THEY BANNED BODYBUILDING.
HE HELD THE COMPETITIONS ANYWAY.
From illegal competitions in Soviet Lithuania to a Pope’s medal in the Vatican — a story that sounds almost impossible today
1976. Soviet Lithuania.
Bodybuilding was banned.
The authorities did not want it. The system regarded it as something foreign, suspicious and unnecessary.
But someone decided that a ban would not be the final word.
Edmundas Daubaras began organizing bodybuilding competitions.
Public competitions.
At the time — illegal in the eyes of the authorities.
And this is where a story began that, decades later, would lead from Lithuania to Moscow — and ultimately to the Vatican.
NOT IN A GYM. AGAINST THE SYSTEM.
Today, bodybuilding competitions seem completely ordinary.
A stage. Spotlights. Athletes. Judges. Medals.
But in Soviet Lithuania, everything was different.
In 1976–1977, organizing public bodybuilding competitions meant challenging the system.
Athletes wanted to train.
They wanted to compete.
They wanted to demonstrate the results of their work.
And the system said: no.
The answer was simple:
“The competitions will take place anyway.”
And they did.
In Klaipėda, the authorities later permitted bodybuilding competitions to be held.
But that was not the end of the story.
It was only the beginning.
1978. A PETITION — TO MOSCOW
When organizing competitions was no longer enough, an even bolder step was taken.
In 1978, Edmundas Daubaras wrote a petition defending bodybuilding.
And he did not take it to some local authority.
Not to a sports club.
Not to a newspaper editorial office.
He took it to Moscow. To the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
It was an attempt to address the system itself.
Directly.
Without intermediaries.
To demand recognition of the right of a sport to exist — a sport to which the system had imposed restrictions.
Today, individual circumstances of that period may be interpreted in different ways. But one fact cannot be denied:
A man living under the Soviet system chose to openly defend something that the system sought to restrict.
DECADES PASSED.
Time changed the world.
The Soviet Union disappeared.
The Iron Curtain fell.
Bodybuilding became an international sport.
And a story that had once been associated with bans and state control eventually reached a completely different place.
The Vatican.
2011. THE VATICAN.
During an official reception for WFF-WBBF leaders at the Vatican, representatives of the Catholic Church were introduced to this history.
They learned about the position of bodybuilding under the communist system.
About the bans.
About the first competitions.
About the petition to Moscow.
About the activities of Edmundas Daubaras.
And then something happened that nobody at the beginning of this story could have predicted.
Cardinal Jozef Tomko described Edmundas Daubaras’s actions toward the communist regime as dissident in nature.
And there was more.
Edmundas Daubaras was awarded a medal of Pope Benedict XVI.
Later, the WFF-WBBF federation received an official letter from the Vatican blessing the federation’s activities.
From illegal competitions in Soviet Lithuania — to the Vatican.
From prohibition — to blessing.
Could there be a more striking historical irony?
60 YEARS. AND ONE EXTRAORDINARY STORY.
Today, WFF-WBBF celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Six decades of sporting history.
But among the countless dates, championships, athletes and titles, there is one story that stands out.
Because it did not begin under comfortable circumstances.
Not in a free country.
Not at a time when everything was permitted.
It began when people had to fight for the very right to organize bodybuilding competitions.
And that is precisely why this story deserves to be remembered.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES A MEDAL IS NOT FOR MUSCLES.
In sports history, medals are usually awarded for victories.
For records.
For championship titles.
But in this story, the medal presented at the Vatican carried an entirely different meaning.
It became a symbolic recognition of the work of a man who began acting at a time when even the right to organize bodybuilding competitions could not be taken for granted.
1976–1977 — illegal competitions.
1978 — petition to Moscow.
2011 — the Vatican.
Medal of Pope Benedict XVI.
Recognition by Cardinal Jozef Tomko.
Official Vatican blessing of WFF-WBBF activities.
That is the journey.
And so, as the federation marks its 60th anniversary, one can say it very simply:
WHEN THE SYSTEM SAID “NO” — SPORT SAID “YES.”
