On Thursday, the National Olympic Committee of Lithuania (LNOC) honoured and rewarded the accomplished athletes celebrating their anniversaries as well as the medallists of the European Youth Olympic Festival, their coaches and representatives of sports federations.

At the festival that took place at the end of July in Maribor, Slovenia, Lithuania was represented by 53 athletes, who won 4 medals: judo wrestler Simas Polikevičius (60 kg) and track-and-field athlete Danielius Vasiliauskas (200 m) won silver medals, while swimmer Mantas Kaušpėdas (100 m backstroke) and athlete Aurėja Beniušytė (triple jump) won bronze.

The LNOC awarded the athletes and their coaches with symbolic monetary prizes, and the sports federations with symbolic badges.

“In July, together with His Excellency President Valdas Adamkus, we saw these athletes off to the Festival, and I am therefore delighted that today we can celebrate their achievements together. These medals have a special value. They inspire and motivate us to continue playing sport, staying disciplined, setting ourselves even higher goals and pursuing them with determination.

The coach has a special role to play in this journey, therefore we never forget coaches when rewarding athletes. Their work, especially their understanding, patience and support are very important for young athletes,” said LNOC President, Olympic champion Daina Gudzinevičiūtė.

Simas Polikevičius and his coach Svetlana Vetrova and Danielius Vasiliauskas and his coach Irina Krakoviak-Tolstika were awarded 500 euros, while Aurėja Beniušytė and her coach Indra Gricevičienė and Mantas Kaušpėdas and his coach Jandra Bogužienė were awarded 300 euros each.

Individuals with accomplishments in sport and Olympism have also been honoured at the event.

V. Sinkevičius, D. Gudzinevičiūtė, G. Goštautaitė, J. Širvinskas (E. Žaldario nuotr.).

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary, Juozas Širvinskas , President of the Lithuanian Olympic Collectors Association, was awarded with the LNOC second degree badge “For Merits”.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary, Vigmantas Sinkevičius, former long-time President of the Lithuanian Judo Federation, was awarded with the LNOC second degree badge “For Merits”.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary, Gražina Goštautaitė, the prize winner of Lithuanian Championships and coach of the four-times Olympic Games participant race-walker Marius Žiūkas was awarded with a LNOC medal.