Sport in Lithuania
Encyclopedia
Following independence in 1990, the Lithuania
n government set up the Physical Education and Sports Department to manage physical education in the schools as well as sports administration in the country. Over the next few years, Lithuanian sports organizations established or re-established membership in various international bodies, including the International Olympic Committee
. Lithuania participated in the Winter Olympics in Albertville and every Winter and Summer Olympics since.
There are nearly 80 Olympic and non-Olympic sports federations in Lithuania and the Lithuanian Union of Sports Federations was founded in 1993 to unite them. The Sports for All organization was established to promote physical education and a healthy lifestyle for all Lithuanians.
Among the most popular sports in Lithuania are basketball, football, athletics
and cycling. Professional sportsmen and trainers are educated in the Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education
.
, Luke Winn, said in an August 2011 story that
A few facts:
, being number 37 in October 2008.
At the beginning of the existence of the independent Lithuanian state (from 1919 until the Soviet occupation
) the word sport was equaled to the word soccer. soccer players were the first sportsmen to participate in international competitions, notably the 1924 Olympic games in Paris and 1937 in World Cup
qualifiers. During the occupation period soccer was also popular in Lithuania. The main problem in Lithuanian soccer is a lack of stadiums and training grounds.
There are individual players playing in strong European soccer leagues, most famous of them:
The A Lyga
(English: The A League) is the top division of professional soccer in Lithuania.
Like the rest of Europe, Lithuanians do like to watch the UEFA Champions League
, the FIFA World Cup
and other world class soccer tournaments. There are many fans
of this sport.
has become the capital of Lithuanian rugby. Two strongest teams in Lithuania are located there. Representatives of Šiauliai "Vairas-Jupoja" are national champions and Šiauliai "BaltRex" are runners-up for the last 10 years (exc. year 2006). Lithuanian national team is playing in European rugby division 2A. World rugby superstar Laurynas Tipelis is also playing for his country.
Lithuanian national team holds a World Record of 18 consecutive international wins. This run has started in 2006 and was ended only in 2010, then Lithuania lost its World Cup qualifier to much higher ranked Ukraine.
At the moment Lithuania is ranked 39th in the IRB rankings.
There are 13 rugby clubs in Lithuania. More than 1600 players (820 seniors).
Rugby 7's is also played in Lithuania. Lithuanian rugby 7's national team is a prominent participant of European championships.
Lithuanian women's rugby 7's national team is showing progress and rising from lower tiers of European rugby.
. In recent years there was raised new perspective sprinters generation in Lithuania. At 2010 two Lithuanian sprinters Martynas Jurgilas
and Rytis Sakalauskas
improved national record
for 100 metres running. One of the best Lithuanian female sprinters Lina Grinčikaitė
won gold medals in 2009 Summer Universiade
and 2009 European Athletics U23 Championships
. Lithuania also have tradition of long distance running. Most successful long distances runners is Aleksandras Antipovas
and Živilė Balčiūnaitė
. Female heptathletes won some medals in biggest events.
There are Lithuanian cyclists with high achievements in prestigious cycling tours and in World Championships. The achievements of Lithuanian women cyclists are especially noteworthy.
Lithuanian women cyclists made their mark on the international scene starting from 1991. Leading the way in this were, among others, Zita Urbonaitė
and Diana Čepelienė who took the 3rd place (overall GC) in the Women's Challenge
in summer of 1991.
Among the best Lithuanian cyclists were twin sisters Jolanta Polikevičiūtė
and Rasa Polikevičiūtė
(2001 World Road Race
Champion), Edita Pučinskaitė
(1999 World Road Race Champion), and Diana Žiliūtė
(1994 World Junior Road Race Champion, 1998 World Road Race Champion, and 2000 Olympic Games Road Race bronze medalist).
There is also a strong program of promotion of cycling at the junior level for girls in Lithuania culminating in an annual international race for girls in Panevėžys
. A number of young Lithuanian riders have emerged from this program, led by Modesta Vžesniauskaitė who now stands among the top riders in the world.
