Dutūkstantieji - tai metai, kai olimpinis sąjūdis, iš esmės nekeisdamas savo pagrindinių principų ir tikslų pereina į naują kokybę. Tą numato svarbūs pakeitimai Olimpinėje chartijoje, kuruos priėmė TOK 110-oji sesija ir kurių privalo laikytis kiekvienos šalies nacionalinis olimpinis komitetas, prieš tai patikslinęs savo įstatus. Įstatų pradžioje siūloma įdėti preambulę, koreguoti uždavinius. Nauja Olimpinės chartijos redakcija didele dalimi palietė TOK sudėtį ir struktūrą, tai nacionaliniu lygiu turės atsispindėti LTOK įstatuose. [...]

Tarptautinis olimpinis sąjūdis, Tarptautinis olimpinis komitetas, Lietuvos tautinis olimpinis komitetas propaguoja šiuolaikinį olimpizmą ir vienija organizacijas, sportininkus ir kitus asmenis, kurie vadovaujasi Olimpine chartija. Olimpizmo koncepcijà suformulavo Pierre de Coubertinas (Pjeras de Kubertenas), įvardijęs ją kaip gyvenimo filosofiją, išaukštinančią ir sujungiančią į subalansuotą visumą kūno, proto ir dvasios komponentus. Dabartiniu metu olimpizmas siekia, kad sportas tarnautų harmoningam žmogaus ugdymui, prisidėtų prie kūrimo taikesnės visuomenės, kuri rūpintųsi žmogaus garbės ir orumo saugojimu. Šią koncepciją toliau plėtoja aštuntasis Tarptautinio olimpinio komiteto prezidentas dr. Jacques Rogge (Žakas Rogas), kuriam gegužės mėnesį viešnagės Lietuvoje metu buvo suteiktas Vilniaus universiteto ir Lietuvos kūno kultūros akademijos garbės daktaro vardas. Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentas Valdas Adamkus apdovanojo jį ordino „Už nuopelnus Lietuvai“ Didžiuoju kryžiumi. Šiandieninis tarptautinis olimpinis sąjūdis, kaip olimpinį švietimą koncentruojanti ašis, turi mokomuosius, moralinius, etinius ir tarptautinius tikslus, kurie praplečia olimpinių varžybų sąvokos supratimą ir ragina olimpizmą suvokti platesniu ir net globaliniu mastu. Humanistinė sporto pozicija suvaidino svarbų teigiamą vaidmenį pasaulio istorijoje, kurią per tūkstantmečius kūrė idėjų ir pasaulėjautos srautas iš antikinės Graikijos. Ateities olimpinis sportas ir mokymas turi remtis savirealizacijos principu, dvasingumo, patriotizmo, kultūros ir sporto integracija. Tai olimpizmo pagrindas, olimpinio sporto raidos orientyras.

Valstybės gyvenime būna datų ir įvykių, kurie nepasiduoda užmarščiai nuolatos primindami apie save. Tai amžininkų laiku padaryti žingsniai, kurių svarbumą tikrina istorija. Kalbant apie Lietuvos olimpinį sąjūdį, tokie yra 1924 metai, kai mūsų šalies sportininkai pirmąsyk tapo lygiaverčiais tarptautinio olimpinio sąjūdžio nariais. Pirmasis oficialiai įteisintas faktas tapo vienu svarbiausių argumentų, kai po ilgų okupacijos dešimtmečių ryžtingai nusprendėme grįžti į pasaulio olimpinę šeimą, bet privalėjome iš naujo įrodinėti neginčijamą, istorijos mums seniai duotą moralinę ir juridinę teisę. Kita reikšminga mūsų olimpinio sąjūdžio gairė – 1988 metai. Tai Lietuvos tautinio olimpinio komiteto (LTOK) atkūrimo metai. Turėjome žengti labai drąsų ir rizikingą žingsnį, atlaikyti Maskvos spaudimą, įveikti daugelį kliūčių, peržengti psichologinius barjerus. Supratome elementarią tiesą: pirmiausia be šio sprendimo negalėsime žengti ir kito svarbaus žingsnio, sakyčiau, siekti svarbiausiojo tikslo, t. y. visų mūsų teisių atkūrimo tarptautiniame olimpiniame sąjūdyje, mūsų pripažinimo. Simboliška yra tai, kad beveik viena po kitos eina dvi jubiliejinės, dviejų minėtų reikšmingų įvykių, datos: šiemet – 20 metų, kai buvo atkurtas LTOK, o 2009‑aisiais – 85‑eri, kai lietuviai su savo šalies vėliava debiutavo olimpinėse žaidynėse Paryžiuje. Dvi įpareigojančios sukaktys. Privalome prisiminti tolesnės praeities ir pastarojo laikotarpio darbus, „inventorizuoti“ nemenkus mūsiškių laimėjimus ir, žinoma, pažvelgti į priekį. Sportininkų laimėjimai, garsinantys Lietuvą, visuomet buvo savotiška šalies vizitinė kortelė, o kartu – didelė šventė, džiugių emocijų šaltinis. [...]

