1977 Congress
THE ROLL CALL
Delegates were present from the following 41 National Federations:
| Algeria | Greece | Mexico | Spain |
| Austria | Holland | Morocco | Sweden |
| Barbados | Hungary | Netherlands-Antilles | Switzerland |
| Belgium | Iran | New Zealand | Syria |
| Canada | Ireland | Poland | Tunisia |
| Czechoslovakia | Israel | Portugal | Turkey |
| Egypt | Italy | Romania | USA |
| England | Lebanon | Senegal | Venezuela |
| Finland |
Luxembourg |
Singapore | Wales |
| France | Mauritius | South Africa | Yugoslavia |
| Germany | |||
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Ben Weider, C.M., presents to Albert Placide, president of
IFBB France, a special lithograph in recognition of the organization of the World Championships and Congress. |
NEW NATIONAL FEDERATIONS AFFILIATED
Bangladesh
Columbia
Congo
Mongolia
New Caledonia
Norway
Uganda
THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Every year, the IFBB has grown from strength to strength and 1977 has not been an exception. The "New York Times", America’s most prestigious newspaper has called bodybuilding "The fastest growing sport in the world today" and so it is.
Our world championships in Montreal last year, was seen by over 750 million viewers in over 90 countries. The largest newspapers and magazines in America carried feature articles and several important television programmes carried important reports on bodybuilding.
Because of this added exposure, the numbers of member nationsl has increased again this year, and were are pleased to welcome as members the following countries: Norway, Mongolia, New Caledonia, the Congo, Bangladesh, Columbia and Uganda.
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Ben Weider proudly presents the IFBB’s highest award, the President’s Gold Medal, to (left) Malih Alaywan, IFBB Vice President for the Middle East, and (right) Paul Chua, General-Secretary of the
Asian Bodybuilding Federation. |
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We have equally strengthen our federation through the re-organization of weak federations that would not respect the constitution and rules of the IFBB. The IFBB has no place for maverick federations that will not work together as a team. Each federation must work for the general good of all.
Germany, England and Holland are three federations that have been re-organized and strengthened and we can therefore expect better co-ordinated activities in those countries. Other national federations are being investigated to ensure they adhere to the IFBB rules and co-operate for the general good of the total concept of international bodybuilding.
In America, a very important event took place. The AAU which controls several olympic and many non-olympic sports has a bodybuilding committee which during their convention in Santa Monica, California in July, decided to intensify their co-operation with the IFBB. This will go a long way towards unifying and strengthening the amateur bodybuilding movement in America.
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The IFBB Judges Committee reviewing the various propositions from the National Federations.
From left to right: Oscar State (England), Secretary, Mostafa Hefzi (Egypt), Member, Franco Fassi (Italy), Member, Dennis Stallard (Wales), Chairman. |
I am pleased to report that the official journal of the International Olympic Committee, the "Olympic Review", has in the past published news only about olympic sports. However, recently they have started to publish news about non-olympic sports and I am pleased to report that our federation and sport has already been featured regularly in the Olympic Review. This in itself is a form of recognition which we are extremely proud of and you should be encouraged by this acceptance.
According to correspondence we have received, it is the intentions of the USSR, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary to participate in Nimes at the world championships this year. At this stage, it is too early to tell if they will attend and participate, but their intentions expressed in writing shows the great extent bodybuilding has grown. There is not one place in the world that does not have an interest in bodybuilding and its growth continues regularly.
The film "Pumping Iron" featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger and other great champions had a great influence on the development of bodybuilding in many countries around the world. The book "Pumping Iron" has sold 125,000 copies, making it the most popular of all sports books ever published.
Visnews, the London based world television news network, has now agreed to cover our European and Asian Championships and the results will be distributed throughout the nations in the continent where the contest is organized. This shoudl increase the interest in our sport.
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The IFBB Executive Council in session. From left to right: Paul Chua (Singapore), Jacques Blommaert (Belgium),
Julien Blommaert (Belgium), Dennis Stallard (Wales), Harris Kagan (Canada), Pierre Mazereau (France – interpreter), Albert Placide (France), Oscar State (England), Ben Weider (Canada), Winston Roberts (Canada), Malih Alaywan (Lebanon), Etienne de Boever (Belgium), Marc Handard (Belgium), Abd El Hamid El Guindi (Egypt), Victor Copra (Netherlands-Antilles). |
Our federation does not allow politics to interfere with sport and we are proud to announce that these efforts have paid off in South Africa. Multiracial contests now exist, not only in national and international contests, but in regional and state contests as well, and we have already athletes in these contests. This is what we call "progress".
This is what the IFBB and the sport of bodybuilding is all about. Bodybuilding is not only important for "Nation Building" but it is also building bridges across nations to create one common brotherhood of all, regardless of racial, religious and political affiliations.
I wish at this time to give thanks and recognition to several outstanding officials of the IFBB. Their continued dedication and devotioin has helped bodybuilding to expand tremendously. You will forgive me if I cannot mention everybody that deserves this recognition. Here President Weider pays special tribute to: Malih Alaywan (Lebanon), IFBB Vice President for the Middle East, Paul Chua, Secretary-General of the Asian Bodybuilding Federation, Julien Blommaert, Acting IFBB Vice President for Europe, Jim Lorimer and Arnold Schwarzenegger, IFBB Professional Committee, Joe Weider, Albert Placide, French bodybuilding federation, Oscar State, IFBB Patron, Marc Hankard, IFBB Patron, and Dennis Stallard, Chairman IFBB Judges Committee.
