‘Almost twenty years ago, when we started to popularise tennis and other racket sports, we had the goal to bring-up athletes, create opportunities for them to improve, and attract as many enthusiasts in the country as possible. Currently, we are ready to professionally organise large international tennis tournaments and accept more enthusiasts of this sport, the number of which is growing rapidly in Lithuania every year. Instead of ‘SEB arena’s’ outdoor courts, we decided to install additional modern indoor courts and open a unique specialised tennis arena in Lithuania. By taking this step, we hope to further strengthen racket sports, encourage athletes to achieve the best results and make our country famous around the world’, says Sigita Survilaitė-Mekionienė, General Manager of ‘Darnu Group’.
The promotion of tennis and other racket sports in the country has been the main social initiative of the ‘Darnu Group’ for many years, to which the group of companies annually provides both financial support and efforts to increase the importance of this sport. ‘Teniso Pasaulis’, belonging to the group of companies, is also one of the founders of the Vilnius Tennis Academy, which is attended by about 500 children every year. The company actively contributes to the nurturing of young and talented tennis players, implements the ‘Tennis Talents’ programme, based on which it annually provides financial support to both young tennis players and professionals of the Lithuanian tennis national team. The company also offers an opportunity for tennis players with disabilities to engage in sports activities for free. The group of companies annually allocates more than EUR 200,000 for various support programmes.
Athletes of Vilnius Tennis Academy are among the best young tennis players in Lithuania and Europe, and win prizes in various international and Lithuanian tournaments, but the school itself does not receive any state support – it is supported by parental contributions and founders’ support.
‘We do not expect a financial return from the tennis court complex, we strive for ‘SEB arena' to sustain itself and only due to the rapidly growing number of tennis enthusiasts can this be at all realistic. A lot has been achieved since the beginning of our activities, but, of course, it is a pity that tennis in Lithuania is promoted only by private business’, says Sigita Survilaitė-Mekionienė.
According to her, it is currently difficult to organise large tennis events in Lithuania, because competitions are held in unsuitable arenas, where a temporary tennis court has to be installed.
‘The opening of the largest specialised tennis arena in the region is a historic event for the entire tennis community in the country, as with the adapted infrastructure, we will be able to host top-level tennis competitions, from the Davis Cup to ATP-level tournaments with the highest global standards. Special attention will also be paid to the cultivation of children’s talents. Special courts will be installed for them, so the students of Vilnius Tennis Academy will have unique conditions not only to train, but also to compete, as well as to invite and receive guests from abroad from the very first moments of the acquaintance with racket sports’, says Sigita Survilaitė-Mekionienė.
It is estimated that after the expansion works, almost a third more people will be able to engage in racket sports at the same time at the ‘SEB Arena’. There will be training courts with spectator stands and mini tennis courts for children. During the reconstruction, seven tennis and four badminton courts will be installed. The number of changing rooms will also increase, and a recreation area for players will appear.
During the summer season, as before, players will be offered ten clay tennis courts and two artificial grass tennis courts on the Bernardine courts in Vilnius.
Reconstruction work should begin in the spring of next year and will take about a year. It is also said that construction works will not interfere with the normal work of ‘SEB arena’. The multifunctional complex ‘SEB arena’ was built in 2008. Its first expansion took place in 2014.
Leave the interpreting to us! Translated by Pasaulio spalvos
