In the football festival held for the 21st time, which has the longest tradition of this kind in Europe, teams from 11 countries competed this year. Last year, with the help of the Lithuanian Football Federation and the Druskininkai Municipality, this event received the status of the European Journalists Championship and attracted participants from Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, Armenia, Cyprus, Greece, and Belarus.
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The competition was held in a round-robin system, so all teams met each other over two days, and a total of 55 matches were played at the Druskininkai Olympic Sports Center.
After the main match time ended in a draw, teams took penalty shootouts – three shots each. Three points were awarded for a win in regular time, two points for winning the penalty shootout, and one point for the team that lost the shootout.
Ukrainians did not suffer a single defeat
The grand trophy established by the betting company “TOPsport” was taken home this year by Ukrainian journalists, who did not lose once in ten matches and scored 27 points. They only lost points in duels with Austrians and Greeks.
Before this, in the more than two-decade history of the tournament, Ukraine had triumphed only once – in 2013.
“We dedicate the victory to our soldiers. Only thanks to them can we come to the country of our best friends, Lithuania, and tell all Europeans that Ukraine is and will remain independent and will preserve its sovereignty,” said Oleksandr Bliashuk, captain of the Ukrainian team.
The silver medals were won this year by the Hungarian team – 22 points. The Hungarians demonstrated the strongest offense throughout the tournament and scored as many as 24 goals.
The third place went to Belarusian journalists who scored 20 points. This team was represented by independent media representatives who fled the dictatorial regime and work in Lithuania and Poland.
Lithuanians – close to the podium
Lithuania was traditionally represented in the tournament by the Lithuanian Journalists’ Union sports club “PRESS’as” team. Our team scored 18 points and finished fourth – just two points away from the podium.
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In the head-to-head match, the hosts defeated the bronze-winning Belarusians 2:0, but the Lithuanians paid dearly for the points lost at the end of the tournament in the match against the Czech Republic, when the equalizing goal was conceded in added time (1:1).
These slipped points cost the Lithuanians the medals.
“The value of this championship is measured not only by the final table. People from different countries, cultures, and journalism schools come to Druskininkai, who compete on the field, and off the field communicate, exchange contacts, information, and professional experience. Over more than two decades, journalist teams from nearly thirty countries have visited Lithuania. This year, we again welcomed debuting teams from Austria and Cyprus. In this troubled world, the opportunity for everyone to meet, be together, and support each other is no less important than the trophies won,” said Tautvydas Vencevičius, head of the Lithuanian Sports Journalists Federation and “PRESS’as,” who organizes the tournament.
Among the best – a Lithuanian defender
After the tournament, at the solemn closing ceremony held at the Snow Arena, not only the winners but also the best players in individual positions were awarded. They received prizes from “hummel,” which prepares the Lithuanian national football team.
The best goalkeeper of the tournament was recognized as Ukrainian Yaroslav Yaros, and the best defender prize went to Lithuanian team representative Kęstas Rimkus, editor of the 15min sports department.
The best forward of the competition was recognized as Hungarian Gergo Olasz, and the best player of the tournament was chosen as the leader of the champion team, Valeriy Kurykas.
“PRESS’as” has won this competition five times. Belarusian journalists have lifted the winner’s trophy four times, representatives of Armenia and Poland have celebrated three victories each, teams from Moldova and Ukraine have triumphed twice, and the Czechs and students of the Vilnius University Faculty of Journalism have won once each.
The international journalists’ football tournament was first held in 2005 in Vilnius. Later it moved to Kėdainiai, and since 2010 Druskininkai has been its home. During that time, the tournament has become an integral part of the resort’s sports calendar, annually attracting media representatives from an increasingly wide geography to the city.
Winners of the International Journalists Football Tournament:
2005 – Minsk (Belarus)
2006 – Vilnius (Lithuania)
2007 – Warsaw (Poland)
2008 – Vilnius (Lithuania)
2009 – VU Journalism Institute (Lithuania)
2010 – Vilnius (Lithuania)
2011 – Warsaw (Poland)
2012 – Warsaw (Poland)
2013 – Odessa (Ukraine)
2014 – Vilnius (Lithuania)
2015 – Minsk (Belarus)
2016 – Prague (Czech Republic)
2017 – Minsk (Belarus)
2018 – Minsk (Belarus)
2019 – Chisinau (Moldova)
2020 – tournament did not take place due to the pandemic
2021 – Chisinau (Moldova)
2022 – Yerevan (Armenia)
2023 – Yerevan (Armenia)
2024 – Vilnius (Lithuania)
2025 – Armenia
2026 – Ukraine
