INT. BODYBUILDING AND FITNESS ORGANIZATIONS

[Edita Sendriene]

WE ARE PREPARING COMMEMORATE 60-TH ANNIVERSARY OF LEGENDARY TOURNMENT.
THE “AMBER PRIX INTERNATIONAL”. The book.
The “Amber Prix” (“Amber Prix International”, «Янтарный приз», 1968–2026) tournament is a living reflection of history, recalling a time when it was an important part of the Socialist world of sport, and today it unites the global bodybuilding community.
According to long-standing sporting traditions, among international competitions the “Amber Prix” ranks third in terms of continuity and historical significance—after N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association) Mr. Universe (held since 1950) and JOE WEIDER’S Mr. Olympia (held since 1965).
Over the decades, athletes from many countries who have participated in this tournament take pride in their “Amber Prix” achievements, considering them among the most significant in their sporting careers.
As the tournament approaches its 60-th anniversary, a book is being prepared and will be presented to participants and guests of the 2027 event. Preparatory work on the publication is already underway.
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF “AMBER PRIX”.
In the international history of the “Amber Prize,” several particularly important moments stand out:
• The rise and the first tournaments – the initial stage during which the competition’s traditions were formed.
• 1973: the ban and persecution of bodybuilding – a difficult period for the sport.
• 1973–1978: illegal competitions organized by Dr. Edmundas Daubaras – a stage crucial for the survival of bodybuilding.
• Dr. Edmundas Daubaras’ struggle with the authorities against the ban on bodybuilding.
• Dr. Edmundas Daubaras’ petition to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the U.S.S.R. in Moscow, defending the legitimacy of bodybuilding.
• 1989–1991: Dr. Edmundas Daubaras’ struggle for independence in Lithuanian sport, carried out in the context of the “Amber Prize.”
• 2007: the 40-th anniversary of the tournament – the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania voted to fund the event from the state budget.
• 2011: recognition by the Vatican – a high evaluation of Dr. Edmundas Daubaras’ activities during the period of the bodybuilding ban.
• 2017: the 50-th anniversary of the tournament – a report about the event was broadcast by the global CNN television network.
• Since 2010, the “Amber Prize” logo has been used in competitions in Europe, Asia and South America.
HISTORY OF THE “AMBER PRIX”. ORIGINS.
Prior to the prohibition of bodybuilding as a sport, it experienced rapid growth in popularity and widespread development. At a time when humanity was reaching outer space and exploring the depths of the oceans, bodybuilding offered a unique avenue for the transformation and enhancement of the human physique. The achievements of bodybuilders were extensively covered in the press, and competitions were frequently broadcast on television.
STRENGTH EXERCISES IN THE “AMBER PRIX”.
It is well known that from 1947 to 1969, official International bodybuilding was governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) - recognized federation, the Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste (F.I.H.C.). During this period, bodybuilding was closely associated with weightlifting in many countries.
In fact, the development of global bodybuilding through the F.I.H.C. federation was significantly influenced by the so-called “father of American weightlifting,” Robert Collins Hoffman (1898–1985). He was one of the most important figures in mid-20th century strength sports: he founded the “York Barbell Company”, published the magazine “Strength & Health”, and played an active role in promoting both weightlifting and bodybuilding in the United States and internationally.
At the time, the F.I.H.C. governed both weightlifting and bodybuilding. Although Hoffman was not always its formal head, his authority and organizational activity had a substantial impact on the federation’s decisions and on the overall development of these sports.
Accordingly, in the Soviet Union, bodybuilding was administered under the supervision of the weightlifting federation, and strength events were a mandatory component of competitions.
Over the more than sixty-year history of the “Amber Prize” tournament, strength exercises—alongside the physique presentation program—were included only during specific periods: 1967–1970, 1974–1976, and 1979.
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[Secretary_International]

