CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR SPORT VETERANS

On 16 December, following a long-standing tradition, with the approaching Christmas Holiday, the Lithuanian sport veterans, former top level athletes gathered at the LNOC headquarters in Vilnius. 2009 was a challenging year as we have been hit by one of the heaviest crises ever. From year to year strenghtening relations with the retired prominent athletes, the Lithuanian NOC established „Olympic Family" programme which aims to facilitate former athletes' living conditions. Since 1999 within the framework of this project we fund them with two-type (first & second degree) Olympic pensions.

Over 30 sport veterans from accross the country attended a ceremony that has been held to pay a tribute to their high performances in the past.  LNOC president Arturas Poviliunas awarded decorations to those former athletes who held this year anniversary celebrations: former rowers  Vytautas Butkus and Jonas Pinskus, a cyclist Juozas Grabauskas and a boxer Jonas Cepulis.

The welcoming word was pronounced by our sponsor, head of Lottery Enterprise „Olifeja" Antanas Muraska.

The ceremonial meeting was held in the presence of LNOC leadership, LNOC EC members, Olympians and numerous media representatives.