And history remembered it.
WFF-WBBF LEADS THE WAY IN SPORTS INNOVATION.
Mini-Trampolines – A New Sport for Everyone.
The World WFF-WBBF Federation, which began its activities in 1968, currently unites athletes and organizations from 141 countries around the world. Throughout its long history, the Federation has become one of the pioneers of international sports innovation, continuously developing new, attractive, and accessible forms of physical activity for people of different ages and backgrounds.
The history of WFF-WBBF is rich in significant sporting innovations. The Federation has contributed to the development of Classic Bodybuilding, the children's “Fit-Kids” program, the Fitness Model category, and many other sporting disciplines. In recent years, the program of international competitions has been expanded to include such innovative disciplines as Aerial Acrobatics Fitness, Pole Dance Fitness, Kangoo Dance Fitness, Step Aerobics Fitness, Martial Arts Fitness, Sports Model Fitness, and other new sporting directions.
One of the newest and fastest-growing sporting disciplines within WFF-WBBF is Mini-Trampoline Fitness.
Over the past three years, Mini-Trampoline Fitness has been successfully featured at top-level international WFF-WBBF competitions. This discipline is distinguished by its dynamism and the combination of coordination, endurance, physical fitness, and artistic performance. Mini-trampolines offer opportunities for people of various age groups to participate in sports, giving this discipline considerable potential for further development on the international sporting stage.
At the 2026 WFF-WBBF international competitions, among various age groups and qualification categories, the absolute world champion in the Mini-Trampoline Fitness division was Polish athlete Katarzyna Małgorzata Rybak.
Her victory once again confirmed that Mini-Trampoline Fitness is becoming an increasingly important part of international sport, opening up new opportunities for athletes and coaches alike.
The WFF-WBBF Federation continues to consistently develop new sporting disciplines, aiming to promote an active lifestyle, encourage sporting creativity, and provide as many people as possible with the opportunity to discover the joy of sport.
For more detailed information about the activities of the WFF-WBBF Federation, international competitions, and sporting innovations, please visit: www.wff.lt www.worldfitness.lt
JAPANESE WFF-WBBF FEDERATION
LITHUANIAN EMBASSY SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL SPORT IN JAPAN
JAPANESE ATHLETE ACHIEVES HISTORIC TRIUMPH AT THE 2026 WFF-WBBF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN NIDA
The World WFF-WBBF Federation, whose history dates back to 1968, currently unites athletes and national sports organizations from 141 countries around the world. Throughout more than five decades of activity, the Federation has established itself as an important international sports organization, actively promoting new sporting disciplines, introducing innovative competition formats, and strengthening international sports cooperation.
JAPANESE ATHLETES' JOURNEY TO INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
Although Asian athletes have been participating in the international activities of the WFF-WBBF Federation for more than four decades, the appearance of Japanese representatives on the international competition stage became a particularly significant event only in 2025.
That year, Japanese athlete Toru Fukutomi made his breakthrough into the international sports elite by becoming the Overall Winner of the 26th International "Universe" Tournament. His victory opened a new chapter in the history of Japanese WFF-WBBF sport.
However, the international achievements of Japanese athletes did not end there.
In 2026, at the WFF-WBBF Amateur World Championship held in Nida, Lithuania, Japanese representative Iori Nishizawa achieved an outstanding victory, becoming the Overall World Champion!
This remarkable triumph not only strengthened the position of Japanese athletes within the international WFF-WBBF arena but also earned Iori Nishizawa the right to receive a Professional Card. He crowned his impressive performance with another major achievement, becoming the winner of the 17th "WFF-WBBF Pro World Cup".
Within an exceptionally short period, Japanese athletes demonstrated outstanding competitive skills and proved their ability to compete for the most prestigious international titles.
AN EXAMPLE OF SPORTING COOPERATION BETWEEN LITHUANIA AND JAPAN
Preparations for this international success had already begun in Japan. Before travelling to Lithuania, Iori Nishizawa organized a national WFF-WBBF competition in his home country. The event became an important milestone in the activities of the Japanese Federation and in the development of the sport in Japan.