Women track cycling team regularly wins medals in World and European championships. In recent years most successful track cyclist is Simona Krupeckaitė
.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n government set up the Physical Education and Sports Department to manage physical education in the schools as well as sports administration in the country. Over the next few years, Lithuanian sports organizations established or re-established membership in various international bodies, including the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
. Lithuania participated in the Winter Olympics in Albertville and every Winter and Summer Olympics since.
There are nearly 80 Olympic and non-Olympic sports federations in Lithuania and the Lithuanian Union of Sports Federations was founded in 1993 to unite them. The Sports for All organization was established to promote physical education and a healthy lifestyle for all Lithuanians.
Among the most popular sports in Lithuania are basketball, football, athletics
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
and cycling. Professional sportsmen and trainers are educated in the Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education
Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education
The Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education is the only state-supported institution of tertiary physical education in Kaunas, Lithuania. It has the university status. Since its establishment, the academy is headquartered in Žaliakalnis neighbourhood of Kaunas, in close proximity to the Kaunas...
.
Basketball
Basketball is the most popular and the most successful team sport in Lithuania. A writer for the American magazine Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, Luke Winn, said in an August 2011 story that
"Basketball is the only sport the 3.2 million Lithuanians truly care about—it's their second religion, after Catholicism—and their success is proportionately stunning."
A few facts:
- The Lithuanian national basketball teamLithuania national basketball teamThe Lithuanian national basketball team is the representative for Lithuania in international men's basketball. Lithuania won bronze medals in three out of five Olympic tournaments it participated in....
won the European Basketball ChampionshipEurobasketThe EuroBasket, also referred to as the FIBA European Basketball Championship, is the main basketball competition contested biennially by the men's national teams governed by FIBA Europe, the European zone within the International Basketball Federation. The championship was first held in 1935 and...
in 1937Eurobasket 1937The 1937 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1937, was the second regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Eight national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation took part in the competition. Defending champions Latvia hosted the tournament, held...
, 1939Eurobasket 1939The 1939 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1939, was the third regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Eight national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation took part in the competition...
, and 2003Eurobasket 2003-5th to 8th place:-Awards:-All-Tournament Team : Tony Parker Šarūnas Jasikevičius Saulius Štombergas Andrei Kirilenko Pau Gasol-Top scorers :# Pau Gasol 25.8# Andrei Kirilenko 23.1# Dirk Nowitzki 22.5# Mehmet Okur 18.7...
. They won silver medals in 1995EuroBasket 1995EuroBasket 1995 final tournament stage was XXIX European basketball championship and was held in Athens, Greece from 21 June to 2 July, 1995. This European championship was the first one that saw the successful return of Lithuania national basketball team to the tournament, since its last triumph...
, and bronze – in 2007Eurobasket 2007-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :...
. - Bronze medal winners in the 2010 FIBA World Championship2010 FIBA World ChampionshipThe 2010 FIBA World Championship, hosted by Turkey, was the international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams. The tournament ran from August 28 to September 12, 2010. It was co-organized by the International Basketball Federation , Turkish Basketball Federation and the...
. - Bronze medal winners in the 19921992 Summer OlympicsThe 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, 19961996 Summer OlympicsThe 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, and 2000 Summer Olympics2000 Summer OlympicsThe Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. Finished 4th in 20042004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
and 20082008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
. - Junior basketball team (under 19 years of age) has won the European Championship in 2003 and took 2nd place in the World Championship in the same year.