DECISIONS OF THE IFBB EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
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1. The Council approved of the reorganization of the German federation with Albert Busek as president; the Yugoslavia federation with Peter Celik as president; the British federation with Dennis Stallard as president’ and the Dutch federation with Walter van den Branden as president.
2. The Professional Committee was disbanded in favor of professional "delegates-at-large". The following delegates were appointed:
Arnold Schwarzenegger (USA)
Jim Lorimer (USA)
Boyer Coe (USA)
Franco Columbu (USA)
Reg Park (South Africa)
3. It was decided that the IFBB would, in future, retain a share of all television fees.
4. A proposal to amend the bodyweight categories as follows was tabled to give time to the members to get used to bodyweight categories, which had only been introduced in 1976.:
a. Featherweight, 70kg
b. Lightweight, 80kg
c. Middleweight, 90kg
d. Heavyweight, over 90kg
* Bantamweight, 60kg (Asian countries only)
5. Only judges holding International Level "A" Judging Cards will be invited to judge the Mr. Olympia.
6. All National Federations are to be cautioned against holding competition in height classes instead of weight categories as agreed to at the 1976 IFBB Congress in Montreal.
It was also noted for the record that:
1. Ben Weider was invited to be a member of the Steering Committee for the first World Games, being organized by the International World Games Association, to which Mr. Weider, along with Mr. Don Porter, president of the International Softball Federation, were founding members.
2. The IFBB was a member of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF); in French, AGFIS. The new GAISF constitution reinforced the policy that only one international sport federation would be recognized per sport. The IFBB was recognized by GAISF as the only legitimate International Sport Governing Body (ISGB) for the sport of bodybuilding.
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In 1975, Ben Weider received Canada’s highest award,
the "Order of Canada" (left). In 1977, Ben Weider was once again
honored when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II presented him with the Silver Jubilee Medal (right). |
3. Amendments were made to the IFBB Constitution in the following areas:
a. Article 12 – Duties of the General Secretary
b. Article 20 – Victory Ceremony
4. Amendments were made to the IFBB Technical Rules in the following areas:
a. Judges must pay a US $10 judging fee.
b. The three bodyweight categories are:
(i) Lightweight, 75kg
(ii) Middleweight, 90kg
(iii) Heavyweight, over 90kg
c. NFs may enter up to 3 competitors who may enter any bodyweight category.
d. All competitors must weigh in before the Prejudging (in posing attire).
e. The Prejudging may be open to the general public ("provided that the spectators do not obstruct in any way the judging procedures").
f. There are 3 scoring rounds as follows:
(i) Round 1: relaxed attention from 4 sides, individually and all together
(ii) Round 2: 6 compulsory poses, individually and all together
(iii) Round 3: free posing for one minute
*at the end of the Finals in each category, a posedown will occur comprising the 6 compulsory poses followed immediately by free posing
g. The use of oil is strictly prohibited.
h. First, second and third place finalists will receive the IFBB Gold, Silver and Bronze medals respectively.
i. First to sixth place will receive diplomas provided by the Organizer.
5. Article 4 was added to the Technical Rules and states, "The President shall have the authority for interpreting any dispute arising out of the statutes and rules of the IFBB. If he so wishes, he may seek the advice of the Disciplinary Committee, the Executive Council or the Congress before taking the final decision."
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The Lightweight class:
1st place – Danny Padilla (USA – center), 2nd place – Mohamed Makkawy (Egypt – right), 3rd place – Renato Bertagna (Italy – left) |
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LIGHTWEIGHT 75KG
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| NAME | COUNTRY |
PLACE
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Danny Padilla
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USA
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1
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Mohamed Makkawy
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Egypt
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2
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Renato Bertagna
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Italy
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3
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Bernard Sealy
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Barbados
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4
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Robert Dantlinger
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Czechoslovakia
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5
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Rohmat Juraimi
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Singapore
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6
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The Middleweight class:
1st place – Roy Callender (Canada – center), 2nd place – Darcy Beckles (Barbados – right), 3rd place – Petr Stach (Czechoslovakia – left) |
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MIDDLEWEIGHT 90KG
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| NAME | COUNTRY |
PLACE
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Roy Callender
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Canada
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1
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Darcy Beckles
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Barbados
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2
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Petr Stach
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Czechoslovakia
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3
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Walter Bubenicek
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Austria
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4
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Loftus Roach
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Barbados
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5
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Mederic Annette
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France
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6
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The Heavyweight class:
1st place – Kalman Szkalak (USA – center), 2nd place – Mike Mentzer (USA – right), 3rd place – Paul Grant (Wales – left) |
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HEAVYWEIGHT OVER 90KG
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| NAME | COUNTRY |
PLACE
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Kalman Szkalak
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USA
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1
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Mike Mentzer
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USA
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2
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Paul Grant
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Wales
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3
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Alois Pek
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Czechoslovakia
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4
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Karl Kainrath
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Austria
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5
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Gunnar Rosbo
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Norway
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6
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