The support of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Japan gave this event particular significance. The Embassy was among the sponsors of the national competition, contributing to the development of international sporting cooperation.
The support provided by Lithuania's diplomatic representation in Japan for WFF-WBBF sporting events represents an important example of cooperation between Lithuania and Japan.
Sport is not merely an arena for high-level athletic competition. It is also an important instrument for strengthening international relations, friendship, and mutual understanding.
The success of Japanese athletes in Lithuania and the support provided by the Lithuanian Embassy in Japan symbolically brought the two countries together within the international sporting community.
A NEW CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF JAPANESE WFF-WBBF SPORT
The achievements of Toru Fukutomi and Iori Nishizawa mark a new stage in the development of the Japanese WFF-WBBF Federation.
In just two years, Japanese athletes have succeeded in winning the highest international titles and establishing themselves among the world's sporting elite.
The 2026 World Championship in Nida became not only the stage for Iori Nishizawa's personal triumph but also an important milestone in the international recognition of Japanese sport.
The international activities of the WFF-WBBF Federation, the achievements of Japanese athletes, and the support of the Lithuanian Embassy once again demonstrate that sport knows no geographical boundaries.
Sport brings nations together, encourages international cooperation, and creates new chapters in the history of international friendship.
For further information about the activities of the World WFF-WBBF Federation, international championships, athletes' achievements, and the organization's history, please visit: www.wff.lt
WFF-WBBF Surprises the Sporting World with Innovations: Introducing the New 'Wings' Category in Women's Fitness.
A New Sporting Discipline Opens Up Creative Opportunities in Women's Fitness.
The World WFF-WBBF Federation, whose history dates back to 1968, currently brings together athletes and national sports organizations from 141 countries worldwide. Over more than five decades of activity, the Federation has established itself on the international sports scene as an initiator of new sporting disciplines and innovative competition formats.
The desire to continually expand sporting opportunities is reflected throughout WFF-WBBF's history. The Federation has contributed to the development of Classic Bodybuilding, the children's sports programme "Fit-Kids", the Fitness Model category, and numerous other sporting disciplines.
In recent years, the Federation's international competition programme has been expanded to include several new disciplines: Aerial Acrobatics Fitness, Pole Dance Fitness, Kangoo Dance Fitness, Step Aerobics Fitness, Martial Arts Fitness, Mini-Trampoline Fitness, and Sports Model Fitness.
One of WFF-WBBF's newest initiatives is the women's "Wings" Fitness category, combining athletic preparation, stage aesthetics, choreography, and artistic self-expression.
Lithuanian Athlete Triumphs at the World Championships
For the past three years, Mini "Wings" Fitness has been successfully presented at top-level WFF-WBBF international competitions. This category gives female athletes the opportunity to demonstrate not only their physical fitness but also their creativity, stage presence, and individual artistic style.
In October 2026, at the WFF-WBBF World Championships held in Nida, Lithuania, Laura Geraščenko Viliušė became the overall winner of the "Wings" Fitness category.
The Lithuanian representative presented an original and carefully prepared performance programme to the judges and spectators. It harmoniously combined an expressive stage image, graceful movement and a musical composition featuring several classical music pieces.
Her performance stood out for its elegance, artistic expression, and creativity. This achievement marked a significant success for Laura on the international WFF-WBBF sporting stage.
The athlete was prepared for the championship by Alina Pelepko, Honoured Coach of the World WFF-WBBF Federation and an international-category judge.
This victory once again highlighted the potential of the new sporting category and demonstrated that "Wings" Fitness could become a promising international discipline in women's sport.
Sporting Innovation – A Key Priority for WFF-WBBF
The creation of new sporting disciplines and their integration into international competition programmes is one of the most important areas of WFF-WBBF's activities.
The Federation strives not only to develop traditional sports but also to create new opportunities for self-expression, encourage creativity, promote physical activity, and attract increasingly wider segments of society to international sport.
