09-16-2026, 09:18 AM
60 YEARS OF WORLD SPORTS HISTORY:
LITHUANIA — AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE WFF-WBBF JOURNEY.
From the “Amber Prix” to World Championships — for decades, Lithuania has been a place where international sports history has been made.
Six decades are more than simply a period of time. They represent people, generations, traditions, competitions, victories, meetings and stories that remain long after an individual sporting event has ended.
As the WFF-WBBF Federation approaches the 60th anniversary of its international activities, it can be said with confidence that Lithuania holds a special place in this history.
Over more than half a century, more than 100 international WFF-WBBF events have been held in Lithuania. Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys, Telšiai, Šilutė, Vilkaviškis and Nida have hosted World and European Championships, international “Amber Prix” and “Universe” tournaments, as well as numerous other high-level international competitions.
Over the decades, athletes and delegations from Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, and Australia have travelled to Lithuania. Today, the WFF-WBBF Federation is represented in 141 countries around the world, covering all continents.
It is particularly significant that, for many years, Lithuania has been one of the important venues for the Federation’s international events. International sporting relations were developed here, representatives of different countries met, and new chapters of world sports history were created.
Lithuania — A Meeting Place for International Sport
WFF-WBBF events in Lithuania became much more than sporting competitions. They developed into meeting places where athletes, coaches, judges, organisers and representatives of the sporting community from different countries came together.
Over the years, delegations from numerous European countries travelled to Lithuania — Latvia, Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal, Belgium, Finland, Norway and many others.
However, the international geography of these events extended far beyond Europe.
Athletes from the Republic of South Africa, Algeria, Nigeria, Mozambique and Egypt came to Lithuania. South America was represented by Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela, while the United States, Canada and Mexico represented North America. Athletes from Australia also participated in events held in Lithuania.
Asia was particularly broadly represented. Lithuanian competitions welcomed athletes from Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Iran, Israel, Syria, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and other countries.
Such a geographical reach allows us today to look at the history of Lithuanian sport from a broader perspective. A small country on the shores of the Baltic Sea has, for decades, served as a venue for international sporting meetings, attracting people from many different parts of the world.
Sport That Brought People Together
The sporting result was not the only important aspect of these major international events. Equally significant were personal encounters, international relationships and shared experiences.
The heads of many foreign delegations were officially received at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on numerous occasions. Participants of WFF-WBBF events also took part in international press conferences held at the ELTA news agency.
Many major international events were organised with the support and financial assistance of institutions of the Republic of Lithuania. This demonstrated the country’s attention to international sport and provided an opportunity to present Lithuania more widely to the global sporting community.
Over the decades, the international relationships that were established did not disappear. On the contrary, they became the foundation for new competitions, new generations of athletes and new international cooperation projects.
The History of the “Amber Prix”
A special place in this history belongs to the “Amber Prix” tournament.
It is more than simply the name of a sporting competition. Over many years, the “Amber Prix” has become a tradition and an important part of Lithuania’s sporting history, gaining recognition in many countries around the world.
In May 2027, Klaipėda will ceremonially mark the 60th anniversary of the “Amber Prix” tournament.
This will be a symbolic opportunity to remember the people who created the history of the tournament, the athletes who competed for victory over the years, and the coaches, judges and organisers who devoted many years to developing this tradition.
Sixty years is already a legacy — one that is passed from generation to generation.
A New Chapter of History — in Nida
But history is not only about memories. It continues today.
From 24–26 October 2026, the 37th World Championship for Professionals and Amateurs will take place in Nida.
This will be another major international sporting event in Lithuania, once again bringing athletes and delegations from different countries around the world to our country.
And in 2027, the jubilee celebration of the “Amber Prix” in Klaipėda will provide another opportunity to look back at the path that has been travelled while also looking towards the future.
The History Continues
Over six decades, countries, cities, generations of athletes and the world itself have changed. Yet one thing has remained constant — the desire to compete, achieve outstanding results, meet one another and build friendships.
Today, with WFF-WBBF activities reaching 141 countries around the world, Lithuania’s role in this history is clear.
More than 100 international events held in Lithuania are more than statistics.
They represent thousands of athletes, hundreds of delegations, dozens of countries, countless competitions and six decades of accumulated experience.
This is a history created not only through results and medals. It was created by people.
And this history is far from over.
The 2026 World Championship in Nida and the 60th anniversary of the “Amber Prix” in Klaipėda in 2027 will become new chapters in this remarkable history.
After six decades, the journey continues.
