Lietuvos sporto rėmimo tradicijos XX a. 3-4 dešimtmečiuose

LTStraipsnyje analizuojama sporto rėmimo problematika Pirmosios Lietuvos respublikos laikotarpiu (1918-1940 m.), įvairių sporto rėmėjų indėlis plėtojant sporto klubų veiklą ir propaguojant kūno kultūrą visuomenėje. Atskleidžiama Prezidento Kazio Griniaus pradėta Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentų sporto mecenavimo tradicija. Jo pavyzdžiu pasekęs Prezidentas Antanas Smetona bei valstybinių institucijų vadovai savo parama sportui pakėlė šią kultūros sritį visuomenės akyse į aukštesnį lygmenį. Remiantis anuometine periodika bei literatūra aprašomos meno, kultūros bei prekybos ir pramonės atstovų sporto rėmimo iniciatyvos, atkreipiamas dėmesys į pavienių moterų bei jų organizacijų paramą moterų sportui. Analizuojamas Lietuvos kariuomenės vaidmuo remiant sportą ir keliant sporto prestižą tarp karių. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Antanas Smetona; Elena Kubiliūnaitė-; Garbačiauskienė; Grinius; Grinius, Antanas Smetona, Kipras Petrauskas; Kazys; Kipras Petrauskas; Lietuvos sporto istorija; Sportas, rėmimas, Elena Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė, Vincė Jonuškaitė-Zaunienė, Kazys; Sporto rėmimas; Vincė Jonuškaitė-Zaunienė; Antanas Smetona; Elena; Kazys Grinius; Kipras Petrauskas; Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė; Lithuanian sports; Lithuanian sports, patronage, Elena Kubiliūnaitė-Garbačiauskienė, Vincė Jonuškaitė-Zaunienė, Kazys Grinius, Antanas Smetona, Kipras Petrauskas; Patronage of sports; Vincė Jonuškaitė-Zaunienė.

ENAll social activities in the interwar Lithuania were based on private sponsorship as the state did not have funds for them. It was not until the 1930s that sports became of national significance. However, even after 1932 when the law regulating sports activities in the country was passed and the central organization – the House of Physical Culture – was established, clubs still needed private sponsorship to establish competition prizes, pay various bills, promote talented sportsmen, etc. The Government was constantly short of financial resources that could be allocated to sports organizations. National minorities (Jews, Poles and Germans) also relied on private sponsorship while maintaining their sports clubs. The Jews were especially enthusiastic supporting their sportsmen. Initially Lithuanian sports clubs were sponsored mostly by their founders. In 1919 Stepas and Elena Garbačiauskas, Steponas Darius, Karolis Dineika, Petras Oleka and many others were among the initiators of professional sports in Lithuania investing significant part of their private resources to buy sports equipment, rent club premises, start printing sports related periodicals and organize first Lithuanian championships. Some famous Lithuanian artists, actors, businessmen and leaders of public organizations supported sports clubs realizing the importance of sports and physical culture. Opera singers Kipras Petrauskas and Vincė Jonuškaitė-Zaunienė were among the best-known sports patrons. Football, track and field athletics, boxing, car racing, horse riding and shooting were most attractive for sponsors. Presidents of the Republic of Lithuania Kazys Grinius and Antanas Smetona were also among those who patronized sports and established private prizes for various competitions. K. Grinius paid the first official visit to a football match on July 3, 1926.In his speech he emphasized the importance of the sport for the Lithuanian nation. President A. Smetona continued the abovementioned tradition and also established 9 private sport prizes for Lithuanian championships. President‘s wife Sofija Smetonienė visited various competitions organized by women‘s sport clubs. Following the Presidents’ example, members of the Government, heads of state institutions and army generals also started to cooperate with various sports organisations and established personal prizes. Lithuanian intellectuals felt the obligation to take part in various public activities and to absorb the newest trends coming from Europe, thus they tried to support sports and promote physical culture. In the late 1920s sports became popular among young people and it changed the customs of spending leisure time, formed new hobbies. Sport stadiums, swimming pools, skating-rinks and camps were established not only in bigger towns. Sports events attracted more spectators resulting in the increase of sports related information in the press. As Lithuanian basketball team won the 2nd European basketball championship in Riga in 1937 and returned home with the cup, everyone agreed that sport united the nation and made it possible to feel the national pride. [From the publication]