The "Wings" Fitness category perfectly reflects this philosophy. It combines athletic preparation with performing arts, music, choreography, and individual creativity.
WFF-WBBF will continue to consistently develop new sporting disciplines, striving to make the international sporting arena accessible to talent, original ideas, and innovative sporting initiatives.
The victory of Lithuanian athlete Laura Geraščenko Viliušė in Nida has become another memorable milestone in the history of WFF-WBBF sporting innovations.
For more information about WFF-WBBF activities, international championships, and new sporting disciplines, please visit:
Official websites: www.wff.lt www.worldfitness.lt
2026 in the World of Bodybuilding and Fitness: Many Federations, Many Champions, but What Will Remain in History?
Numerous federations, countless competitions and a lack of historical perspective – the main challenges facing modern bodybuilding and fitness.
The year 2026 is coming to an end. This is an appropriate time not only to count the medals won, titles awarded and championships held, but also to examine the development of our sport from a historical perspective.
What kind of year has it been? Which events have genuinely had long-term significance? What will remain in the history of sport, and what will disappear along with another competition season?
These questions are particularly relevant to Lithuania, where five major organisations involved in bodybuilding and fitness are currently active: WFF-WBBF, IFBB, NABBA, NPC and NAC.
The existence of numerous federations does not, in itself, indicate sporting progress. On the one hand, it provides athletes with more opportunities to choose where to compete. On the other, it creates fragmentation, different competition systems, an abundance of titles and an increasingly complicated international sporting environment.
Dozens of international bodybuilding and fitness organisations operate worldwide. Their number continues to change. Each organisation conducts its own world, continental and national championships, announces its winners and establishes its own sporting hierarchy.
Add privately organised competitions, Universe and Olympia events, and numerous international festivals to the championships held by established federations. The result is an impression that becoming a world champion is possible almost every weekend.
But this raises a fundamental question: do all these titles carry the same historical value?
More Champions, but Sporting History Is Not Growing at the Same Rate
Modern bodybuilding and fitness are experiencing a kind of inflation of sporting titles. The number of athletes describing themselves as world or international champions continues to grow, yet public interest in the sport is not increasing proportionately.
Why is this happening?
First, different organisations use different competition systems, rules, categories and judging criteria. Consequently, the title of world champion awarded by one federation does not necessarily mean the same thing as an equivalent title awarded by another organisation.
Second, sporting organisations too often concentrate on short-term results. Holding a championship, announcing the winners, distributing medals and publishing photographs on social media have become familiar elements of the standard operating model.
But can this really be called the long-term development of sport?
The maturity of a sporting organisation should not be measured solely by the number of events it organises. What matters is whether it develops a clear strategy for sporting development, trains new generations of athletes, expands public interest, strengthens international cooperation and pursues official recognition.
Not every champion becomes part of sporting history. Those who remain are the ones whose achievements have changed the development of the sport itself.
Lithuania in 2026: Numerous Organisations, but Limited Public Interest
Several bodybuilding and fitness competitions took place in Lithuania during the autumn of 2026. However, the number of participants, the level of public interest and spectator attendance do not indicate significant growth in the popularity of the sport.
This should be a serious warning to all organisations operating in Lithuania.
A country may have numerous federations, competition categories and national champions. However, if competitions fail to attract wider public attention, questions must be asked about the effectiveness of the chosen development model.
Sport cannot exist exclusively within the closed environment of its own participants and organisers.
It needs spectators, public support, media attention, youth involvement and clear long-term prospects.
Otherwise, sporting events become closed gatherings of individual communities, with their significance often limited to the memories of the participants themselves.
The Crisis of Bodybuilding: A Historical, Not Merely Organisational Problem
To understand the current situation, it is necessary to look back at the history of bodybuilding.
Bodybuilding had the opportunity to become a widely recognised sport. However, its international development encountered serious institutional and organisational difficulties.
