Sport in Lithuania - Other Sports

Other Sports

• 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 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 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 it's 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 Championships for the first time in 2011. 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.