EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania!

Lithuania, which is considered as Europe's basketball heartland, once again hosts a EuroBasket competition. It has been 72 years since Lithuania hosted the 1939 European Championship in Kaunas for the first and only time so far.  

The group matches were played in four arenas, namely Alytus Arena, Šiauliai Arena, Cido Arena in Panevėžys and an arena in Klaipėda. The qualifying matches are to be played at the Siemens Arena in the capital Vilnius and the playoffs at the new Žalgiris Arena in Kaunas.  

As you might know basketball enjoys extraordinary popularity in Lithuania. As such, many events were organized to mark the championship. On August 29, 2011, Lithuania set a new record for simultaneous dribbling, previously held by Poland. 60,000 Lithuanians from Vilnius, Kaunas, Panevėžys, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Alytus dribbled Molten balls simultaneously, beating Poland's record of 30,000 people.

Additionally, starting with the Spring of 2011, many of the TV and newspaper advertisements became basketball-oriented. Each of the cities where Eurobasket 2011 would take place received many minor details marking the championship: for example, the trash bins in Panevėžys were repainted to look like basketballs, an abandoned building in Vilnius had its windows covered by flags of the participant nations while balls were drawn on street pavement in some places.

Šiauliai is also involved in EuroBasket commotion. Many ordinary Lithuanians decorated their cars with small Lithuanian flags flying above side windows. Flags covering the opposite side of the car mirrors are also popular.

You can find more information about EuroBasket 2011 Lithuania here: http://www.lithuaniabasketball.com/news-697-lithuania-book-ticket-to-kaunas-with-win-over-germany.html