Lithuania hosts impressive European championship: more than 300 athletes to compete

Lithuania will welcome the elite of orienteering. The European championship will be held in Druskininkai and Lazdijai on September 22-27, becoming the largest orienteering event in the country’s history. Over 300 athletes from more than 35 European countries will compete in the forests of Dzūkija.

“This is the largest orienteering event in the history of independent Lithuania that we will organise. Exactly 20 years ago, the World Youth Championship was held in Druskininkai, in the same forests, and now we are returning to the same area. Organising this championship is part of the Lithuanian Orienteering Federation’s strategy because we want to organise international competitions every two years to qualify for the World Championship. Along with the European Championship, the final stage of the World Cup will also be held in Druskininkai, which has never been held in Lithuania before,” said Vilius Aleliūnas, Executive Director and Competition Director of the Lithuanian Orienteering Federation.

The European Championships are organised every year: in even years, there are competitions in qualification, relays, long and medium courses in forests, while in odd years, there is a sprint held within city limits. Lithuanians submitted their application to organise the European Championship 4 years ago, and in the decisive duel for the title of host, our team competed with the Portuguese.

“The application process in orienteering begins 4 years before the championship. Then, for less than a year, those applications are evaluated, after which two candidates are selected, and negotiations begin with them. In our case, we competed with the Portuguese, but since we have the ambition to organise the World Championship, this time the chance to organise the European Championship was given to us,” said V. Aleliūnas happily.

Throughout history, Lithuanian representatives have broken onto the podium at the European Orienteering Championship twice: in 2004, Dainora Alšauskaitė won silver in the women’s middle distance, and in 2002, the women’s relay team, consisting of Giedrė Voverienė, Vilma Rudzenskaitė and Ieva Sargaudytė, won bronze.

At the 2026 championship in Druskininkai, Lithuanians, as hosts, will have a maximum quota of 16 athletes (8 men and 8 women), with the greatest hopes tied to the women’s team. It is expected that biathlete Judita Traubaitė, who successfully participated in the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, will also compete in the European Championship.

“Lithuania is currently experiencing a generational change in orienteering, but as hosts we will have the largest quota. In September 2025, we appointed a new national team coach, created a new “Team Lithuania” program and selected 19 athletes who are preparing specifically for this European Championship. Our greatest hope in the championship is the women’s team, we hope that Judita Traubaitė will also be able to participate. We also have two experienced athletes, Aušrinė Kutkaitė and Gabija Ražaitytė, so they are capable of competing for the top 10 in the women’s relay. We hope that they will also have the home court advantage, because in orienteering it is very important to compete in a familiar area, in familiar forests,” said V. Aleliūnas.

With just over half a year left until the historic orienteering event in Druskininkai, the championship organisers have already completed a significant part of the preparatory work. By the way, the competition will be broadcast not only in Lithuania, but also in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Italy, Austria and Estonia.

“Orienteering takes place in a real forest, so it was very important to choose a location that meets international standards. By September 2025, we should have drawn a map and planned the routes, so this stage has already passed. In November, we had a visit from a television team that walked through the forests, looking at camera placements. We also are faced with a internet connection challenge: although it is quite accessible in Lithuania, we have some issues in the forests. Currently, volunteers are being recruited, and the team of judges has already been assembled,” V. Aleliūnas summarised.

The European Orienteering Championships are partially financed by state funds, administered by the Lithuanian National Sports Agency.