- Junior basketball team (under 21) won the World Championship in 2005 (Argentina)
- EuroBasket 1939Eurobasket 1939The 1939 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1939, was the third regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Eight national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation took part in the competition...
was held in Lithuania. EuroBasket 2011Eurobasket 2011EuroBasket 2011 was the 37th men's European Basketball Championship, held by FIBA Europe. The competition was hosted by Lithuania. This was the second time Eurobasket had been held in Lithuania, the country having also hosted the 1939 championship. FIBA Europe asserted that Lithuania managed to...
will be the second time Lithuania hosts the championships. - "ŽalgirisBC ŽalgirisBC Žalgiris is a professional basketball team that is based in Kaunas, Lithuania. It is one of the oldest teams in the Euroleague and plays domestically in the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga , and regionally in the VTB United League...
" Kaunas won the Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (basketball)The World Cup for Champion Clubs, commonly referred to as the Intercontinental Cup, was a basketball competition endorsed by FIBA to gather the best clubs from the federations affiliated to FIBA and to officially decide the best club of the world, contended mainly by the continents of higher...
in 1986, EuroCupSaporta CupSaporta Cup was the name of the second-tier level European professional club basketball competition, where the National Cup winners from all over Europe played against each other. The competition was organized by FIBA Europe...
in 1998 and the EuroleagueEuroleagueEuroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
in 1999.
- "Lietuvos RytasBC Lietuvos RytasBC Lietuvos rytas is a professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania playing in the Lithuanian Basketball League , the VTB United League, and the Eurocup...
" Vilnius has won the ULEB Cup, now known as the Eurocup, in 2005 and 2009, and was the runner-up in 2007. - Euroleague:
- Šarūnas JasikevičiusŠarunas JasikeviciusŠarūnas Jasikevičius is a Lithuanian professional basketball player who plays for Panathinaikos BC. He is a member of the Lithuanian national team, and plays the point guard position.-Early years:...
– 4 time winner of the Euroleague. - Awarded as Euroleague MVP – Arvydas MacijauskasArvydas MacijauskasArvydas Macijauskas is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball player. He announced termination of his career after his last club, Olympiacos, released him following a prolonged judicial litigation.-Early years:...
, Ramūnas ŠiškauskasRamunas ŠiškauskasRamūnas Šiškauskas in height and he weighs 220 lbs. . He is currently with CSKA Moscow.-Player profile:Šiškauskas is a physical forward who can easily play, both on offense and defense, at the guard positions, on the wing, and also in the paint...
, Arvydas SabonisArvydas SabonisArvydas Romas Sabonis is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball player and a businessman. He was an eight-time European Player of the Year, winning the Euroscar Award six times, and the Mr...
.
- Šarūnas Jasikevičius
- Several Lithuanian basketball players have successfully played in the NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
:- Arvydas SabonisArvydas SabonisArvydas Romas Sabonis is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball player and a businessman. He was an eight-time European Player of the Year, winning the Euroscar Award six times, and the Mr...
(Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail BlazersThe Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
, 1995–2001, 2002–03) - Šarūnas MarčiulionisŠarunas MarciulionisRaimondas Šarūnas Marčiulionis is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball player. He was one of the first Europeans to become a regular in the North American National Basketball Association...
(Golden State WarriorsGolden State WarriorsThe Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and other teams, 1989–1997) - Žydrūnas IlgauskasŽydrunas IlgauskasŽydrūnas Ilgauskas , or "Big Z" , is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association...
(previously played for the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland CavaliersThe Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
, now – Miami HeatMiami HeatThe Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
) - Darius SongailaDarius SongailaDarius Songaila is a Lithuanian professional basketball player. He is also a member of the Lithuania national team. He can play power forward and center positions. He currently plays for Galatasaray Medical Park in Turkey....
(playing for the Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
) - Linas KleizaLinas KleizaLinas Kleiza is a Lithuanian professional basketball player with the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association. He is also a member of the Lithuanian national team. He can play either forward position. Kleiza signed a four year, $18.8 million contract prior to the 2010–11 NBA...
(previously played for the Denver NuggetsDenver NuggetsThe Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, now for the Toronto RaptorsToronto RaptorsThe Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
)
- Arvydas Sabonis
- Currently Lithuania is 5th in the FIBA World RankingsFIBA World RankingsThe International Basketball Federation calculates the world rankings of all of its basketball teams.-Calculation:...
