Lithuanian national sport and music comes to Belfast

On Saturday 23rd October 2010 teams from Dungannon, Armagh, Kilkeel, Newtownards and Lisburn descended on Queen’s University PEC sports complex to celebrate our diversity and promote integration of one of our fastest growing communities in the form of their national sport, basketball. Lithuanians can boast third place in this year’s Basketball World Championships, and those living in Northern Ireland have been using the sport to bring people together in different cities and towns around Northern Ireland. 

Concensus supported 48 players and 4 teams to register for the first time in Basketball NI leagues and Armagh Magic, Ards Wolves, Kilkeel Knights, and Dungannon Cavaliers and a new Lisburn club were among those that locked horns in a friendly, but competitive tournament cheered on by their many supporters. As Jim Martin, Club Development Officer with Basketball NI states, “We have seen a tremendous increase in number of people from overseas playing in our leagues which has been mutually beneficial; it has greatly improved integration of people but has also improved the game and the clubs in Northern Ireland.” 

The event was a credit to the team leaders and the NI Lithuanian Association which has been recently constituted and was followed by a presentation of medals and celebration of Lithuanian music and dance at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue in Belfast.  As Belfast Lithuanian Association chairperson, Andrius Cislikauskas, said, “Basketball has been an important way for people to meet local people, others from Lithuania and other countries, and get involved in community activity.”  A EURES survey of 60 people was conducted at the event that invited people’s comments on work and social life here and suggestions for the Association to take forward.