“Our task is very hard. After all, we want to perpetuate everyone whose contribution to the basketball of our country is very important, – says Živilė Belejevaitė, the director of the House of Basketball. – By commemorating basketball legends, the most important victories of Lithuanian national teams will also be perpetuated. At the same time, we will select players and coaches”.

The selections will be held with the help of a special working commission and the public (an open vote will be announced, which should start during this year’s Lithuanian basketball birthday). A special working commission is made up of people from different fields (former basketball players, journalists, chroniclers, etc.).

This working group has already held its first meeting and has been intensively discussing the project and people who should be perpetuated on the basketball court.

“It is amazing that the basketball federation (LBF) with the Lithuanian House of Basketball came up with such project. Very symbolic, 100 years of basketball – 100 legends, and I know it will be very difficult for the commission to make their selection and the public to select their favourites. It seems to me that all together we will make the best selection we can. This is truly really great  and amazing project.

The first meeting was very formal and, most importantly, there were very different views, however, collectively we have created the most optimal ideas.

It is very good that not only LBF (orig. LKF) employees are in the working group, but also residents from Vilnius, Joniškis, Klaipėda, Kaunas, additionally, journalists, historians, basketball players and our father Vladas Garastas, the father of all basketball players and coaches, I would say”, – said Vidas Mačiulis.

The basketball community can also nominate its candidates for the basketball legends court. Information should be sent by e-mail to info@krepsinionamai.lt

Mosaic – a basketball court composed of brass tiles with names and surnames – will be opened in April of 2022, when Lithuania will celebrate its basketball century. The mosaic of legends will consist of 100 round tiles with 20 cm in diameter.

The first symbolic tile in the middle of the court is dedicated to Steponas Darius, a person who brought basketball to Lithuania. The limited quantity (about 6000) will be 10 cm in diameter brass tiles that can be perpetuated by any person or company/organisation in the world. It is possible to perpetuate with a nominal tile in a unique place for 350 euros.

The person perpetuated in this court will also help to complete the internal design works of the Lithuanian House of Basketball Museum, thus contributing to the creation of history.

The Lithuanian House of Basketball itself will also have a sponsors’ wall and an interactive place with the names of everyone who contributed to the establishment of the house.

You can perpetuate yourself on the court and contribute to the installation of the Lithuanian House of Basketball Museum online at www.parama.krepsinionamai.lt

Working group consists of following people:

Algimantas Bertašius, Ramūnas Butautas, Vladas Garastas, Gintarė Grikštaitė, Leonas Karaliūnas, Rasa Kreivytė, Linas Kunigėlis, Vidas Mačiulis, Modestas Paulauskas, Vytaras Radzevičius, Angelė Rupšienė, Algirdas Vaicekauskas, Vaidotas Zajarskas.

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Lithuanian basketball started in Kaunas in 1922. The Lithuanian House of Basketball has already been built in Kaunas – a unique building, where during the 100th anniversary of Lithuanian basketball a unique acquaintance with the history, victories of the second country’s religion will begin. It will be an impressive journey through time and experience. Now Lithuanian House of Basketball is open to various events and gatherings of the basketball community.

First events had already taken place last week. Last season’s NKL champions were honoured at the House of Basketball, an LKF conference was held, and the museum’s premises were also occupied by the international dance festival AURA 30. The premiere of Kaunas Dance Theater “AURA” and Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra – “Begalybės” took place here.

“All the guests have been quite surprised when they found out that premiere will b e held in such a unique environment. People were very interested in the fact that we chose such an innovative space for the 30th festival.

Knowing that there is a lack of such venues suitable for theatre in Kaunas, we highly recommend this venue. For us, as a dance theatre “AURA”, the space of “House of Basketball” was a very innovative and proven solution for the presentation of the premiere. We are very thankful and hope that soon this venue will be fully adapted to the implementation of various artistic events”, – said Birutė Letukaitė, director of the dance theatre “AURA”.

Idea

House of Basketball is more than just a building. It is a symbol of the Lithuanian people’s passion for basketball and unity. It is the home of the entire basketball community”, – says Mindaugas Špokas, Secretary General of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation.

According to Mindaugas Špokas, the first stage of “House of Basketball” has been completed – they are already functioning. The museum within the building will be ready and open for public in 2022, when the second phase is completed, with the help of one of the world’s most famous museum installation and event contractors, Ralph Applebaum Associates (RAA).

“House of Basketball will contain everything that fits in the word ‘basketball’. It will not be a museum of things, but a museum of experiences and impressions. We want to create and environment that children will not want to leave, and the adults will take away the impressions that they can share with their friends and family. Main idea is to make the museum a permanent centre of attraction”, – says M. Špokas.