. Putting this in perspective, Winn added in the same story that Lithuania was at the time"...behind countries of 313 million (the U.S.), 47 million (Spain
Spain national basketball teamThe Spanish national basketball team is the basketball team representing Spain in international competitions, organized and run by the Spanish Basketball Federation...
), 40 million (ArgentinaArgentina national basketball teamThe Argentina national basketball team represents Argentina in basketball international competitions, and is controlled by the Argentine Basketball Federation....
) and 11 million (GreeceGreece national basketball teamThe Greece national basketball team is the representative for Greece in international men's basketball competitions, organized and run by the Hellenic Basketball Federation. Traditionally, Greece is considered among the world's top basketball powers; they were runners-up in the 2006 FIBA World...
), and just ahead of countries of 79 million (TurkeyTurkey national basketball teamThe Turkish national basketball team is the basketball section that represents Turkey in international competitions. The team is nicknamed "12 Dev Adam" ....
) and 61 million (ItalyItaly national basketball teamThe Italian national basketball team is the national basketball team representing Italy. It is administrated by the Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro ....
).
Soccer
The Lithuanian national soccer team has reached it's highest ratingFIFA World Rankings
The FIFA World Rankings is a ranking system for men's national teams in association football, currently led by Spain. The teams of the member nations of FIFA , football's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the most successful teams being ranked highest...
, being number 37 in October 2008.
At the beginning of the existence of the independent Lithuanian state (from 1919 until the Soviet occupation
Military occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
) the word sport was equaled to the word soccer. soccer players were the first sportsmen to participate in international competitions, notably the 1924 Olympic games in Paris and 1937 in World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
qualifiers. During the occupation period soccer was also popular in Lithuania. The main problem in Lithuanian soccer is a lack of stadiums and training grounds.
There are individual players playing in strong European soccer leagues, most famous of them:
- Edgaras JankauskasEdgaras JankauskasEdgaras Jankauskas is a retired Lithuanian footballer who works as a coach-interpreter for FC Lokomotiv Moscow.A tall, powerful striker who plays to the physical side of the game, he is also known for skill. Other than in his own, he played professionally in nine different countries, and...
– winner of the Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in 2004 with FC PortoFutebol Clube do PortoFutebol Clube do Porto , commonly known as FC Porto, Porto, or FCP, is a Portuguese multi-sports club from the city of Porto, in the northern region of the country. Although they successfully compete in a number of different sports, FC Porto is mostly known for its association football team... - Deividas ŠemberasDeividas ŠemberasDeividas Šemberas is a Lithuanian professional footballer who plays as centre back for Russian Premier League club PFC CSKA Moscow...
– winner of the UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
in 2005 with CSKA - Marius StankevičiusMarius StankeviciusMarius "StankyLeg" Stankevičius is a Lithuanian professional footballer who plays for the Serie A club S.S. Lazio, as a defender . He was the Lithuanian player of the year in 2008 and 2009.-International career:...
– successful wing back in Italian Serie A and Liga BBVA - Tomas DanilevičiusTomas DanileviciusTomas Danilevičius is a Lithuanian professional footballer currently playing for Juve Stabia. A striker, he stands 1.91m tall and weighs 82 kg.-Club career:...
– All-time leader scorer on Lithuanian National Team, currently plays for A.S. Livorno CalcioA.S. Livorno CalcioAssociazione Sportiva Livorno Calcio is an Italian football club based in Livorno, Tuscany. The club was formed in 1915 and currently plays in Italian Serie B. The team's colors are dark red or maroon...
The A Lyga
A Lyga
The A Lyga is the top division of professional football in Lithuania. It is organized by LFF . League size has varied between 8 and 12 teams over the past few years; for its 2011 season, the league features 12 teams...
(English: The A League) is the top division of professional soccer in Lithuania.
