From training camps to world championships: Lithuania continues to support Ukrainian athletes
Lithuanian sports organisations continue to support Ukrainian athletes. Athletes from a country suffering from war are training in Lithuania to prepare for their major starts and are participating in events organised in our country. For the fifth year in a row, the government has been reimbursing these expenses to sports organisations that applied through the call.
The National Sports Agency has allocated nearly 100,000 euros to six sports federations that take care of Ukrainian athletes in Lithuania. This compensation is intended to cover expenses that the country’s sports organisations have incurred or will incur in supporting Ukrainian high-performance sports teams in Lithuania: organising or participating in training camps or competitions, as well as the costs of accommodation, transportation, and other expenses for Ukrainian athletes, their accompanying and support staff, and medical personnel.
The Kyokushin Karate alliance between Lithuania and Ukraine
The Lithuanian Kyokushin Karate Federation has been working closely with Ukrainian athletes for many years. In early March of this year, the Lithuanian and Ukrainian national teams trained together in Druskininkai in preparation for the European Championship.
The joint training sessions paid off for athletes from both countries: at the European Championship held in Batumi, Lithuania triumphed in the team standings with 13 medals, while Ukraine, having won 9 medals, finished in 4th place.
Aid to Ukraine’s young pentathletes
About 30 members of the Ukrainian delegation have arrived at the UIPM U17 & Junior World Championships currently taking place in Kaunas. Their accommodation, meals, and transportation were covered by the Lithuanian Modern Pentathlon Federation as it is quite a challenge for Ukraine’s youth teams to travel to competitions abroad since the country provides financial support primarily for adult national teams.
This year, state budget funds have been allocated for: the Lithuanian Modern Pentathlon Federation – nearly 25,000 euros; the Lithuanian Wrestling Federation – 21,500 euros; the Lithuanian Orienteering Federation – nearly 19,000 euros; the Lithuanian Athletics Federation – more than 12,000 euros; the Lithuanian Softball Federation – more than 13,000 euros; and the Lithuanian Kyokushin Karate Federation – 8,000 euros.
Information and photo by NSA