By Daspina Hasanova
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 30. As many as 3,000
Lithuanians from around the world will gather in Palanga on July 3
for the XII World Lithuanian Sports Games, Trend reports.
The event, often dubbed the 鈥淥lympics for Lithuanians Abroad,鈥
aims to strengthen civic identity, celebrate national heritage, and
unite Lithuanian communities around the world through sport.
The Games will officially open on Thursday with a day full of
activity, beginning with a scientific conference at the historic
Palanga Kurhaus titled 鈥淭he Role of Sports in Lithuania鈥檚 Global
Image, National Unity, and Civic Engagement.鈥
The official opening ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. with a
special Mass at the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary in Palanga. A festive parade of athletes will follow,
accompanied by an orchestra along Vytautas Street, culminating at
Palanga Stadium. There, participants will be greeted by President
of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Naus臈da, Speaker of the Seimas
Saulius Skvernelis, and Minister of Education, Science and Sport
Raminta Popovien臈.
The opening will feature performances by singer Gabriel臈
Vilkickyt臈 and the renowned “膭啪uoliukas” boys鈥 choir.
Starting that morning, competitions will kick off across 24
sports disciplines, held throughout the city, from stadiums and
school gyms to the beach by the iconic Palanga pier. The event will
also include unique competitions such as Viking boat races in
艩ventoji and a special 鈥淩un and Swim鈥 event, ending dramatically at
the stadium during the opening celebration.
Throughout the Games, Palanga will offer a rich cultural
program. On July 4 at 8 p.m., an Ethnic Evening will be held near
the rose garden in Birut臈 Park, followed by a lively Pop Music
Night on July 5 in J奴rat臈 and Kastytis Square. Daytime activities
there will include open workouts, performances, talks, and public
discussions.
From July 3鈥5, a dedicated Pavilion Village will be set up at
the intersection of Meil臈s Alley and Basanavi膷ius Street, featuring
showcases from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of
Economy and Innovation, the 鈥淭ravel Lithuania鈥 agency, the
Employment Service, and the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
On July 6, Statehood Day, the closing day of the Games will
include the Global Lithuanian Sports Forum, also held at Palanga
Kurhaus, exploring themes of citizenship and Lithuanian
The Games will conclude with a grand closing celebration,
broadcast live by TV3 starting at 7:30 p.m. A live 鈥渢elebridge鈥
will link the main stage in J奴rat臈 and Kastytis Square to a parade
stretching toward the pier. The musical program will feature
performances by Monika Liu, Giedr臈 Kil膷iauskien臈, and Rokas
At exactly 9 p.m., Lithuanians worldwide will join in singing
the national anthem, Tauti拧ka giesm臈, from the Palanga pier,
connecting hearts across oceans.