From the end of the twentieth century onwards, differences between the interests of various organisations, competing models of sporting development and complicated relations with official international sporting institutions became increasingly apparent.
In the assessment of WFF-WBBF, this was the period when a prolonged crisis began regarding bodybuilding's status as an officially recognised sport.
It should be emphasised that the legal and institutional status of bodybuilding differs from country to country. This issue must therefore be considered in the context of each country's sporting system and the decisions of international institutions.
Nevertheless, the fundamental question remains relevant: does the current bodybuilding model have sufficient potential to become a widely recognised, publicly attractive sport with a sustainable long-term future?
WFF-WBBF believes that new solutions are necessary.
The WFF-WBBF Strategy: From Bodybuilding Towards a Broader Model of Fitness Sport
Unlike organisations whose activities are primarily focused on traditional bodybuilding, the World WFF-WBBF Federation places particular emphasis on the development of fitness as part of its strategic vision.
This is not simply a matter of changing names or introducing additional competition categories.
It represents a different sporting philosophy, a broader target audience and an ambition to create a sporting model that is more accessible to society.
Traditional bodybuilding primarily focuses on muscular development, body proportions and stage presentation. Fitness, by contrast, can encompass a much wider spectrum of physical preparation, harmonious body development, health-oriented activities and sporting participation.
In the view of WFF-WBBF, this direction offers greater potential to attract people of different ages and levels of physical fitness.
In 2026, approximately 300 athletes participated in each of the Lithuanian WFF-WBBF competitions held in spring and autumn.
These figures demonstrate the organisation's ability to bring together a substantial sporting community. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that traditional bodybuilding competitors account for only approximately 10–15 per cent of all WFF-WBBF participants.
This reflects the organisation's chosen direction: rather than limiting itself to a relatively narrow bodybuilding community, the federation aims to develop a variety of fitness disciplines.
Naturally, participant numbers are not the only measure of sporting success. Nevertheless, they are an important indicator of an organisation's ability to attract people and maintain their interest in sport.
Official Recognition: The Real Test of a Long-Term Strategy
One of the most important strategic objectives declared by WFF-WBBF is the pursuit of official international recognition.
This is not an easy task. International sporting recognition requires sustained work, a clear organisational structure, transparent governance, uniform rules, an anti-doping system, international cooperation and institutional credibility.
WFF-WBBF has declared its intention to develop cooperation with international sporting institutions, including the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations system.
However, such ambitions must be evaluated through concrete actions, official documentation and actual institutional results.
It is important to understand that the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations have different functions and areas of authority. Consequently, the forms of cooperation and recognition procedures associated with them are also different.
Nevertheless, the underlying principle of a long-term strategy is significant: a sporting organisation must know where it wants to be in ten, twenty or even fifty years.
How many other international bodybuilding and fitness organisations have publicly defined strategies of this kind, supported by concrete actions? This is a question that deserves to be answered through documents and actual results rather than declarations.
2027: Where History Meets the Future
In 2027, the WFF-WBBF community will celebrate a particularly important historical occasion.
On 7–9 May, an event dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Amber Prix International tournament (Gintarinis prizas, Янтарный приз) will take place in Klaipėda, Lithuania.
This tournament is one of the oldest traditional international events in the history of bodybuilding and fitness. Its history provides an opportunity to examine the development of several generations of athletes, relations between international organisations and the transformation of the sport itself.
A historical book is being prepared to mark the 60th anniversary, with publication planned in several languages.
This is important work not only for the WFF-WBBF community. Preserving sporting history is essential for understanding objectively how international bodybuilding and fitness developed, which individuals created their traditions and which decisions shaped the present situation.
Sport without history loses its identity. An organisation that does not preserve its past cannot properly plan its future.
Conclusions: Medals Fade, History Remains
The year 2026 has once again demonstrated that simply increasing the number of bodybuilding and fitness organisations, competitions and titles does not guarantee sporting progress.
Today, the most important question is not how many world champions have been announced, but what real value their organisations create for the sport.
