2005

2005 was the year of preparation for the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games. After the ice-dancing couple Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas made a return to top level sports, serious talks began about their chances to win medals. The first "Beijing 2008" working group has already visited the Chinese capital last November to find out how the world's largest state was preparing for the Games of XXIX Olympiad.

At the ordinary session of the General Assembly of LTOK (Lithuanian National Olympic Committee) held on 18th February in Vilnius the activities of LTOK in 2004 received a positive evaluation.

In 2005, many different events relevant for sport and the sport community took place. They included the 4th Lithuanian Sport Congress, 7th World Lithuanians' Games, and the General Assembly of the European Hockey Federation. The European Fair Play Congress held in September in Vilnius with almost 60 delegates from 25 countries, patronised by the Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, was of special importance to LTOK. Apart from representatives of the European Fair Play movement, the event received Secretary General of the European Olympic Committees Patrick Hickey, member of the IOC Walther Troeger, President of the International Fair Play Committee Jeno Kamuti and many other honourable guests. LTOK President Arturas Poviliunas was honoured the IOC award "Sport and Fair Play". Visitors of our Olympic Committee included six members of the International Olympic Committee, heads of seven International Federations and four presidents of National Olympic Committees.

This year we have commemorated anniversaries of prominent people in sports. The LTOK Honorary Secretary General Janis Grinbergas was congratulated on the occasion of his 80th anniversary, Zigmantas Raudonius, Algimantas Kuksta, Antanas Vaitkevicius and Ceslovas Norvaisa with their 70th, Modestas Paulauskas and Valentinas Kanapkis with their 60th, whereas chief editor of LTOK sponsor Lietuvos Rytas daily Gedvydas Vainauskas, Olifeja General Manager Antanas Muraska and others with their 50th anniversaries. The following LTOK employees were awarded January 13th commemoration medals on the occasion of the Freedom Defenders' Day: Vytautas Zubernis, Stefanija Briediene, Kazys Steponavicius, Danute Svitojute, Algimantas Gudiskis, Petras Statuta and Olifeja General Manager Antanas Muraska. At the Congress of the Lithuanian Olympic Academy in Vilnius (on May 13th) Arturas Poviliunas, Janis Grinbergs and professor Stanislovas Stonkus were honoured the names of the first LOA academicians. There also were losses: Lithuania's first Olympic champion Danas Pozniakas passed away on 4th February...

Other more significant events included winter and summer European Youth Olympic Festivals in Monthey (Switzerland) and Lignano (Italy), featuring our young athletes. Leonas Vaicekauskas, teacher at Atzalynas Basic School in Sirvintai, was presented with the LTOK Fair Play award. A record-breaking flock of runners surpassing 1,000 took part in traditional Olympic Day Run in Vingis Park. A traditional course for members of the Lithuanian Olympic National Team, their coaches, researches, doctors and managers was held in Druskininkai. Principal of Lizdeika Gymnasium in Radviliskis Jonas Varkulevicius published his book "Olympians among us", the presentation of which was held in LTOK.

For the second year in a row Olympic and world champion Virgilijus Alekna was elected the best Lithuanian athlete in 2005 and was awarded the prize of LTOK sponsors Lietuvos rytas and Olifeja - a kilo of gold. Potentate Zydrunas Savickas rated second and the pentathlonist Edvinas Krungolcas third. Other places were distributed as follows: 4 - basketball player Sarunas Jasikevicius, 5 - sport dance couple Edita Daniute and Arunas Bizokas, 6 - basketball player Renaldas Seibutis, 7 - karate athlete Donatas Imbras, 8 - weightlifter Ramunas Vysniauskas, 9 -runner Zivile Balciunaite, and 10 - shooter Daina Gudzineviciute. Best athletes were selected by Lietuvos rytas readers and the award ceremony was held on 12th December at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre. Participant of the event included Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas, Seimas Vice-chairman Vydas Gedvilas, ministers and members of the Seimas.