Arguably the best company in the world was involved in this project. The RAA has completed more than 700 projects in 50 countries. These include the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC, the London Transport Museum, the Royal Academy of Music Museum in London, the National Museum of Scotland, EXPO 2008 in Zaragoza, William Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC and many more.

Photo by: Andrius Aleksandravičius

Together with the Americans, the goals of the museum were formed, combining the ideas of “Dare to Dream”.

One of the main ones is to immerse visitors in a dramatic journey through the history of basketball in Lithuania. This is done by creating an atmosphere of a hall of fame honouring coaches and players who have left a vivid mark in the history of basketball.

All technical solutions were implemented and the construction of the Lithuanian Basketball House was taken care of by one of the best specialists in this field in Lithuania – the sustainable urban development and construction company YIT Lietuva.

“We are a company based in Kaunas and big fans of Žalgiris, therefore we appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this important project for the city and the country’s basketball. Kaunas’ development works do not stop – almost every month it is supplemented by new projects and spaces for residents or city guests. I am convinced that this project, which stands out with its mission and architectural solutions, will become another attraction centre of the city”, – said Kęstutis Vanagas, the head of the company.

Near the house – a historic basketball court

In 2022, a basketball court composed of brass tiles with names and surnames will be completed next to the House of Basketball. 100 tiles with the names of the most prominent Lithuanian basketball personalities.

The first symbolic tile in the middle of the court is dedicated to Steponas Darius, a person who brought basketball to Lithuania. Anyone in the world can leave the mark on the court by getting their own tile and thus contribute to the creation of history. Interest in this campaign is currently high: basketball fans living abroad, but also the heads of foreign basketball federations and FIBA ​​have left their mark in this historic idea.

“A tile often becomes a great gift that commemorates family, children, parents, loved ones, corporate teams/employees”, – says M. Špokas.

Inside the House of Basketball itself will also be a sponsorship wall and an interactive place with the names of everyone who contributed to this project. You can leave a mark on the basketball court and contribute to the installation of the House of Basketball Museum by visiting the project’s website www.parama.krepsinionamai.lt.

Officially, the symbolic building for public eye will open in April of 2022, commemorating the centenary of Lithuanian basketball.

Museum’s vision

It is also planned that a statue of James Naismith, the pioneer of basketball, will be present at the entrance to the House of Basketball.

“Representatives of the RAA advised not to limit themselves only to Kaunas and Lithuania – to show that basketball is a game worldwide and global game, while Lithuania occupies a very important place on its map”, – says Živilė Belejevaitė, director of the House of Basketball.

The statue of a Canadian who invented basketball in 1891 will be located next to a large oak tree surrounded by a semicircular copper-clad building. Other trees will continue to grow in the area, which will give a feeling of home coziness. This was the idea of ​​the building architect Gintautas Natkevičius.

The museum itself will take around 70 percent of one the most modern building not only in Lithuania, but also in Europe and the Baltic States.

A historic interactive exhibition will be set up on the first floor. Centre of the hall will have a console with screens that will tell museum visitors’ not only the global development of basketball, but also move them to the basketball court or place them into the stands next to the most passionate fans.

On the ground floor, visitors will have an opportunity to test their physical measure such as reaction, jumping and hand accuracy.

“It will be possible to compete with a specific basketball player. The best results will be recorded. It will also be possible to chat virtually with the basketball star of your choice”, – says Ž. Belejevaitė.

The museum’s partners, such as the NBA and Nike, will also have their own interactive areas. It will be possible to take a photo with an NBA star. There will be a special esport area which is being developed in collaboration with the NBA. It is also planned to establish an esports school. Children’s summer camps are also planned.

Photo by: Andrius Aleksandravičius

Infrastructure

Lithuanian House of Basketball is ready to organise various events, presentations, film screenings. Regular meetings of basketball veterans are planned. The event calendar is already being filled not only with sports, but also with cultural and art events. The traditional House of Basketball awards will also take place in these premises.

There is a large hall that fits around 200 people. As a result, ventilation and fire safety requirements have been tightened. Almost 2 thousand squared meters a particularly energy-efficient A+ building also has an elevator for the disabled.

Outdoor basketball courts have already been built and opened next to the House of Basketball. However, it is still planned to lay a modern ground and build a tribune.

“It will be possible to have a rapidly growing trio basketball base here, where the national 3 × 3 national team and other teams will be able to train”, – added M. Špokas.