Like the rest of Europe, Lithuanians do like to watch the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
and other world class soccer tournaments. There are many fans
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
of this sport.
Rugby
Rugby Union was introduced in Lithuania around 1960's. First teams where created in Kaunas and Vilnius. During last 20 years northern city of ŠiauliaiŠiauliai
Šiauliai , is the fourth largest city in Lithuania, with a population of 133,900. It is the capital of Šiauliai County. Unofficially, the city is the capital of Northern Lithuania.-Names:...
has become the capital of Lithuanian rugby. Two strongest teams in Lithuania are located there. Representatives of Šiauliai "Vairas-Jupoja" are national champions and Šiauliai "BaltRex" are runners-up for the last 10 years (exc. year 2006). Lithuanian national team is playing in European rugby division 2A. World rugby superstar Laurynas Tipelis is also playing for his country.
Lithuanian national team holds a World Record of 18 consecutive international wins. This run has started in 2006 and was ended only in 2010, then Lithuania lost its World Cup qualifier to much higher ranked Ukraine.
At the moment Lithuania is ranked 39th in the IRB rankings.
There are 13 rugby clubs in Lithuania. More than 1600 players (820 seniors).
Rugby 7's is also played in Lithuania. Lithuanian rugby 7's national team is a prominent participant of European championships.
Lithuanian women's rugby 7's national team is showing progress and rising from lower tiers of European rugby.
Athletics
Lithuanian athletes have won 11 medals in the Olympics, 7 at World championships and 14 medals in European Championships. Most successful Lithuanian athlete is discus thrower Virglijus Alekna, two times Olympic gold medalist and two times world champion. Other olympic giold medalist discus thrower is Romas UbartasRomas Ubartas
Romas Ubartas is a retired male discus thrower from Lithuania who won a silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics for the USSR and a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics for Lithuania. His personal best was 70.06m. He also became European champion, in 1986. In the Soviet time he trained at Dynamo...
. In recent years there was raised new perspective sprinters generation in Lithuania. At 2010 two Lithuanian sprinters Martynas Jurgilas
Martynas Jurgilas
Martynas Jurgilas is a track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Lithuania.On 12 June 2010 in Liberty, Missouri, USA, Jurgilas set a new 100 metres national record of 10.27 seconds...
and Rytis Sakalauskas
Rytis Sakalauskas
Rytis Sakalauskas is a track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Lithuania.In 2010 he reached world record in alternative indoor 150 m running event....
improved national record
Lithuanian records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Lithuania maintained by Lithuanian national athletics federation: Lietuvos Lengvosios Atletikos Federacija .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:+ = en route to a longer distanceOT = oversized track...
for 100 metres running. One of the best Lithuanian female sprinters Lina Grinčikaitė
Lina Grincikaite
Lina Grinčikaitė is a track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Lithuania.Grinčikaitė represented Lithuania at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She competed at the 100 metres sprint and placed third in her first round heat after Chandra Sturrup and Kelly-Ann Baptiste in a...
won gold medals in 2009 Summer Universiade
2009 Summer Universiade
The 2009 Summer Universiade, officially known as the XXV Summer Universiade were celebrated in Belgrade, Serbia from 1 July to 12 July 2009. The event has also been organised by a range of co-host cities mostly in Vojvodina , close to Belgrade. It was the largest sporting event ever to be organised...
and 2009 European Athletics U23 Championships
2009 European Athletics U23 Championships
The 7th European Athletics U23 Championships were held between 16 and 19 July 2009 in the S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas, Lithuania.-Men's Results:-Women's Results:-Medal table:-References:General...
. Lithuania also have tradition of long distance running. Most successful long distances runners is Aleksandras Antipovas
Aleksandras Antipovas
Aleksandras Antipovas is a retired Lithuanian long-distance runner who represented the USSR under the name Aleksandr Antipov.-Achievements:-References:*...
and Živilė Balčiūnaitė
Živile Balciunaite
Živilė Balčiūnaitė is a Lithuanian long-distance runner. Balčiūnaitė won the marathon at the 2010 European Athletics Championship in Barcelona and finished 4th at the 2006 European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg...
