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The own creator of the Lithuanian 3 × 3 basketball association, Rolandas Skaisgirys, is investing in new projects and is determined to keep up with the world basketball express, which has already invaded the Olympics. Despite the association’s budget that made losses last year, the former world trio basketball champion and global entertainment entrepreneur is optimistic. According to him, much more important than the negative budget are last year’s 3 × 3 basketball events in Lithuania, which fundamentally changed the situation.
Money
Earlier this year, the Lithuanian 3 × 3 Basketball Association announced its financial results for the previous year. The association managed to raise 434.4 thousand. entry. Sources of income – support (249 thousand), advertising income (64.7 thousand), advertising exchange, reimbursements (10.7 thousand) and FIBA prize funds (110 thousand). This amount does not include the additional support of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation: the federation has spent an additional 45 thousand euros for the development of basketball.
The association’s costs in 2020 amounted to almost 495 thousand. euros. A little more than 8 thousand were allocated for the maintenance of the administration. 6.7 thousand euros for the rest of the staff, 16.6 thousand euros for public relations and marketing.
The FIBA 3 × 3 World Tour trips and the cash prizes transferred to the teams were estimated at almost 110 thousand, the FIBA licenses – 10.5 thousand.
The Hoptrans 3 × 3 tournament in Palanga in July cost the association more than 262 thousand. EUR, and other tournaments organized last year – 11.4 Cerdocyon.
There was also a selection of the U-17 men’s team, which cost 6.3 thousand. euros. At the beginning of the year, the country’s top team was preparing for the Olympic selection and participating in friendly tournaments. She, the subsidiary and the training of the youth team planted 23 thousand. euros.
14 thousand LTL were allocated for the storage of sports equipment and the acquisition of fixed assets. euros. Debt settlement and VAT – more than 23 thousand. euros.
The total financial result of the association’s activity is more than 60.5 thousand. loss of euros.
An investment is needed
“In many places in life, budgets are negative. After all, you invest, if there is a new business, an association or a new sport. I invest personally, I understand that it is difficult to achieve the result without investments”, says Skaisgirys .
He turned to the business world in the last decade of the last century, studying and playing for the Vilnius University basketball team, which competed in the country’s top league.
“It just came to our notice then. If it hadn’t been for the Hoptrans tournament, in which we invested a lot, I don’t know if we would have broken the ice. The first year was Gulbele’s share of the global market, in the ‘masters’ ( main FIBA tournaments – ed.) and other tournaments, during which we went up to a certain level and saw the need to develop this Olympic sport. And Hoptrans showed how to live in certain conditions, how to live basketball. After all, I don’t know you can only live off the money from the Olympic or federal committees, they are limited. You have to understand how to earn that money, “says Skaisgirys.
By the way, the Hoptrans 3 × 3 tournament won the prestigious award from the Lithuanian Federation of Sports Journalists as the best sports event of the year.
As an example of the continuation of this tournament, Skaisgirys presents the universal mobile arena currently under construction. Its price is around 700 thousand. euros.
“It just came to our knowledge then. However, the association will have the opportunity to earn money from that field. This is the case when you do not give money to the association, but give a tool to increase the budget and implement your projects, whether it’s women’s or children’s basketball, ”says Skaisgirys.
According to him, when he makes a profit from the arena, the association will be able to invest in its own events: the Lithuanian Championship or the Hoptrans tournament, or perhaps the “master” of FIBA 3 × 3.
“The rent for the equipment and the infrastructure of the stadium is high, so we calculated that we understood that renting was a luxury,” says Skaisgirys.
It is true that the idea of his arena originated earlier, when in 2019. in the fall, he was a “teacher” in Saudi Arabia. Stadiums are only built to a certain extent in these countries under protection from the sun, and in the case of Lithuania it is necessary to protect oneself from rain and wind. Therefore, the structure of the new arena will be different, but it will be used for the same purposes.
This building, called Hoptrans Arena, will have capacity for about 1,5 thousand people. viewers, their area – 1.6 thousand. square meter. It will be the largest open-air stadium in Lithuania. It is also important that it is mobile: mobility will allow events that take place in the arena to move to various corners of the country.
