One Team participants enjoying meetings in Zalgirio Arena once more 2

With last season limiting the activities to online meetings, Zalgiris’ One Team program has finally returned to Zalgirio Arena. The Kaunas club continues its commitment and partnership with the Special Olympics Lithuania organization that unites people with learning disabilities.

The program’s structure – a key to success

The project’s guidelines are set to all clubs by the EuroLeague, with its structure ensuring effective results. Clubs select one group and work with them for 8-12 weeks with weekly meetings.

“This program isn’t just a one-off campaign. It’s consistent work with a selected group. We purposefully work to make it easier for people with disabilities to integrate into society. We teach them communication, teamwork, stress management, concentration skills through the game of basketball. This way, the participants both learn something useful and have fun in the meanwhile,” noted project coordinator Akvile Dagilyte.

The opportunity to gather in live meetings in Zalgiris’ practice facility also gives additional joy and motivation to the participants.

The most awaited events – meetings with green-and-whites

The activities plan for the program is prepared by the employees of the Zalgiris organization, who have gained a lot of experience during 10 years of the club’s involvement with One Team.

Obviously, visits from Zalgiris’ players garner the most attention. This season’s Zalgiris ambassadors are Niels Giffey and Marek Blazevic, who made a visit to the season’s first activity.

“Together with the youngsters we played games, relays. It’s fun to give them extra attention, to bring joy, and most importantly to see smiles on their faces. I’m happy that I was invited to become an ambassador for the program – it’s nice to help uplift the local community,” – said Giffey.

To vary the program, other guests are invited, including Kauno Zalgiris footballers, movement “630” representative Mindaugas Satkus, sports psychologist Aiste Zemaityte.

Partners also joining in

For the fourth consecutive year, Zalgiris’ partner Ramirent Lietuva has been helping carry out the program, with its employees also taking part in the project itself.

The partners order hundreds of One Team shirts that are eagerly worn by their employees. This not only connects them to the project, but also helps the dissemination of the project.

Each year partners are given the opportunity to participate in one of the final activities and take part in sort of an exam for the project’s participants. During this activity the project’s participants are the ones running the day, showcasing what they’ve learned – leadership, public speaking, teamwork.

Zalgiris has been working with One Team since 2013, and won the bronze One Team award in 2021 for the previous season’s activities.