. Female heptathletes won some medals in biggest events.
Cycling
Lithuanian women cyclists made their mark on the international scene starting from 1991. Leading the way in this were, among others, Zita Urbonaitė
Zita Urbonaitė
Zita Urbonaitė was a female road racing cyclist from Lithuania.-References:...
and Diana Čepelienė who took the 3rd place (overall GC) in the Women's Challenge
Women's Challenge
The Women's Challenge bicycle race was held annually in and around southern Idaho beginning in 1984 until its demise in 2002. During much of its 19 year history, it was the most prestigious women's cycle race in North America...
in summer of 1991.
Among the best Lithuanian cyclists were twin sisters Jolanta Polikevičiūtė
Jolanta Polikevičiūtė
Jolanta Polikevičiūtė is a retired female road racing cyclist from Lithuania, who competed in three Summer Olympics for her native country: 1996, 2004 and 2008. She is the twin sister of Rasa Polikevičiūtė, who also had a professional career in women's cycling.-References:*...
and Rasa Polikevičiūtė
Rasa Polikeviciute
Rasa Polikevičiūtė is a Lithuanian cycle racer. She was one of the first in a long line of Lithuanian cyclists who, together, established Lithuania as one of the powerhouses of women's cycle racing in the 1990s and beyond...
(2001 World Road Race
World Championship of Road Cycling (women)
The UCI Road World Championships is an annual event that is recognized as the world championship for road race and time trial events for women. The event is held in conjunction with the men's event.-History:...
Champion), Edita Pučinskaitė
Edita Pucinskaite
Edita Pučinskaitė is a Lithuanian racing cyclist. For many years, she has been one of the top competitors in women's racing on the international level with a victory in the World Road Race Championships in 1999 and several very high finishes in major tours, World Championship competition and on...
(1999 World Road Race Champion), and Diana Žiliūtė
Diana Žiliute
Diana Žiliūtė is a Lithuanian racing cyclist who dominated the sport in the late 1990s, and continues to be a formidable force in road cycling to this day....
(1994 World Junior Road Race Champion, 1998 World Road Race Champion, and 2000 Olympic Games Road Race bronze medalist).
There is also a strong program of promotion of cycling at the junior level for girls in Lithuania culminating in an annual international race for girls in Panevėžys
Panevežys
Panevėžys see also other names, is the fifth largest city in Lithuania. As of 2008, it occupied 50 square kilometers with 113,653 inhabitants. The largest multifunctional arena in Panevėžys is the Cido Arena...
. A number of young Lithuanian riders have emerged from this program, led by Modesta Vžesniauskaitė who now stands among the top riders in the world.
Women track cycling team regularly wins medals in World and European championships. In recent years most successful track cyclist is Simona Krupeckaitė
Simona Krupeckaite
Simona Krupeckaitė is a Lithuanian professional track cyclist. She is the 2009 500 m Time Trial World Champion and World Record holder at 33.296s, and the 2010 Keirin World Champion. She also won the 2009 Lithuanian Sportsman of the Year award. In 2010 Krupeckaitė reached one more world record...
.
Other sports
- Ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
– one Lithuanian town, ElektrėnaiElektrenaiElektrėnai is a city of about 14,000 inhabitants in Lithuania; since 2000 it is the capital of the Elektrėnai municipality. It is situated between the two largest cities in Lithuania – Vilnius and Kaunas.-Name:Elektrėnai is the Lithuanian name of the city...
is famous for its tradition of ice hockey. For quite some time Elektrėnai was the only city with a large, well-equipped skating rink in Lithuania. Two NHL players – Darius KasparaitisDarius KasparaitisDarius Kasparaitis is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman. Known by the nickname Kaspar, he has dual citizenship in both the United States and Russia, and he has played for the Russian national ice hockey team.- Playing career :Kasparaitis left Lithuania for Russia at age 14 after...
and Dainius ZubrusDainius ZubrusDainius Gintas Zubrus is a Lithuanian professional ice hockey right winger and center currently playing for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League...