It is in such arenas that the highest level trio basketball events on the planet take place – the FIBA 3 × 3 World Tour Masters tournaments. The new stadium will also be distinguished by hosting the stands that will receive fans under its roof.
In addition, the Hoptrans Arena will be used this summer not only for various sports or local community events, but also for other entertainment, such as concerts and watching sporting events such as the Olympic Games or the European Football Championship.
A new team is forming
At the end of February, at the initiative of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, a camp for the Lithuanian basketball trio was organized for the first time in Anykščiai. Thirteen of the best players of the sport in Lithuania were invited to the six-day camp: Aurelijus Pukelis, Paulius Semaška, Marijus Užupis, Paulius Beliavičius, Šarūnas Vingelis (all from the Šakiai “Vytis” team, NKL), Žygimantas Skuutasčas, Vygimantas Skuutasčas Gintautas Matulis and Ignas Vaitkus (all – Utena Juventus, LKL), as well as Darius Tarvydas and Aurimas Urbonas from Jovana CBet (NKL) and Žygimantas Šimonis with Šarūnas Beniušis from Marijampolė Sūduva (NKL). It is true that the last Šimonis, injured, was replaced by another representative of CBet: Edvinas Šeškus. The training sessions were led by Lithuanian trio basketball coach Dainius Novickas and Utena Juventus strategist Žydrūnas Urbonas.
“Everything has changed a lot lately. Exactly a year ago, when there was no quarantine, there was no Hoptrans tournament, except for the federation, which did not support that basketball trio. It was the only” Swan “in which a triple basketball structure was built. . They traveled through the tournaments and it was thought that they would be the ones who would participate in the Olympic qualifiers. And when Hoptrans happened, some teams and players saw it as interesting and promising. An obvious example is Utena, who participated in both Hoptrans and masters, training in both big basketball and trio. Today, LKL Utena is among the leaders, which means that the basketball trio did not stop them, “says Skaisgirys.
This created more players who could represent Lithuania. There was no one on the field: Jonas Mačiulis, who is a candidate, but at that time he was playing for the Lithuanian and Greek national teams.
“I want to choose the best who would go to the Olympic team. Trio basketball is advancing both in sporting and economic terms. It would be a big mistake for us not to enter this market,” says Skaisgirys.
The main goal of the Lithuanian national team is to enter the Tokyo Olympics. This will be possible during the Olympic qualifying tournament in Graz, Austria from May 26-30.
There will also be a women’s team
Although the association’s largest and most operational focus is now on the Olympic selection for the men’s trio, Skaisgirys has a clear vision of how to send women to world tournaments as well.
“This year’s path should be the same as that of men. Form a world-class national team that could participate in the “masters.” When the winnings come in, the girls will see that it is worth participating and playing. The same happens with men U23, U21, U17. This sport will take 5 to 10 years for players to grow up, both girls and boys, “says Skaisgirys.
According to him, now you will not do anything immediately, there are no 3 × 3 players, they are all in big basketball.
“Some leagues will need to share those players and players. There is no other way. RKL, NKL, LKL, the women’s league will have to coordinate. After 5-10 years, a new generation will grow up, they will sit completely differently,” says Skaisgirys.
So far, there is not even methodical material for trio basketball, not only in Lithuania, but also around the world.
“Now we are preparing it together with the federation, we believe, maybe we will have methodological materials next fall. For coaches, referees, sports schools and the like. The floors are not close yet. I myself do not know much and I do it spontaneously. The fact is, in principle, in terms of the IQ of the game, that basketball is no different. If your basketball IQ is high, you will know how to use it in trio basketball, “says Skaisgirys.
According to him, a female / female team will be created at the end of this year. It is already clear how it will develop, who will be the sponsor. The Lithuanian Trios Championship begins on April 17 and will consist of 10 rounds in all age groups, both the women’s and professional leagues, and various children’s groups. All matches will take place in professional places, on a professional surface, even if the weather conditions require their installation in the indoor corridors.
“There will definitely be a women’s team and we will grow it,” Skaisgirys guarantees.
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