The Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship Brings Basketball Diplomacy to the OSCE Community
16 July, Vienna, the Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship hosted the OSCE 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. 72 players formed 16 teams representing OSCE participating States, OSCE Secretariat and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The OSCE Ambassadors from Ireland, Kazakhstan, FYROM, Poland, USA and Lithuania led and fought for their teams on the basketball court.
After the intense games the Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship Team and the OSCE Secretariat Team met in the finals. The Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship Team I fought hard for the first place and won the victory over the OSCE Secretariat Team. The Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship Team II and Team Astana (Kazakhstan) shared third and fourth places. The Chairperson of the Permanent Council, Lithuanian Permanent Representative to the OSCE ambassador Renatas Norkus awarded all winners and other players with EUROBASKET 2011 gifts.
Recalling the HELSINKI FINAL ACT of 1975 and on the occasion of the European Basketball Championship, EUROBASKET 2011 the Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship continues facilitating co-operation by inviting the OSCE community to play sports.
