„State support makes it easier to breathe – to acquire more special equipment for clubs and schools. Every educational institution with which we have a cooperation agreement and which integrates tennis into physical education classes receives equipment. The received funds ease the financial burden,“ says Ramūnas Grušas, president of the Lithuanian Tennis Union.
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Tennis travels to kindergartens and schools
The Lithuanian Tennis Union seeks to provide opportunities for children to get to know tennis not only in the major cities of the country but also in smaller regions. This sport is integrated into physical education classes, adapting even small school halls, and there are also educational sessions for physical education teachers and parents as well as kindergarten festivals.
„Recently, we held a tennis festival for kindergarteners in Vilnius, attended by about 300 children, and in total, we estimate that about 1,500 children, parents, and teachers come into contact with tennis annually. This program does not require large sports halls – smaller rackets and soft balls are used, so children can learn to play even in a 100 square meter school hall. We ask to hold at least 8 tennis physical education classes; we would like tennis to be included in the physical activity curriculum in the future. We also receive feedback – some children later choose tennis clubs,“ says R. Grušas happily.
The Lithuanian Tennis Union, like other sports organizations, has received state support for physical activity activities for the second consecutive year. State funding in this program is allocated for the implementation of physical activity activities and activities promoting the development of the applicant’s sport or movement through physical activity by federations and organizations.
„For a long time, especially in the last five years, we have focused on physical activity and involving children, not aiming for results, but simply activating and engaging in activities. Globally, tennis has a significant contribution in adapting this sport for young children, as well as for parent education,“ says R. Grušas.
The Lithuanian Tennis Union, along with 5 other federations – football, Kyokushin karate federation, motorcycle sports, sports dance, and equestrian sports – received the maximum possible amount for physical activity activities – 20,000 Eur.
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Funds distributed according to the number of sports clubs
Sports federations and organizations received state funding for physical activity activities for the second time. This year, funds were distributed according to a new criterion – the number of sports clubs united by the sport.
Organizations uniting up to 20 sports clubs received 10,000 Eur each, those with 21–50 sports clubs received 15,000 Eur each, and organizations with more than 50 sports clubs received 20,000 Eur each. Organizations can carry out activities themselves or delegate them to their sports clubs.
In total, 46 sports organizations were allocated 580,000 Eur at this stage. The allocation of funds to 5 more organizations will be decided later, after receiving additional information from third parties. Up to 80% of the received funds can be allocated by organizations for organizing physical activity exercises and physical activity events.
Up to 20% of the received funds can be used for preparing announcements about the sport or sports movement promotion, organizing events promoting social inclusion, participating in the project „Inspired to Move at School“ and visiting schools, preparing methodological materials about the sport.
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