The 8th World Lithuanians Sport Games 2009

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Date: From 2009-06-25 To 2009-06-28
Location: Kalnų parke
Category: ,
Organizer: Kūno kultūros ir sporto departamentas prie Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybės

Organiser: Department of Physical Education and Sports under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania
Implemented by: “Optimalūs sporto sprendimai” public establishment
Partners: Lithuanian National Olympic Committee, Lithuanian Union of Sports Federations, Lithuanian Association “Sport for All”, Aero Club of Lithuania, federations of respective sports.
www.kksd.lt/plsz

The World Lithuanians Sport Games have deep traditions. The 1st Lithuanian National Sports Games took place in Kaunas in 1938. When Lithuania was occupied by Soviets, the games were not arranged for a long time, and then were revived in emigration.

The old traditions were restored 40 years later, when the 1st World Lithuanians Sport Games were held in Toronto (Canada) in 1978 on the initiative of the Lithuanian Athletic Union of North America. 1101 sportsmen participated in these games. The 2nd World Lithuanians Sport Games (hereinafter the WLSG) were held in Chicago (USA) in 1983, and the 3rd WLSG in Adelaide (Australia) in 1988. The 4th WLSG took place in Lithuania in 1991, with participation of about 3000 sportsmen of Lithuanian origin from 12 countries of the world. In the 5th WLSG held in Lithuania in 1995, 4870 sportsmen competed in thirty sports. The 2nd Lithuanian National Sports Games and the 6th WLSG were held in Lithuania in 1998. The 7th WLSG took place in Vilnius in 2005 with participation of 5134 sportsmen from 18 countries.

The World Lithuanians Forum was held in the Department of Physical Education and Sports on 30 June 2005, which enacted to hold the World Lithuanians Sports Games every 4 years in Lithuania, and to arrange the 8th World Lithuanians Sport Games on 25-28 June 2009, dedicating them to the commemoration of the Millennium of Lithuania.

The World Lithuanians Sports Games are aimed at uniting the Lithuanians spread all over the world on the sports grounds of their motherland. The purpose of the Games is to continue the tradition of national cooperation, preservation of the Lithuanian character among the Lithuanians of young generation. 8th World Lithuanians Sport Games will also commemorate the Millennium of Lithuania and the events of “Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009″.

The objectives of the Games:

  1. To help the Lithuanians spread all over the world meet, cognize the culture of the county, foster sports traditions, citizenship;
  2. To attain better co-operation between the Lithuanians all over the world, to preserve the Lithuanian character of persons living abroad;
  3. To develop health strengthening sports - sports for all in the nation;
  4. To propagate athletics and sports as an inseparable measure in development of a perfect personality, to provide the guests and local people to compete for sports results.

23 sports competitions in different age groups will be arranged during the Games, also the cultural programme events, opening and closing ceremonies will be held. The forum of the representatives
of Lithuanian Communities and the management of the Lithuanian central sports organizations will be held during the 8th WLSG.