– were born in the town. Local team EnergijaSC EnergijaSC Energija is a Lithuanian ice hockey team that plays in the Latvian Hockey League. It is based in Elektrėnai.-History:The team was founded in 1991, and promptly won the first four Lithuania Hockey League championships, while not suffering a defeat in their first four seasons.Energija joined the...
is the strongest ice hockey team in Lithuania, however due to the lack of competition it plays in the Latvian Hockey LeagueLatvian Hockey LeagueThe Latvian Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league based in Latvia. It is also known in Latvian as Latvijas atklātais čempionāts hokejā ....
.
- OrienteeringOrienteeringOrienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
is a popular sport that combines cross-country running with land navigationNavigationNavigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
skills in the woods. Variations of the sport popular in Lithuania include bicycle orienteering and skiSkiA ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
orienteering. Orienteering in Lithuania is organized by the Lietuvos Orientavimosi Sporto Federacija.
- Amateur Radio Direction FindingAmateur Radio Direction FindingAmateur radio direction finding is an amateur racing sport that combines radio direction finding with the map and compass skills of orienteering...
is a sport that combines the skills of orienteeringOrienteeringOrienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
with the skills of radio direction finding. ARDF in Lithuania is organized by the Lietuvos Radijo Megeju Draugija.
- Alpine skiing is also popular in Lithuania. Races are organized by the Lithuanian Alpine Ski Federation. There is one ski club for children, the Kalnu Ereliai Ski Club. The club accepts children from 4–18 in 3 main groups: Learn To Ski, Sport Group and FIS Team. There are several ski centers, the most important being the Lithuanian Winter Sports Center in Ignalina, Liepkalnis in Vilnius, and slopes in Birstonas, Anyksciai and Alytus. In 2011, a new indoor slope, SNORAS Snowarena will open in the spa town of Druskininkai.
- Tennis became popular in Lithuania in recent years, when Lithuanian teams began to achieve success in Davis CupDavis CupThe Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
and Fed CupFed CupFed Cup is the premier team competition in women's tennis, launched in 1963 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the International Tennis Federation...
tournaments. Ričardas BerankisRicardas BerankisRičardas Berankis is a Lithuanian professional tennis player. He is the highest ranked Lithuanian tennis player of all time.- Early career :Berankis began playing tennis at the age of two...
reached the number 85 ranking in November 2010.
- Figure skatingFigure skatingFigure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
's pairs dancing is also popular in Lithuania, because of Povilas VanagasPovilas VanagasPovilas Vanagas is a Lithuanian ice dancer. He competed with wife Margarita Drobiazko, whom he married in June 2000. They are the 2000 World bronze medalists, three-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalists, two-time European bronze medalists , 1999 Skate Canada champions and competed in five Winter...
/Margarita DrobiazkoMargarita DrobiazkoMargarita Aleksandrovna Drobiazko is a Lithuanian ice dancer. She began competing for Lithuania in 1992 when she teamed up with Povilas Vanagas, whom she married in June 2000...
and some others pairs achievements.
- Swimming regained it popularity after Vytautas JanušaitisVytautas JanušaitisVytautas Janušaitis is an Olympic swimmer from Lithuania, who represented his home country at the 2004 and 2008 Games.He has swam at every edition of the SC Europeans from 2004-'08....