The shareholders of House of Basketball are LKF and Kaunas Municipality. The public institution will have to sustain itself – from museum events, space rentals, children’s camps and project activities.

“We thank our basketball community, which has already contributed to the project: LKF President Arvydas Sabonis, LKF Vice President Mindaugas Plukas, Lithuanian Student’s Basketball League President Rimantas Cibauskas, basketball players Jonas Valančiūnas and Domantas Sabonis, Lithuanian men’s basketball team, LKF members and other members of our community. Thanks to all of them, the first stage of the project is already complete – the building has already been built, and now we will be able to focus on the internal constructions, preservation and nurturing of basketball history. Once again, we want to thank everyone and we want to invite and continue to actively contribute to the implementation of the second phase of the project”, – says Ž. Belejevaitė.

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On Tuesday, Marijampolė’s Sūduva-Mantinga, the National Basketball League champion, was awarded at the Hosue of Basketball in Kaunas.

They became the fist team to be awarded in the newly build House of Basketball.

Team members were awarded medals and a winners trophy. They were presented by NKL President Remigijus Štaras, Executive Director Giedrius Grybauskas, Competition Director Rasa Jankauskienė and Lithuanian Basketball Federation Secretary General Mindaugas Špokas.

The winners’ cup was picked up by Marijampolė team captain Aurimas Kieža.

The 2019-2020 season was interrupted due to a global pandemic. Before the end of the season, Marijampolė’s “Sūduva-Mantinga” was in the first place with 32 victories and 7 losses.

“Telšiai” (31-8) took the second place, “Šilutė” (27-12) took the third place. These two teams will also be awarded medals.

The 2020-2021 NKL season will start on October 15th.

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The pride of the country – house of basketball is shaping fast. Fans from all over the world are invited to have their name embedded on a symbolic basketball court.

There is not so long to wait. Last year July at the confluence of the Nemunas and the Neris the future house of basketball was far from completed. “YIT Lietuva” workers with helmets and cranes have been working around in the fenced area, and together with the President of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF) Arvydas Sabonis have had a look at the building’s skeleton. It was not possible to get to the first floor because the workers were working on the floor at the time. In eight months time, the picture of the future House of Basketball has changed significantly, and contractors estimate that there is about half a year left until the work is fully completed. If no difficulties arise, as happened in the first stage due to archeological excavations, an annual LKF conference is planned to be held in the Lithuanian House of Basketball in September of 2020.

“The most important thing is not to confuse that the building and the technological part of the museum are two different things”, – according to LKF Secretary General-Director Mindaugas Špokas, will be completed by the 2022, when Lithuanian basketball will celebrate its centenary. That year, Kaunas will honorably carry the flag of the European Capital of Culture, and basketball fans will celebrate another special anniversary.

“The pioneer of basketball in Lithuania is Steponas Darius. In the 1922 April 23rd, he played in the first basketball match in the history of Lithuania. Thus, this date is considered to be the birthday of the country’s basketball”, – said M. Špokas.

Interactive exhibition

At that time, Živilė Belejevaitė, the director of House of Basketball, presented the vision of what the already completed building would look like. James Naismith will greet all guests at the entrance to the Lithuanian House of Basketball. According to the original idea, the pioneer of basketball would stand near an oak tree surrounded by a semicircle. Other trees will continue to grow in the area, which will give a feeling of home coziness. This was the idea of the architect Gintautas Natkevičius.

“This is where the reception will be”, – Ž. Belejevaitė stopped at the main door, where all museum’s visitors will pause in the future.

From here, two ways will be possible. The first will lead to a café, the second to an academic hour tour of the museum. According to estimates by the director of the House of Basketball, it will occupy about 70 percent of the most modern building spaces not only in Lithuania, but also in the whole of Europe. A historic interactive exhibition will be set up on the first floor. Centre of the hall will have a console with screens that will tell museum visitors’ not only the global development of basketball, but also move them to the basketball court or place them into the stands next to the most passionate fans. The main trophies of Lithuanian basketball, won in international tournaments and remembering the biggest victories, will also be lined up here.

“We planned to start the tour from the ground floor, but our partners, world league professionals in their field – Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), suggested another option – to go down from the first floor. We embraced this great idea”‘ – Ž. Belejevaitė continued the tour explanation.

Administration 

On the ground floor, according to the project, there will be five interactive stations where visitors will be able to test their reaction, jumping ability or accuracy. The director of the house of basketball did not doubt that both, children and adult visitors, would find it interesting and engaging. Additionally, conferences, various cultural events and presentations will be organised in the same space. Gatherings of basketball veterans will take place every week in the premises of the Lithuanian house of basketball.