Lithuania remains, and will continue to remain, a part of world sports history.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
LITHUANIA — AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE WFF-WBBF JOURNEY.
From the “Amber Prix” to World Championships — for decades, Lithuania has been a place where international sports history has been made.
Six decades are more than simply a period of time. They represent people, generations, traditions, competitions, victories, meetings and stories that remain long after an individual sporting event has ended.
As the WFF-WBBF Federation approaches the 60th anniversary of its international activities, it can be said with confidence that Lithuania holds a special place in this history.
Over more than half a century, more than 100 international WFF-WBBF events have been held in Lithuania. Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys, Telšiai, Šilutė, Vilkaviškis and Nida have hosted World and European Championships, international “Amber Prix” and “Universe” tournaments, as well as numerous other high-level international competitions.
Over the decades, athletes and delegations from Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, and Australia have travelled to Lithuania. Today, the WFF-WBBF Federation is represented in 141 countries around the world, covering all continents.
It is particularly significant that, for many years, Lithuania has been one of the important venues for the Federation’s international events. International sporting relations were developed here, representatives of different countries met, and new chapters of world sports history were created.
Lithuania — A Meeting Place for International Sport
WFF-WBBF events in Lithuania became much more than sporting competitions. They developed into meeting places where athletes, coaches, judges, organisers and representatives of the sporting community from different countries came together.
Over the years, delegations from numerous European countries travelled to Lithuania — Latvia, Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal, Belgium, Finland, Norway and many others.
However, the international geography of these events extended far beyond Europe.
Athletes from the Republic of South Africa, Algeria, Nigeria, Mozambique and Egypt came to Lithuania. South America was represented by Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela, while the United States, Canada and Mexico represented North America. Athletes from Australia also participated in events held in Lithuania.
Asia was particularly broadly represented. Lithuanian competitions welcomed athletes from Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Iran, Israel, Syria, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and other countries.
Such a geographical reach allows us today to look at the history of Lithuanian sport from a broader perspective. A small country on the shores of the Baltic Sea has, for decades, served as a venue for international sporting meetings, attracting people from many different parts of the world.
Sport That Brought People Together
The sporting result was not the only important aspect of these major international events. Equally significant were personal encounters, international relationships and shared experiences.
The heads of many foreign delegations were officially received at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on numerous occasions. Participants of WFF-WBBF events also took part in international press conferences held at the ELTA news agency.
Many major international events were organised with the support and financial assistance of institutions of the Republic of Lithuania. This demonstrated the country’s attention to international sport and provided an opportunity to present Lithuania more widely to the global sporting community.
Over the decades, the international relationships that were established did not disappear. On the contrary, they became the foundation for new competitions, new generations of athletes and new international cooperation projects.
The History of the “Amber Prix”
A special place in this history belongs to the “Amber Prix” tournament.
It is more than simply the name of a sporting competition. Over many years, the “Amber Prix” has become a tradition and an important part of Lithuania’s sporting history, gaining recognition in many countries around the world.
In May 2027, Klaipėda will ceremonially mark the 60th anniversary of the “Amber Prix” tournament.
This will be a symbolic opportunity to remember the people who created the history of the tournament, the athletes who competed for victory over the years, and the coaches, judges and organisers who devoted many years to developing this tradition.
Sixty years is already a legacy — one that is passed from generation to generation.
A New Chapter of History — in Nida
But history is not only about memories. It continues today.
From 24–26 October 2026, the 37th World Championship for Professionals and Amateurs will take place in Nida.
This will be another major international sporting event in Lithuania, once again bringing athletes and delegations from different countries around the world to our country.
And in 2027, the jubilee celebration of the “Amber Prix” in Klaipėda will provide another opportunity to look back at the path that has been travelled while also looking towards the future.
The History Continues
Over six decades, countries, cities, generations of athletes and the world itself have changed. Yet one thing has remained constant — the desire to compete, achieve outstanding results, meet one another and build friendships.
Today, with WFF-WBBF activities reaching 141 countries around the world, Lithuania’s role in this history is clear.
More than 100 international events held in Lithuania are more than statistics.
They represent thousands of athletes, hundreds of delegations, dozens of countries, countless competitions and six decades of accumulated experience.
This is a history created not only through results and medals. It was created by people.
And this history is far from over.
The 2026 World Championship in Nida and the 60th anniversary of the “Amber Prix” in Klaipėda in 2027 will become new chapters in this remarkable history.
After six decades, the journey continues.
Lithuania remains, and will continue to remain, a part of world sports history.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt