In brief - 2006-08-23

  • 2006-08-23
The Vilnius TV tower, which is the tallest construction in Lithuania, will be turned into the largest basketball hoop in the world for this year's World Basketball Championship. A ring measuring 34 meters in diameter and 109 meters in circumference will be mounted on the 326-meter high tower. A 40 meter net will hang from the ring. In addition, the construction will be lit up by 545 light bulbs, as well as electric garlands and cables. The world's largest basketball hoop will shine during the World Men's Basketball Championship, from Aug. 19 to Sept. 3.

Lithuanian swimmer Vidmantas Urbonas began swimming across the English Channel at 10 a.m. on Aug. 18. Urbonas arrived in Dover, England, to begin his epic across the 33-kilometer channel that separates Great Britain from France. He expects to complete the swim in some 10-12 hours. The Lithuanian will have to swim part of the distance, approximately 6 kilometers, against the current, which flows at a speed of 6 kilometers per hour. Urbonas' swim across the channel is part of a Lithuanian-Icelandic project to thank Iceland for recognizing Lithuania's independence 15 years ago.

After a year's break, Lithuanian representatives will once again participate in the European Stunt Flying Championship. Stunt flying professional Antanas Marciukaitis, who pilots a Su-31 sports plane, will represent Lithuania in this year's event, scheduled to be held in Switzerland Aug. 29 to Sept. 10. The Baltic state did not take part in the 2005 championship due to lack of funds. "Lithuania's representatives have performed especially well during previous stunt flying championships, so it was really disappointing that we could not take part in last year's world championship," said Algimantas Zentelis, president of the Lithuanian Stunt Flying Federation.