In recent years Panevėžys has been a constant place for basketball championships and international tournaments. In 2011 the city hosted „EuroBasket 2011“, last year European Men Championship U-16 took place. This year the capital of Aukštaitija welcomes the future stars of women basketball and the World Championship.

Panevėžys has always been home for Lithuanian sportsmen and basketball players. This city served as a springboard to basketball achievements for the champions, winners of Europe and the Olympic Games Arvydas Sabonis, Šarūnas Marčiulionis, Jonas Kazlauskas, Vitalija Tuomaitė and many other basketball players, who used to make the name of Lithuania and Panevėžys famous.

On behalf of the residents of Panevėžys I would like to congratulate all the teams which are going to play in our city. I wish success in sports, excitement, love and support from the fans.

Vitalijus Satkevičius

Mayor of Panevėžys City