas, Antanas Bosas, and Kęstutis Virketis. Their participation reflected the importance attached to the event as an international sporting and diplomatic occasion.
The honorary diplomas presented to the athletes were signed by Algirdas Butkevičius, then Minister of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania, who would later become Prime Minister.
The Overall World Champions were Aleksandr Baldin (Russia), Rachel Kauppila (Finland), and Lithuania's Jolanta Mileriūtė. The international corporation "Fabrikantas" presented each of them with original diamonds, symbolizing the prestige and exceptional status of their victories.
Following the championships, an international press conference was held at ELTA, the Lithuanian National News Agency. Afterwards, the heads of the foreign delegations were officially received at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, where a ceremonial luncheon was hosted in their honor. These meetings further strengthened international cooperation and contributed to the continued expansion of the federation around the world.
Bodybuilders' Gift to the President of the World Federation
The most emotional moment of the championships came during the awards ceremony. After the presentation of medals and trophies, representatives of the participating countries and numerous athletes surprised W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. President Dr. Edmundas Daubaras with an extraordinary gift—a bronze bust of himself.
The surprise had been secretly prepared well in advance and remained completely confidential until the final moments of the ceremony. The initiative belonged to Natalija Murnikovienė, one of the most celebrated Lithuanian female bodybuilders of all time, who had been coached for many years by Dr. Edmundas Daubaras. Together they achieved numerous victories at European and World Championships, becoming one of the most successful coach-athlete partnerships in Lithuanian bodybuilding history.
The bronze bust symbolized not only personal gratitude toward an outstanding coach but also the appreciation of the international bodybuilding community for a man whose life's work had become inseparable from the development of the W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. Federation. It recognized his decades of organizational leadership, his efforts in establishing international cooperation, organizing World Championships, and promoting the independent development of international bodybuilding.
Conclusions
The W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. World Amateur and Professional Championships held in Vilnius became one of the most important events in the history of the federation. The record number of participants, the worldwide live television broadcast, the official support of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, and the attendance of numerous international delegations demonstrated that the federation had reached the highest level of international recognition during that period.
Equally significant was the symbolic tribute paid to W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. President Dr. Edmundas Daubaras. The presentation of a bronze bust was an exceptional gesture of respect, rarely seen in the history of international sport. Such honors are traditionally reserved for individuals whose achievements have had a lasting impact on the development of an entire sport.
The World Championships held in Vilnius not only strengthened the city's reputation as an important venue for major international bodybuilding events but also became a significant chapter in the history of Lithuanian sport. Their organizational success, international scale, and enduring historical importance continue to rank among the most remarkable achievements in the history of the W.F.F.–W.B.B.F. Federation.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt