How Did Basketball Become Our Nation’s Pride? The education program “The Basketball Journey” invites you to experience the history of this sport live — playfully, interestingly, and with unexpected discoveries. We’ll start from the very beginning: who invented the game, what the first matches were like, and how a pumpkin-shaped ball and a peach basket evolved into what we today call basketball. You’ll learn why the backboard was introduced, why Senda is a very special person to Lithuanians, and how a sport once nicknamed in Lithuania as “old ladies’ fun” became a national treasure.
Next, we’ll travel the path of Lithuanian basketball — from the bitterness of early defeats to the sweetness of international victories. How did it happen that Lithuania was not yet recognized as a basketball country, yet already had an Olympic champion? These stories are not from textbooks but are alive, human, and inspiring. The program is interactive — participants will play the “Brain Tower” game, watch a film excerpt revealing the essence of Lithuanian basketball, and at the end of the session, everyone will have a chance to take a photo with one of the national team players. This is more than an educational experience — it’s a journey that leaves you smiling, enriched with knowledge, and with an even greater love for basketball.

Additional Educational Experience – Visit to the Sports Museum

During the educational program, we invite you to continue exploring our nation’s rich sports history by visiting the Lithuanian Sports Museum. This is a place where the pioneering efforts in physical culture and sport come alive, showcasing the achievements of the country’s most famous athletes and the development of various sports disciplines. The museum features trophies, personal belongings, medals, and record-breaking memorabilia of Lithuania’s Olympians, world, and European champions.
A special section is dedicated to boxing, where you can learn about the victorious path of the legendary ring master Algirdas Šocikas, evidenced by numerous awards and authentic memories. Among the exhibits, you will also find a unique and surprisingly intriguing part of Lithuania’s circus history — a rare chance to glimpse another, equally important facet of our cultural heritage.
This museum offers more than just exhibits; it tells living stories of willpower, perseverance, and inspiration that have repeatedly raised Lithuania’s name to the heights of global sports.