Record number of people take part in Olympic Day Run

A traditional race organised on the occasion of the Olympic Day at Vilnius Vingis Stadium on 19 June attracted a record number of running amateurs (1,236 people). The winners of the V Olympic Festival of Lithuanian Schoolchildren were awarded and congratulated by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite. The President also presented a cup of the winners of a Sport and Environment competition.

Olympic Run

Olympic Day Run festivities

 Lithuanian Olympians, including Olympic champions and prize-winnerd, accompanied by Paralympians, carried a festival fire lit on Gediminas Hill down the streets of the capital city to Vingis Stadium where Olympic champion Robertas Zulpa handed the torch over to President Grybauskaite who gave it to Olympic champion Vida Venciene. Venciene lit a festival altar.

"By taking part in competitions, sparing no effort and winning, you embody the Olympic ideals, discover the beauty of sport yourself and inspire others to go in for sports," the President said, addressing the winners and participants in the V Olympic Festival of Lithuanian Schoolchildren. Prersident Grybauskaite is a patron of this sport event. The head of the state pointed out that Lithuania had always been, was and would be a country of people active in sports and seeking victories. In her words, Olympians, world and European champions put Lithuania on the map and Lithuanian athletes are often called the best ambassadors of the country.

Olympic mile race

The President, together with the country's sports leaders, Olympians and sport community representatives, presented awards to the winners of the festival and wished them not to lose their resolution, be strong, healthy and smart. The fifth festival was attended by over 200,000 children from 1,100 schools.

Grybauskaite also presented the President's Cup to the winners of the Sport and Environment competition, a team of Kedainiai district Academy Secondary School. Representatives of Vilnius Martynas Mazvydas Secondary School took the second place and a team of Sirvintos Atzalynas Basic School finished third.

The President was also due to announce the start of the Olympic mile race. However, the head of state was forced to leave the Stadium earlier due to a heavy workload and therefore the star of the competition was announced by Arturas Poviliunas, President of the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee. A total of 1,130 running amateurs took part in this race. All those who finished it were presented with occasional T-shirts.