Are they developing new generations? Are they attracting public interest? Are they building lasting traditions? Do they have a clear strategy for international recognition? Will their activities still matter several decades from now?
These are questions every athlete, coach and federation leader should be asking.
Athletes must also learn to analyse information independently. Not every medal represents a historic achievement, not every world championship title carries the same level of international recognition, and not every new federation contributes to genuine sporting progress.
It is necessary to distinguish sporting promotion from real achievements, short-term success from long-term strategy, and organisational interests from the interests of sport as a whole.
WFF-WBBF continues to declare its commitment to developing fitness, expanding international activities, preserving historical heritage and pursuing official sporting recognition.
The 60th anniversary of the Amber Prix International in Klaipėda in 2027 will provide another opportunity to assess the journey so far and look towards the future.
There may be many federations. There may be even more champions. But not everyone who wins a medal becomes part of sporting history. Those who remain are the ones who have changed the sport itself through their work.
WHAT IS N.A.B.B.A.? DRAWING CONCLUSIONS.
WE SHOULD KNOW AT LEAST SOMETHING ABOUT OUR SPORTING HISTORY.
We have already described the detailed history of the N.A.B.B.A. association on numerous occasions in our previous articles. Follow our international website www.wff.lt, where extensive information about the history of world bodybuilding and fitness is available.
Following the death of Oscar Heidenstam, N.A.B.B.A. no longer had a leader capable of providing the organization with a new strategic direction. The organization preserved its traditions and historical heritage, but ceased to pursue ambitious international expansion goals.
Nevertheless, N.A.B.B.A. remains one of the oldest and historically most significant bodybuilding organizations in the world. Since its establishment, it has served as an important alternative to other international bodybuilding structures and has left a lasting mark on the history of the sport.
In 1998, the International Olympic Committee refused to support bodybuilding's aspirations to become an Olympic sport. Furthermore, following the cessation of activities of G.A.I.S.F. (Global Association of International Sports Federations) in 2023, the status of international bodybuilding organizations became even more complicated and less clearly defined.
N.A.B.B.A. IN LITHUANIA. SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL EVENTS
Following the collapse of the socialist system, many people expected a Western miracle. Lithuanian athletes were no exception.
In December 1990, during the “Miss Olympia” event in New York, IFBB President Ben Weider told Edmundas Daubaras that he did not recognize Lithuania's independence and would not admit Lithuanian athletes into the IFBB federation separately from the Soviet Union.
Edmundas Daubaras had to find an independent path. At that time, there was virtually no information available about international bodybuilding organizations, so everything had to be researched and organized independently.
The restored Lithuanian state needed international recognition and support.
With the assistance of Lithuania's Minister of Sport, Algirdas Raslanas, in May 1991 we established the first national bodybuilding organization in Lithuania – the Lithuanian National Bodybuilding Association (LNKA).
Having united the country's best bodybuilders of that time, we participated in the N.A.B.B.A. European Championships in France in May 1991. Natalija Murnikovienė from Klaipėda and Rolandas Bučinskas from Šiauliai became the first historic bodybuilding champions of independent Lithuania.
Soon afterwards, Edmundas Daubaras brought back an official document from London in which N.A.B.B.A. recognized Lithuania's independence and expressed its support for the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee. The document was handed over to LTOK President Artūras Poviliūnas.
With the support of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, we organized N.A.B.B.A. European Championships in Klaipėda, Vilnius, and Palanga in 1996–1998. Edmundas Daubaras was appointed Vice President of the international N.A.B.B.A. association.
Gradually, through our communication with N.A.B.B.A. President Ivan Dunbar, we discovered that in England N.A.B.B.A. was legally registered as a public club. This raised numerous legal and financial questions.
Since 1995, we had been actively developing the activities of the World Fitness Federation (WFF). Support from the Lithuanian state for our events was also growing.
Ministers, prime ministers, and members of the Lithuanian Parliament became chairpersons and members of the organizing committees of our events.
