Next year – 2021 – we will celebrate the 99th year of Lithuanian basketball. There will be one year left until an impressive centenary. I believe that we will remember them as the year of the return of basketball fans to the big arenas and the victories of Lithuanian basketball. After all, two Olympic qualifying tournaments are waiting at once – the trio basketball and the usual one.
After very well organised qualifying bubble tournament for 2022 EuroBasket in Vilnius, we have shown the world that we have the competencies and invaluable human resources to organise safe top-level basketball events. Of all the participants, we received only positive feedback, and FIBA gave us the right to host another round of EuroBasket qualifiers tournament. I’m sure we’ll do it perfectly.
We plan to complete the second phase of House of Basketball in the coming year, mostly internal installation. We have finished the first one this year, despite the challenges of the global pandemic – the House of Basketball is already built. The second stage will make this multifunctional building a centre of attraction for basketball history, knowledge and entertainment. I invite everyone who is not indifferent to basketball to contribute to this project.
This is not only support, but also an opportunity to leave a mark in the „Basketball Legends” court near the House of Basketball. As Christmas approaches, we have started a beautiful tradition – to give a tile to people who love basketball. On behalf of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, I presented a nominal tile to President Valdas Adamkus.
I want to emphasise that such gift is actually for more than one person or organisation. This is a gift to the entire Lithuanian basketball community, for whom the House of Basketball was built.
Additionally, on behalf of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, I would like to thank you – the members of the basketball community who have remained and will remain with basketball even during such a difficult year as 2020.
We wish you a wonderful holiday season and beautiful happy New Year!