"We'll never forget..."

The spring - summer period this year for the youth of Klaipeda was full of unforgettable impressions related to international activities in the spirit of "Education through Sports" program. Though supported not by this program, but by either the City and local sponsors, the hosts of a project or the Council of Europe, youngsters from Klaipeda had a remarkable chance to take part in a number of very interesting projects.

Ten days of late spring 2004 were remarkable for a group of students from various Klaiprda seafaring colleges and Klaipeda University Marine Institute. They had a navigation practice in the Russian sailing ship MIR. The training tall ship of St. Petersburg A. Makarov Marine Academy, its captain and the crew were the most friendly hosts and teachers to our students. Sailing from Hamburg to Cuxhaven and other German ports and serving entertainment passengers on board, and training under the huge sails - all this was a unique experience for the youngsters.

Between July -August a crew of twelve pupils with the famous in our country Class D sailing yacht "LIETUVA" participated in Tall Ships' Races'2004 in the North Sea. This vessel became the first Lithuanian ship, which take full participation at these prestigious races. The captains of the yacht father and son Kudzevichius say, that the race results of their performance exceeded expectations - they took up the 8^th position among the numerous yachts of their class. The route Klaipeda-Antwerpen-Aalborg-Stavanger-Cuxhaven-Klaipeda - more than a month at sea and in hospitable ports, were the memories that will remain in the hearts of the young sailors.

The Municipality of Amaroussion, part of greater Athens, the venue of 75% of the Olympic Games '2004 took initiative of "Scuolaxenia" project. This wasaprogram aiming to promote the cooperation of municipalities from all over the EU in the field of youth education and sports. KIaipeda was among the participants - 40 students, teachers and city administration representatives were invited to live in the atmosphere of the Olympic City. For three weeks Amaroussion was our most attentive host. The ancient land of gods was generous - our students' teams won every arranged single friendly match of basketball and football. On the last day of the Olympics it was so hard to bid good bye to new friends from Greece, Italy, Cyprus. Nothing will be able to repeat the atmosphere of the Olympic Athens - we will never forget it!