A solemn ceremony to mark the 90th anniversary of Lithuanian basketball was held at the Kaunas Sports Hall on 22 April. The event was attended by Lithuanian basketball veterans, distinguished guests from abroad and Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius. Present and former heads of world and European basketball federations as well as NBA congratulated the Lithuanian Basketball Federation and basketball players of all generations from a TV screen.

A.Poviliūnas and A.Sabonis

O.Babonienė and A.Poviliūnas

On 5th April 2012, Arturas Poviliunas, president of the Lithuanian NOC,  presented the IOC „Women and Sport Achievement Diploma" to Ona Baboniene, the former director of Lithuanian Sports Centre for Pupils and Students. Ms.Baboniene is most famous for her initiative of organising the Lithuanian Youth Olympic Festivals throughout the country. Thanks to her energy and commitment, the young generation- from the first to the final grades - heartily participate in this annual beautiful event.

The award ceremony was held in the presence of numerous guests including the LNOC staff and mass media representatives.

Procter & Gamble (P&G), a worldwide partner of the IOC, on 27th March signed a Cooperation Contract with the NOC of Lithuania. It covers the basic principles of enhancement of the support of the campaign promoting youth development through sport in Lithuania including  actual and reasonable  travel to London one Mom of Olympian of Lithuania.

On 6th March a ceremony was held at the Lithuanian NOC headquarters for the winners (on a national level) of the IOC contest  entitled „Art and Sports" . In category of graphical drawings a jury of experts selected the first place winner , a schoolgirl Dovile Grigaliunaite from secondary school in Kretinga. The best known artist from Klaipeda Vytautas Karciauskas became the winner in category of sculptural design for his sculpture „Ecolympics Tree".

The winners (on a national level) of the IOC contest entitled „Art and Sports"

Congratulatory speech and awards for the winners were presented by the LNOC president Arturas Poviliunas. The winners were also congratulated by young artists, their teachers, parents, representatives of Ministry of Education and Olympic Champions, Vida Venciene and Lina Kaciusyte.

On 8 February, a ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Lithuanian NOC to mark the historical date of Lithuania's participation in Albertville Olympic Winter Games after a very long interval. It was an impressive gathering of Lithuania's athletes, sport  executives and officials set to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Albertville Games.

These were the Games where only six athletes were meeting the tough challenge of celebrating an extraordinary sporting performance ! The Lithuanian Olympic team was headed by the NOC president Arturas Poviliunas.

 A.Poviliunas with representatives of Procter&Gamble company and Country Manager Baltics, Dariusz Chlus (right)

Lithuanian Olympic collector's association prepared a special exhibition displaying  pictures and photoes dedicated to this anniversary.

The sculpture entitled „the Archer" went to pentathlete Laura Asadauskaite. In July 2011, at the World Cup Finals L.Asadauskaite won silver medal. At the European Championships in Great Britain she took the 5th place and won the pass to 2012 London Olympic Games, also in September at the World Championships held in Moscow, she became the bronze medal winner.

J.Valanciunas, L.Asadauskaite, S.Krupeckaite

With almost 54.000 votes 27 years old athlete was awarded with the traditional LNOC prize, sculpture entitled „the Archer". Second with almost 52.000 votes was Jonas Valanciunas, the leader of the basketball team,  world champion (under 19); While the third place went to Simona Krupeckaite (with over 37.000 votes), who has been elected the best athlete for the past two years in turn for her performances in track-cycling events.

The Lithuanian 50 litas commemorative silver coin issued to mark the XXX Olympic summer Games in London is the  fifth Olympic coin in the  series of Lithuanian commemorative coins. The obverse of the coin bears  the principal device of yachting and sails. 

London olympic coin

„Gintare Volungeviciute, a yachtsathlete became the silver medal winner in  2008 Beijing Olympic Games and I believe that fortune will also be generous to her in London", said the LNOC president Arturas Povliunas in his welcoming word at the presentation ceremony held on 12 December in the premises of the Bank of Lithuania.

The opening of the VII Lithuanian Schoolchildren Olympic FestivalThe opening of the VII Lithuanian Schoolchildren Olympic Festival at Simonas Gaudėšius gymnasium in Šilale last Wednesday ( October 12) was not accidental - the school  is celebrating its honorable 90th anniversary. According Danutė Jurkšaitienė, the director of the gymnasium, the opening of the Olympic festival at the gymnasium is a wonderful gift for the anniversary. The Schoolchildren Olympic Festival  is organised by the Ministry of Education and Science of Lithuania, the Department of Physical Education and Sports, Lithuanian National Olympic Committee and Lithuanian Sports Centre for Pupils and Students.

The threat and costs to society of decreased physical activity levels, the  importance of targeting and influencing young people, the provision of innovative grassroots programmes were discussed in the premises of the LNOC on Tuesday, the 11th of October. The guest from Canada,  Ms. Kelly Murumets, president of Canadian project „ParticipACTION" was taking part in this open debate. Also present were  Arturas Poviliunas, LNOC president, Vytautas Zubernis, LNOC Secretary General , prof. Algimantas Kirkutis, president of the Lithuanian Palace „Healthy Way of  Life and Natural Medicine", Bronislavas Vysniauskas, president of the Lithuanian Association „Sport for All", Dainius Kepenis, president of the Lithuanian Union of Healthy people, the mayor of Panevezis, Povilas Vadopalas, LNOC Vice-President Algirdas Raslanas and others.

A.Poviliunas signatured the official IOC invitationWith 301 days to go until the start of the Olympic Games in London, on 30th of September, the Lithuanian NOC President Arturas Poviliunas signatured the official  IOC invitation to participate in the XXXth Olympiad in 2012 in London.  At a festive ceremony in the quarters of the NOC , Olympic team member pins were awarded to the athletes & coaches who were the first to win the right to participate in London Games.

"Audimas" presented the uniforms

Also during this event,  manufactural company „Audimas", an official clothing  supplier to the NOC, presented the ceremonial & sporting uniforms that will be worn by the members and staff during 2012 Olympic Games.