Following the spectacular WFF World Championships held at the Vilnius Congress Palace in 2004 and 2005, the records set at those events remain unsurpassed to this day. The reaction of N.A.B.B.A. leaders in London became increasingly tense.
At that time, the scale of our activities and our international presence clearly exceeded those of N.A.B.B.A.
As tensions increased, in 2005 we decided to leave N.A.B.B.A. and continue on our own independent path.
Our objective was clear – we sought international recognition for bodybuilding and fitness, official government support, and broader opportunities for organizational development. These objectives were not priorities for N.A.B.B.A.
Essentially, this situation remains unchanged to this day.
The position we left within the N.A.B.B.A. organization was subsequently occupied by other representatives of Lithuania.
History is history. It must be known, respected, and lessons must be drawn from it.
2026 INTERNATIONAL SPORTS NEWS.
PLANNED OFFICIAL VISIT OF WFF-WBBF WORLD FEDERATION LEADERSHIP TO POLAND.
An official visit of the leadership of the World WFF-WBBF Federation to several cities in Poland is planned in the near future.
The visit's agenda will include a series of important international meetings, sporting events, as well as meetings with representatives of the Polish government and state authorities.
One of the key objectives of the visit is to discuss the possibility of organizing the 47-th prestigious international "WFF-WBBF World Grand Prix" tournament for professional and amateur athletes in Poland in 2027.
The planned event is expected to become a significant international sporting occasion, contributing to the development of bodybuilding, strengthening international cooperation, and expanding the WFF-WBBF Federation's activities across Europe.
Further information on the Federation's international projects, events, and activities is available on the official international website: www.wff.lt
WFF-WBBF – International Cooperation, Sports Development, and New Opportunities for Athletes Worldwide!
2026 MIĘDZYNARODOWE WIADOMOŚCI SPORTOWE.
PLANOWANA OFICJALNA WIZYTA KIEROWNICTWA ŚWIATOWEJ FEDERACJI WFF-WBBF W POLSCE.
W najbliższym czasie planowana jest oficjalna wizyta kierownictwa Światowej Federacji WFF-WBBF w kilku miastach Polski.
Program wizyty obejmuje szereg ważnych międzynarodowych spotkań, wydarzeń sportowych, a także spotkania z przedstawicielami polskich władz państwowych i instytucji rządowych.
Jednym z głównych celów wizyty jest omówienie możliwości organizacji w Polsce w 2027 roku 47. (czterdziesty siódmy) prestiżowego międzynarodowego turnieju „WFF-WBBF World Grand Prix” dla zawodników profesjonalnych i amatorskich.
Oczekuje się, że planowane wydarzenie stanie się znaczącym międzynarodowym wydarzeniem sportowym, przyczyniającym się do rozwoju kulturystyki, wzmacniania współpracy międzynarodowej oraz rozszerzania działalności federacji WFF-WBBF w Europie.
Więcej informacji na temat międzynarodowych projektów, wydarzeń i działalności federacji można znaleźć na oficjalnej stronie internetowej: www.wff.lt
WFF-WBBF – Międzynarodowa współpraca, rozwój sportu i nowe możliwości dla sportowców na całym świecie!
WORLD SPORT HISTORY.
A History of the Amber Prix: 60 Years
On May 7–9, 2027, we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Amber Prix in Klaipėda. It is one of the three oldest international sports tournaments in the world. We will invite distinguished athletes from various countries, prominent public figures and politicians to join the celebrations.
To mark the occasion, we will publish a book in several languages about the history of the Amber Prix and the development of bodybuilding around the world. The book will be unique in bringing together the history of bodybuilding in the “West”—the capitalist world—and the “East”—the socialist world. No one has attempted this before. Drawing on the documents and firsthand experience at our disposal, we aim to tell a story that few others today could tell. The manuscript is complete, and layout work has begun.
We are still discussing the title. For now, we are considering: “The Amber Prix: From a Bomb Shelter to the Blessing of the Vatican.”
In presenting this unique historical book, we will first recognize the people and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Amber Prix and the development of sport worldwide.
