The sports journalists club "Press" of the Lithuanian Journalists' Union (LŽS) has been organizing an international journalists' football tournament for decades. In the anniversary tournament on May 31st in Druskininkai, 8 journalist teams from 6 countries will compete. Due to the main tournament sponsor, the betting company "Orakulas," the tournament will feature journalists from Lithuania, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Egypt.
"Over the past decade, journalists from ten foreign countries have visited Lithuania. This year, we look forward to the debut of Hungarian journalists in the tournament. The tournament has become one of the oldest annual journalist tournaments in Europe, and it is gratifying that journalists from other countries have followed the example of Lithuanian journalists. Journalists from Poland, Belarus, Egypt, and other countries who previously visited our country have started organizing tournaments in their own countries," said Tautvydas Vencevičius, chairman of the LŽS sports journalists club.
Journalists from Scotland, Germany, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Egypt have participated in tournaments in Lithuania. The first four tournaments took place in Vilnius, then moved to Kėdainiai, and for the fifth consecutive year, they have been held in Druskininkai during the resort festival.
"Football has always been more than just a game. For journalists, it is also an excellent opportunity to come together without borders or duties. After participating in several international tournaments and playing matches with neighbors near and far, we decided to organize such a tournament in Lithuania. Coming up with an idea is one thing - making it happen is another. Many people have contributed and continue to contribute to ensure that this tournament runs smoothly and, in a way, promotes Lithuania," said Vytaras Radzevičius, the creator of the journalist tournament in Lithuania.
In recent years, state institutions such as the Department of Physical Culture and Sports, the Tourism Department, and the Druskininkai Municipality have played a significant role in organizing the tournament.
The sports journalists' club "Press," which unites over a thousand journalists in the Lithuanian Journalists' Union, was founded in 2005. The club organizes annual tournaments, including the international journalists' football tournament and the Lithuanian journalists' football and basketball championships. "Press" journalists represent Lithuania in international journalists' tournaments held abroad.
