page_title: Sport in Lithuania
section_title: Other sports
hierarchical_section_title: Sport in Lithuania / Other sports
caption_attribution_description: English: Ieva Januskeviciute of the Kalnu Ereliai Ski Team from Vilnius, Lithuania trains giant slalom (GS) in Tärnaby, Sweden
context_page_description: Sport in Lithuania is governed by the Physical Education and Sports Department following the country's independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. The Lithuanian government established the department to manage physical education in the schools and sports administration in the country. Over the next few years, Lithuanian sports organizations established membership in international governing bodies. Lithuania participated in the Winter Olympics in Albertville and has participated in every Winter and Summer Olympics since.
  There are nearly 80 Olympic and non-Olympic sports federations in Lithuania, and the Lithuanian Union of Sports Federations was founded in 1993 to unite them. An organization, "Sports for All", was established to promote physical education and a healthy lifestyle for all Lithuanians.
  Among the most popular sports in Lithuania are basketball, football, athletics and cycling. Professional athletes and trainers are educated at the Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education.
context_section_description: Rugby League – is a brand-new sport, with the Lithuanian Rugby League Association aiming to produce pathways to develop players to play international Rugby League for their country. The fledgling Lithuanian national side played their first international friendly against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park.
  Futsal – is Lithuania's new sport. and will host the 2020 FIFA Futsal World Cup. This will be the first time that Lithuania has ever participated in a FIFA event.
  Ice hockey – one town, Elektrėnai, is known for ice hockey. For a long time, Elektrėnai was the only city with a large, well-equipped skating rink in Lithuania. Two NHL players – Darius Kasparaitis and Dainius Zubrus – were born in the town. Its local team, Energija, is the best ice-hockey team in Lithuania; however, due to lack of competition in the country it plays in the Belarussian Second League and before in the Latvian Hockey League.
  Orienteering is a popular sport combining cross-country running with land-navigational skills in the woods. Variations of the sport popular in Lithuania include bicycle and ski orienteering. Orienteering in Lithuania is organized by the Lietuvos Orientavimosi Sporto Federacija.
  Alpine skiing is also popular, and races are organized by the Lithuanian Alpine Ski Federation. There is one ski club for children, the Kalnu Ereliai Ski Club. The club accepts children from ages 4–18 in three groups: Learn To Ski, Sport Group and FIS Team. There are several ski centers, in particular the Lithuanian Winter Sports Center in Ignalina, Liepkalnis Winter Sports Centre in Vilnius, and slopes in Birstonas, Anyksciai and Alytus. In 2011, a new indoor slope opened in the spa center of Druskininkai.
  Ultimate Frisbee also has gain its popularity in Lithuania. Lithuanian flying disc sports federation (Lietuvos Skraidančio Disko Federacija.) has been established at 2004 in Vilnius. Currently in Lithuania there are over 13 Ultimate teams (clubs) from various cities. Lithuanian national Ultimate team in current World Rankings are at 20th place. Although ultimate is still young in Lithuania there are very though teams like "Vorai", "Taškas", "Zepps".
  Tennis has become popular in recent years, as Lithuanian teams became successful in Davis Cup and Fed Cup tournaments. Ričardas Berankis reached the number 85 ranking in November 2010.
  Amateur Radio Direction Finding is a sport combining orienteering with the skills of radio direction finding. ARDF in Lithuania is organized by the Lietuvos Radijo Megeju Draugija.
  Figure skating pairs dancing is also popular in Lithuania, due to Povilas Vanagas and Margarita Drobiazko's (among others) achievements.
  Swimming regained its popularity after Vytautas Janušaitis, Darius Grigalionis and Giedrius Titenis medalled in international competition. The city of Alytus hosts the long-course Lithuanian Swimming Championships, and the short-course championship is held in Anykščiai. Lithuanian swimmers have won four Olympic medals.
  Cross-country skiing is one of the most successful Olympic winter sports in Lithuania. In 2010 Winter Olympics, the cross-country ski team was the largest Lithuanian Olympic team. Vida Vencienė won an Olympic gold medal in 1988 (competing for the Soviet Union).
  Among other sports and pastimes, poker became an official sport in Lithuania on 20 March 2010. The Lithuanian Poker Federation was founded by well-known Lithuanian poker player Tony G.
  Lithuania's baseball team played a team from California's San Clemente Little League on 6 April 2010.
  The country is also a Federation of International Bandy member, and planned to compete in the Bandy World Championship for the first time in 2011, but has so far (2015) not taken part in the annual competition.
  Lithuania also has well-known strongmen (the most successful of whom is Žydrūnas Savickas),
  and its modern pentathlon athletes have won medals at the Olympics and the World Championships.
caption: Ieva Januškevičiūtė
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