The XXX Olympiad begins on January 1, 2012 and ends on December 31, 2015 according to the explanation of sixth rule of “Olympic Charter”, accredited on September 1, 2004. The main events during this four-year cycle would be the following: year 2012, the first year of Olympiad – XXX Olympic Games in London (Great Britain) on July 27 – August 12 and 1st Youth Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck (Austria) on January 13-22; year 2013, the second year of Olympiad – the election of president of International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the IOC Session, XI European Youth Winter Olympic Festival in Brashov (Romania) on February 17-22 and XII European Youth Summer Olympic Festival in Utrecht (Netherlands) on July 14-19; year 2014, the third year of Olympiad – XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi (Russia) on February 7-23 and II Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing (China) on August 16-28; year 2015, the fourth year of Olympiad – IOC Session on selection of host city of XXIV Olympic Games in 2022, XII European Youth Winter Olympic Festival and XIII European Youth Summer Olympic Festival. The main events of XXIX Olympiad were Olympic Games in Beijing, where Lithuanian athletes had won five medals (!); re-election of Dr. Jacques Rogge as president of International Olympic Committee for four-year cadency; selection of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) as host city for XXXI Olympiad; XXI Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver (Canada); selection in IOC Session of Pyeongchang (South Korea) as host city for XXIII Winter Olympic Games. Many promises of re-elected IOC president Jacques Rogge were implemented during this four-year Olympic cycle: first of all – unprecedented fight for clean sport – anti-doping fight; IOC activity became comprehended as clearer and more democratic. The members of ANOC (Executive Councils of World’s National Olympic Committees) began participating, as invited, in IOC sessions.[...]

11th of December, 2013 is dedicated to commemorate the re-establishment of Lithuanian National Olympic Committee (LNOC) as it happened 25 years ago. During this period Olympians of Lithuania did anchor themselves among the supreme nations worldwide that participate in Olympic Movement, and Lithuania sport professionals are valued by Olympic organizations of European as well as on the world level. These sport persons are frequently asked to become members in different commissions and leading organizations. However, looking at historical perspective, to re-establish Lithuanian National Olympic Committee on the evening of 11th December, 1988 was easier than to gain the recognition by IOC and be rejoined into the Olympic family. Each of the three Baltic States endeavoured together for this to become a reality. 18th September, 1991 was the day when International Olympic Committee session had welcomed the Olympic Committees of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia (de facto) to re-join the Olympic family and participate in the Olympic Games. Though, recognition de jure in rush (under the written IOC members’ agreement) was decreed on 11th November, 1991, but on this historical date – 18th September – LNOC was the very first Lithuanian organization to be officially accredited by international organization. Lithuanian Olympic sport represents gathered immeasurable experience, deep traditions, also is a part of the modern culture and the memory of the nation. Today sport, Olympism, and Olympic education inspire new thoughts, fresh ideas, striving for innovations, persistent willingness to learn. We are being led into the Olympic sport level by scientific researches, historically analysed sport facts, arguments, and, of course, scientific approach.

Olympic movement since the very first Lithuanian athletes’ entering sport competitions is rich with various turning points, periods, and dates. Sport of independent Lithuania started in 1918, after the reestablishment of Lithuania State, and, before 1940 had started, the genuine sport capital was gathered that was the basis for further sport development. Physical education, sport organization, and its propaganda reached peak at that time when the first sport organization of independent Lithuania – Lithuanian Sports Union – was founded in 1919 (one of the founders was Stepas Garbačiauskas – eminent sport organizer, Lithuanian sport initiator) and in 1922 Lithuanian Sports League was established as the supreme physical education and sport institution in Lithuania that represented the country and dealt with sport in international organizations. Namely Lithuanian Sports League (LSL) became competent National Olympic Committee that communicated to International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Games organizing committees after it sent athletes to participate in Paris (1924) and Sankt Moritz (Swiss) Winter Olympics and Amsterdam (1928) Olympic Games. Year 1932 was the focus of sport movement reform: Physical Education Law was adopted, the management of sports movement was delegated to the Physical Education Palace (PEP) under the Ministry of Education. Distinctive physical education system did revitalize Lithuanian Sport Movement (the 1st Lithuanian National Olympiad was organized in 1938, Lithuanian shooters won silver and bronze medals in 1937 and 1939 at the World championships, basketball players became European champions in 1937 and 1939, vice-champions – in 1938, international victories of table tennis players and high sport results of other athletes were eminent at that time as well). Sport level of our country gained international recognition. Historic break started in 1940, when Lithuania was occupied and the essence of Lithuanian sport was destroyed, the break on the world context was 1951, when, in 46th session of International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Vienna, Olympic organizations of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia were deleted from its list and USSR became their representative. Even though, in the Olympic Games during the period 1952–1988 Lithuanian athletes could not represent their country, they managed to achieve important results as included to USSR teams. Lithuanian National Olympic Committee (LNOC) was re-established in congress with sport federations, organizations and public representatives on 11 December, 1988. Executive Committee of IOC in its meeting in Berlin on 18 September, 1991 announced re-establishment of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia Olympic committees rights. LNOC de jure was recognized on 11 November, 1991 and very soon, on February 1992, after forced 64 years break, Lithuanian athletes participated in Albertville Winter Olympic Games and in July – in XXV Barcelona Games. Lithuanian athletes won six gold, five silver, and ten bronze medals. The most successful Olympic games for Lithuania through the whole history was in London (five – two gold, one silver, and two bronze – medals were won, 12 more athletes and national basketball team took 4-8 places, unofficially Lithuania was 34th among other countries). However, London Games are already a history and Rio de Janeiro Olympic clock is ticking now. Sport history has to be written further and filled in with future Olympic Games winnings.