On January 22, the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) organised a meeting in Kaunas titled “Futsal and Beach Soccer: Development Perspectives and the Role of Municipalities,” marking the start of the UEFA Futsal European Championship stage in the city. The event brought together more than 70 participants, including members of the football community, local government representatives, and business leaders.
The discussions focused on opportunities to develop futsal and beach soccer, particularly in regions where traditional outdoor football is harder to establish. LFF President Edgaras Stankevičius said the aim was to familiarise municipalities with these football disciplines and outline concrete development steps. “We wanted to present what these football variants are and what practical actions can be taken to develop them,” he said, adding that such meetings help share experience and should continue in the future.
Kaišiadorys county (located between Kaunas and Vilnius) Mayor Šarūnas Čėsna described the meeting as valuable for local authorities. “We managed to learn quite a lot of new things, and I am convinced that meetings like this create significant added value,” he said, stressing the importance of joint involvement. Stankevičius also underlined the need for cooperation between municipalities, private business, and the federation. “Without the involvement of cities and private capital, growth will not happen,” he noted.
Business representative Vydas Damalakas added that futsal and beach soccer are “sports worth serious attention in Lithuania,” pointing to existing infrastructure that could be used more effectively. After the meeting, participants attended the arena to watch the opening matches of the tournament, where Lithuania was held to a 3-3 draw by Czechia.
Source: https://www.lff.lt/pries-futsal-cempionato-starta-surengtas-susitikimas-su-savivaldos-bei-verslo-atstovais/