First, the Vatican. During an official reception at the Vatican in 2011, we presented the history of our sport. Speaking about the Amber Prix and the banning and persecution of bodybuilding in socialist countries, Cardinal Jozef Tomko described our actions in opposition to the communist regime as “dissident.” He awarded Dr. Edmundas Daubaras, president of the World WFF-WBBF Federation, a medal of Pope Benedict XVI.
The international broadcaster CNN also played an important role. In 2017, for the Amber Prix’s 50th anniversary, CNN produced a report from Klaipėda that was seen by people around the world.
We particularly value the contribution of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania to the Amber Prix and the development of sport worldwide. In 2007, when Klaipėda marked the tournament’s 40th anniversary, the Seimas voted to provide a separate line in the Lithuanian state budget for funding the tournament. For the past three decades, the Seimas has held formal receptions for participants from various countries who came to compete in the Amber Prix.
We also value the contribution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Since the restoration of independence, we have worked with various ministers, including prime ministers, on the development of sport. More recently, we have been grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its professional assistance in addressing issues important to our sport.
For more information, visit the international website www.wff.lt.
International Recognition of Public Service.
Dr Edmundas Daubaras Inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Kingdom of Denmark.
In 2008, during the WFF–WBBF World "Universe" Championships held in Vilnius, Lithuania, Dr Edmundas Daubaras received one of the most significant international distinctions of his career when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The Hall of Fame was established in 2005 by a group of distinguished Danish public figures to recognise individuals whose work has made an exceptional contribution to the advancement of health promotion, fitness, bodybuilding and international sporting cooperation. Each year, a single laureate is selected by an independent jury from among nominees representing different countries.
The standing of the distinction is reflected in its previous recipients. In 2006, the honour was awarded to Arnold Schwarzenegger, then Governor of California and one of the world's most influential figures in the history of bodybuilding. The following year, the Hall of Fame recognised Bruce Bell of Nebraska, USA—an educator, sports photographer, documentary filmmaker and publisher whose lifelong work preserved much of the visual history of international sport and helped promote the sport across the world.
In 2008, the jury considered thirteen internationally respected nominees before unanimously selecting Dr Edmundas Daubaras. The official certificate confirming the decision was presented during the international event in Vilnius by Anders Buus, Chairman of the Hall of Fame of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The citation accompanying the award describes Dr Daubaras as a leading figure in the international fitness and bodybuilding movement whose dedication has played an important role in promoting the sport and strengthening its international standing. It further acknowledges his long-standing commitment to representing athletes' interests and his contribution to fostering cooperation within the worldwide bodybuilding community.
The original citation reads:
"Mr. Edmundas Daubaras is a constant source of wisdom to the muscle sport all over the World, and his work in promoting Fitness and Bodybuilding is without comparison.
Furthermore Mr. Edmundas Daubaras is a true gentleman and always the Athletes' spokesperson No. 1, and his work will forever remain a true gesture to anybody with interest in the fine sport of Bodybuilding and shaping bodies.
It is our hope that Mr. Edmundas Daubaras will remain a true friend of the sport for many years, and we hereby welcome him into the fine company of the HALL OF FAME.
Thirteen other prominent international persons were nominated this year, but the Jury voted for Mr. Edmundas Daubaras, and he is now in the distinguished company of, amongst others, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who received this honour in 2006.
Anders Buus
Chairman, Hall of Fame of the Kingdom of Denmark
Dr Daubaras's induction into the Hall of Fame represented not merely a personal distinction but also international acknowledgement of Lithuania's contribution to the development of organised fitness and bodybuilding. His selection from a field of thirteen distinguished international nominees reflected the high regard in which his organisational leadership, public service and long-term commitment to the sport were held by the international community.
The award confirmed Dr Edmundas Daubaras's position as one of the foremost figures in the international fitness and bodybuilding movement. His work over several decades contributed substantially to the sport's institutional development, strengthened cooperation between national federations and consistently advanced the interests of athletes at the international level.
More information is on international site www.wff.lt