, Darius GrigalionisDarius GrigalionisDarius Grigalionis is a backstroke swimmer from Lithuania, who competed in three consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1996. He was born in the city of Panevėžys. A student of the Kaunas University of Technology, he had been a scholarship holder with the Olympic...
and Giedrius TitenisGiedrius TitenisGiedrius Titenis is a swimmer from Lithuania. He participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics and won bronze in the 2009 World Aquatics Championships, tying Australia's Christian Sprenger.-External links:*...
medals in international competitions. City of AlytusAlytusAlytus is a city with municipal rights in southern Lithuania. It is the capital of Alytus County. Its population in 2007 was 68,835. Alytus is the historical centre of the Dzūkija region. The city lies on the banks of the Nemunas River. The major highways linking Vilnius, Kaunas, Lazdijai, and...
reguraly hosting long course Lithuanian Swimming Championships, while short course championship is organizing at City of AnykščiaiAnykšciaiAnykščiai is a ski resort town in Lithuania, 20 miles west of Utena. The Roman Catholic Church of St. Matthias in Anykščiai is the tallest church in Lithuania, with spires measuring 79 meters in height.The city has a football club FK Anykščiai.-Name:...
. Lithuanian swimmers have won 4 olympic medals.
- Cross-country skiingCross-country skiingCross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
is one of the most successful OlympicOlympic sportsOlympic sports, as defined by the International Olympic Committee, are all the sports contested in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The Summer Olympics, as of 2012, will include 26 sports, with two additionall sports due to be added in 2016...
winter sport for Lithuania. In 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter OlympicsThe 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
Cross-country skiers had the biggest team in Lithuanian Olympic team. Vida VencienėVida VencieneVida Vencienė is a former cross-country skier who represented the USSR and later Lithuania from 1988 to 1994. She won a gold medal over 10 km and a bronze over 5 km at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary for the USSR.Her best finish at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships was 7th in...
won an Olympic gold medal in 1988, however competing for the Soviet Union.
- PokerPokerPoker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
became an official sport in Lithuania in 20 March 2010. Lithuanian poker federation was founded by famous Lithuanian poker player Tony GTony GAntanas Guoga , more commonly known as Tony G, is a businessman and professional poker player. As a child, he was the Rubik's Cube champion of Lithuania before moving to Melbourne, Australia at the age of 11. He has played poker since the age of 18, and is known for his outlandish table talk and...
.
- Lithuania's baseball team played a team from California's San Clemente Little League on 6 April 2010.
- Lithuania is a Federation of International BandyFederation of International BandyThe Federation of International Bandy is the international governing body for the sport of bandy. It was formed in 1955 in Stockholm, Sweden, and has had its base in Sweden since 1979. The present offices are situated in Katrineholm....
member http://www.internationalbandy.com/viewNavMenu.do?menuID=45 and, according to news published at rusbandy.ru 9/8, plan to compete in the Bandy World ChampionshipsBandy World ChampionshipsThe Bandy World Championships are a competition between bandy-playing nations. The tournament is administrated by the Federation of International Bandy....
for the 1st time in 2011.http://translate.google.co.th/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.rusbandy.ru/&ei=fOqJTKqxF43CcdbzxacE&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBkQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Drusbandy%26hl%3Den
- Lithuania has had some famous strongmen. The most successful is Žydrūnas SavickasŽydrunas SavickasŽydrūnas Savickas is a professional strongman and is widely considered one of the all-time greatest athletes in the history of the sport...
.
- Lithuania's modern pentathlonModern pentathlonThe modern pentathlon is a sports contest that includes five events: pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 km cross-country run...
athletes have won some medals at the Olympics and World Championships.
External links
- Department of Physical Education and Sports of the Lithuanian Government, in Lithuanian and English
- Organization and recent history of Lithuanian sports, in English
- Report on Physical Education and "Sport for All" in Lithuania (in English, MS Word doc)
- Lithuanian Olympic Committee, in Lithuanian
- Lithuanian Cycling Federation, in Lithuanian
- Lithuanian Soccer: History and Statistics, in English
- Lithuanian soccer premiership "A lyga", in Lithuanian
- Lithuanian soccer ultras, in Lithuanian