“We plan to fit about 200 people in the main hall”, – due to large number, according to Ž. Belejevaitė, the requirements for ventilation and fire safety have been tighten.

Almost 2 thousand squared meter size house of basketball already has an elevator for the disabled. In the basement of the building, the sanitary facilities and storage space are being completed. As early as last year, the remains of a small basement of an ancient brick house were excavated here, which were decided to preserve. Outdoor parking nearby is also under construction.

According to Ž. Belejevaitė, several offices, a conference hall, a kitchen, toilets and a shower will be installed on the first floor. The entire LKF administration and the president will be located in the spacious premises.

Looking for a nutrition operator

House of Basketball has not only planned to include the museum, but also youth education – the first e-sports school in the country and summer camps.

“We plan to work with students aged 12–18, but if the need arises, we would be happy to work with younger groups, for example, from the age of seven”, – said Ž. Belejevaitė.

It is planned that in 2-3 years all Lithuanian students should have had a visit to the house of basketball, and acquaintance with the country’s achievements would push them towards personal victories, whether in sports or education.

“We have been asked many times why such project has been implemented in Kaunas”, –  reiterating the historical circumstances and current realities, M. Špokas did not doubt that Kaunas was the best choice. After visiting the Lithuanian House of Basketball and the museum in it, enjoying good food and a wonderful view on the cafe’s terrace, visitors will receive an additional package – acquaintance with some exclusive places of the city: Kaunas Castle, Vytis sculpture, Pope John Paul II monument, priests seminary, Town Hall Square, and the Žalgiris Arena.

“By the way, speaking of good food, we have started looking for a food operator and we are open to various offers”, – Ž. Belejevaitė imagined a cozy family lunch.

Nameplates

The construction of the house of basketball was started by Kaunas City Municipality, which provided the site and installed part of the foundation. LKF is continuing further work and is actively looking for sponsors.

“We are very grateful to everyone who has already contributed to this project. Without their help, it would not be possible to implement all the ideas”, – the director of House of Basketball thanked all those who contributed.

Among basketball patrons are Arvydas Sabonis and his son Domantas, Jonas Valančiūnas, joint-stock company “Aksa”, gas station chain EMSI, UAB concern SBA, brothers Arvydas and Rimvydas Povilaičiai, UAB Kautra, UAB Enerstenos grupė and others.

A gratitude was sent to every one who contributed, and those who contributed larger amounts will have their nameplates in the House of Basketball Memorial Wall at the entrance. According to the director of the House of Basketball, a total of 2.2 million euros were raised for the project.

There is a plan to install a symbolic basketball court nearby and to pave its pavement with 6 thousand brass pad. One hundred of them were offered by the RAA for the legends of Lithuanian basketball, the rest will be available for every basketball enthusiast who wants to leave a mark in this project and contribute towards the Lithuanian basketball.

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A “roof” celebration took place in the “House of Basketball” in Kaunas, which symbolizes the peculiar end of one of the construction stages – raised roof structures and a covered roof.

“The roof event is dedicated to honoring the workers, who contributed to the construction of the building. It is celebrated when the roof structures are raised, and the roof is covered. Construction is going well; all constructs will be completed as newly planned. As you know, when we started the work, we found here and all kinds of remnants of the walls and the heritage department decided what to do with them. Once the decisions have been made, everything continued smoothly, ”said Kęstutis Vanagas, General Manager of the “YIT Lietuva”

The construction process was complicated due to the location of the building. Archaeological excavations and findings at the construction site in the Old Town have delayed all processes for several months, but after all the mandatory procedures have been completed, the work moves to the finish line.

“We see the main construction that has already been completed, we think we will be able to be here in the spring. The biggest problem was in the beginning, when the archeological excavations took place, however, now everything is going according to the plan. Since the building is highly complex and as a result, we face more than enough technical challenges. Nonetheless, professionals have been assigned to do their job, so everything will be fine”, – said Mindaugas Plūkas, the Vice President of LKF.

It is planned that the construction works of the “House of Basketball” should be completed by the summer of 2020. On the 8th of September the LKF reporting-election conference should take place in the newly build multifunctional center and a new head of LKF will be announced.

“We are very grateful to all those who have contributed and will continue to do so. Without everyone’s help, this would not be possible. We believe in the importance of this project, that it will be the home of all basketball communities: basketball players, coaches and fans. Here we will be able to remember the historical victories, enjoy the new ones and thus give meaning to the pride of Lithuania – basketball“, – said Arvydas Sabonis, President of LKF.

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