REAL WORLD BODYBUILDING HISTORY.
FIGHTS AGAINST BODYBUILDING PROHIBITION.
THE SITUATION IN THE WORLD AND IN SOCIALISM
In 1970 in Belgrade (Yugoslavia), the General Secretary of F.I.H.C. (F.I.H. – Fédération Internationale Haltérophile, later F.I.H.C. – Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturisme, and later I.W.F. – International Weightlifting Federation), the British official Oscar State, established the sporting federation “International Federation of Body builders”. Until then, I.F.B.B. had been a private commercial enterprise with no connection to official sport. The same Oscar State arranged for the new I.F.B.B. federation to become a member of the Global Association of International Sports Federations  (G.A.I.S.F.). After more than twenty years of F.I.H.C. control over world bodybuilding, from 1971 onward global bodybuilding began to be led by the I.F.B.B..
PERSONALITIES OF SOCIALIST BODYBUILDING
Among the early figures of bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R. were representatives of the R.S.F.S.R.:
• Genadij Baldin
• Roman Moroz
• Vladimir Dubinin
In the Lithuanian SSR:
• Vytautas Zumeris
• Valerijus Koreškovas
After the ban on bodybuilding, some athletes switched to weightlifting, while others left sport entirely. After losing at the 1974 international tournament “Georg Tenno Memorial”, Vladimir Dubinin withdrew from bodybuilding for thirteen years and cut off all contact with the bodybuilding world.
INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LITHUANIAN SSR
Following a meeting in Lithuanian SSR bodybuilding in 1973, during which Juozas Jusevičius was removed from leadership through unfair voting, control of bodybuilding in Lithuania for decades was taken over by Romanas Kalinauskas, along with his close associates from Kaunas, Aleksandras Novikovas and Ramučis Kairaitis.
After the ban on the sport, bodybuilding in Klaipėda developed along its own unique path. There was no one to follow as an example. Former city bodybuilding leader Antanas Jonuškutis left Klaipėda, and those who wished to continue training scattered into the basements of residential buildings.
UNDERGROUND ACTIVITY
In 1972, after enrolling at Vilnius State University, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras gathered activists from all underground bodybuilding clubs in the capital and organized strength competitions in Vilnius in the autumn of 1973. Due to fear of risk, not all clubs participated.
In 1973, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras organized competitions for the remaining Klaipėda bodybuilders in the basement of an old abandoned prison. In 1974, he held an underground tournament, the “Amber Prix International”, in a bomb shelter of the Klaipėda Sea Trade Port.
• In 1975, the “Amber Prix” was secretly organized in a Klaipėda secondary school.
• In 1976, the event became public and took place in the Telšiai Cultural Palace.
• In 1977, despite the ban, two public tournaments were held, including the “Amber Prix,” at the Klaipėda Sea Trade Port Cultural Palace.
The halls were full of spectators.
Similar developments took place in other cities of the Lithuanian SSR and across other Soviet republics. Everyone feared persecution and operated in secrecy.
OTHER REPUBLICS
During the ban period, the “Vilnius Bodybuilding School” operated under the cover of the “Dinamo” sports society, led by:
• Česlavas Tamulevičius (1945–2023)
• Vitalijus Asovskis (1952–2026)
However, it remained largely inactive in organizing contests, waiting for better times.
In the Latvian SSR, there were no active organizers during this period.
In the Estonian SSR, Innar Mardo managed to convince the government that bodybuilding, based on traditions of strongmen and wrestlers, could be considered a “national sport.” His ideas received official support and from time to time “Georg Tenno Momoroal” was organized in Tallinn.
Apart from this, there were no other prominent figures in the U.S.S.R. actively organizing events in defiance of the ban—only isolated organizers in the Baltic States continued their activities.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS
In 1975, bodybuilding in the Czechoslovak SSR was led by Vojtech Fiala. Through personal connections, he arranged for a national delegation to attend the I.F.B.B. European Championship, where Petr Stach became the overall winner. This was a remarkable achievement during the period when bodybuilding was banned in socialist countries.
That same year, Dr. Edmundas Daubaras worked in Prague through a university exchange program and met Vojtech Fiala. The Czechoslovaks showed strong interest in Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, as he was the only bodybuilder from the U.S.S.R. to visit their country after the ban. Seeking to strengthen their standing with their political authorities, they used their relationship with Dr. Edmundas Daubaras to demonstrate “strong ties” with the U.S.S.R..
At the same time, in an effort to understand the situation of bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R., Czechoslovak officials contacted Gennadij Baldin. He replied that he was no longer involved, as bodybuilding had been suppressed and persecuted. In practice, only isolated organizers in the Baltic States continued activity.
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