August 1–3 As many as 23 athletes of the country’s Paralympic movement will compete in the Lithuanian Athletics Championships in Palanga – more than ever before. Since 2020 Paraathletes participating in the national championships organized by the Lithuanian Athletics Federation will do so until at least 2028. The Lithuanian Athletics Federation (LLAF) and the Lithuanian Paralympic Committee (LPAK) have extended their cooperation agreement until the Los Angeles Summer Paralympic Games.
When the 2020 agreement was signed by LLAF President Eimantas Skrabulis and LPAK President Mindaugas Bilius, Lithuania became the first country in Europe and the third in the world whose Paralympic athletes were given the opportunity to compete with athletes without disabilities in integrated championships.
According to M. Bilius, this initiative has fully paid off, as it not only influences the results of paraathletes, but also contributes to the creation of a more open and inclusive Lithuanian society.
“The national championships and cup competitions organized by LLAF are included in the calendar of the International Paralympic Committee, and the results of our paraathletes are counted at the world level, they are in the world rankings. This means that our athletes can meet important norms of international competitions at home, opening the way to the European, World Championships, and Paralympic Games. As they say, at home and walls help. There is no acclimatization, there is support from the audience, it is easier to achieve results.
Lithuanian championships and cup competitions attract a large number of spectators, the competitions are broadcast, so the public has the opportunity to get acquainted with Paralympians and Paralympic sports. All this contributes to the awareness and popularity of sports for people with disabilities. We are grateful to LLAF for the ongoing friendship, thanks to which paraathletes feel like members of one big family,” said LPAK President M. Bilius.
“We are happy with the extension of the contract and we see the meaning in it. We have experience, opportunities, quality refereeing and broadcasting, and all these things ensure the highest level of competitions in which paraathletes can compete and achieve results. The integration of paraathletes into the full-fledged life of an athlete is carried out, and their combativeness, stubbornness and disability show that human possibilities have no limits. Their achievements only prove that a person can do much more than he imagines. Excellent synergy of cooperation, which encourages us to boldly strive for the highest sporting results and not stop in the face of obstacles,” said LLAF President E. Skrabulis.
Paralympic athletes distinguish the opportunity to compete with the country’s Olympians. Lithuanian Paralympic team sprinter Danas Sodaitis has even become the Lithuanian champion by running in the relay 4 by 100 meters. In addition, he was the first of the athletes of the Paralympic movement to earn the badge and title of Master of Sports. Long-distance runner Aušra Garunkšnytė was also on the podium at the Lithuanian Championships.
“Running when such famous athletes as Diana Lobachevske and others are next to you is fantastic. It inspires, motivates and as if it gives a second breath. And to be among the winners is something unreal at all. The support of the audience made a very big impression. It is a real celebration for us, paraathletes,” said A. Garunkšnytė.
August 1–3 As many as 23 paraathletes will start at the Palanga Stadium: Oksana Dobrovolskaja, Osvaldas Kucavičius, Ramūnas Rojus, Jonas Spudis, Andrius Skuja, Ramūnas Verbavičius, Raimondas Dabužinskas, Donatas Dundzys, Jurij Savickij, Bela Morkus, Kęstutis Skučas, Deividas Podobajevas, Matas Gudauskis, Aleksandras Suchora, Gabrielius Černiukas, Genadij Zametaškin, Nerijus Endriukaitis, Olga Griškalauskaitė, Dominykas Laga, Saulius Cibulskas, Viktorija Žižmaraitė, Matas Butkus, Igor Markov.
On Friday and Saturday, the competition at the Palanga Stadium will start at 3 p.m., and on Sunday – from 10.30 a.m. The Lithuanian Athletics Championships will be broadcast live on the lrt.lt portal for all three days, and on Saturday 16:00–19:00 and Sunday 10:30–12:30 you will be able to watch the competition on the LRT Plius channel.
lengvoji.lt, parateam.lt
Photo by Donatas Gribauskas/LPAK
