REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
LAW
ON PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT
20 December 1995 No I-1151
Vilnius
(As last amended on 2 July 2013 – No XII-476)
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1. Purpose of the Law
This Law shall lay down the principles of physical education and sport, regulate the competence of state ands municipal institutions in the field of physical education and sport, regulate the organization of physical education and sport as well as physical exercise in educational establishments, the competence of non-governmental physical education and sports organizations in the development of physical education and sport, training of sportsmen, development of a system of competitions, regulate activities of physical education and sports specialists, the basis of the development of professional sport, principles of the organisation of sports competitions and events, lay down the requirements for sports facilities.
Article 2. Main definitions used in the Law
1. High-level sport mastership means the result of training of a sportsman by creating special conditions – capability to endure such physical training and competition load which would enable to achieve the physical, technical, tactical and psychological readiness necessary when seeking the best sport results.
2. Doping means doping agents and doping methods stimulating or suppressing physiologic activity of a sportsman, which pose a threat to his health, are used to temporarily enhance the capacities and create the conditions for unfair play. The list of doping agents and doping methods shall be defined by international anti-doping organizations.
3. Physical education means an important part of the general culture of a person and society – human physical and spiritual development (physical exercise) and the result thereof (physical and mental harmony, beauty, physical fitness and activity, health).
4. Physical education or sports specialist means a person who has the higher education in sport or a certificate for physical education and sports activities.
5. Physical education and sport club means an organisation established in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts, which has the rights of the legal entity, and branches set up in the Republic of Lithuania by an undertaking established in one of the Member States of the European Union and any other state of the European Economic Area, or a unit of an educational and scientific establishment which unites sportsmen, sport amateurs, sponsors of one or several sports, develops a sport or several sports, trains sportsmen or teams, seeks good sport results, develops ideas of healthy life style, possesses symbols, traditions; it may have its own sports facility.
6. Physical education and sports organization means a legal entity established in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts and branches set up in the Republic of Lithuania by an undertaking established in one of the Member States of the European Union and any other state of the European Economic Area, or a unit of an educational and scientific establishment, which units sportsmen, sport amateurs, professional sportsmen of one or several sports, and specialists assisting them, as well as an association of sponsors, which develops physical education, sports (sport branch), holds competitions, sport seminars, conferences and other events.
7. Certificate for physical education and sports activities means a document which grants the persons who do not have the higher education in sport the right to temporarily carry out theoretical and practical work.
8. Physical education class means a class in which healthy behaviour is taught, physical activity of pupils is trained by encouraging their motivation, forming physical skills, habits, qualities, training complex abilities, striving for physical and spiritual harmony.
9. Physical education exercise means physical, intellectual and moral education during which theoretical knowledge is applied in practice by exercising, training the body and strengthening the soul.
10. Lithuanian Paralympic Committee means an association set up in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts, with the aim to coordinate the Paralympic movement in Lithuania.
11. Lithuanian National Olympic Committee means an association set up in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts, with the aim to enhance and protect the Olympic movement in the Republic of Lithuania in compliance with the Olympic Charter.
12. Sports of the disabled means organised sports activities of persons with temporary or full physical and/or mental disability; the aim of such activities is to strengthen health, seek best possible sport results.
13. Olympic reserve means a group of sportsmen formed purposefully, which can or will be able to replace sportsmen of high-level sport mastership of the national Olympic teams.
14. Team means a group of the best sportsmen of one or several sports, which represents a sports organisation, city, municipality, county, country in sports competitions.
15. Sport means all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim at improving physical fitness and mental health (well-being), forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels.
16. Sport for all means sports activities maintaining necessary physical activity of sport amateurs, creating conditions for competing, achievement of sport results according to capabilities.
17. Sport activity contract means an agreement between a professional sportsman, sportsman or coach and a sports organization under which the professional sportsman, sportsman or coach undertakes to prepare for sports competitions or to train sportsmen, to participate in competitions by adhering to the set internal procedure of the sports organization, and the sports organization undertakes to pay remuneration for sports or coaching activities and guarantees the conditions of training for and participation in competitions, as well as undertakes to implement other terms and conditions provided for in the contract.
18. Sportsman means a person who goes into training systematically, participates in sports competitions, seeks the best possible sport results, and consistently enhances his sport mastership.
19. Professional sportsman means a sportsman who receives remuneration for preparation for and participation in competitions from a sports organization with whom he has concluded a sport activity contract.
20. Sport education centre means institutions of sports education, sports centres, specialised institutions of one or several sports, which may carry out non-formal education of children and adults, train sportsmen and sport amateurs of certain qualification, as well as perform other functions assigned to them by the founders.
21. Sports facility means a construction works designated for holding sport exercises and competitions of one or various sports, rehabilitation of sportsmen, improvement of qualifications of sports specialists.
22. Sport exercise means an independent activity of a sportsman or joint activities of sportsmen and a coach, methodical training.
23. Sports event means a measure of physical education, sport promotion, education of individuals, display of their capabilities: sports matches, competitions, games, festivals, conferences, contests, evenings, exhibitions, meetings.
24. Sport result means a quantity rate of sports activity, expressed in the units of time, space or mass, points according to the particularity of sports, or a quality rate expressed by victory in matches or competitions.
25. Sports camp means purposive, short-term training of sportsmen or a team for a competition at the sports facilities.
26. Sport (sport branch) federation means a non-governmental sports organisation that has care of the development of a sport within a certain territory (a city, country, continent, world) or sport-related activities (sports medicine, sports journalism, etc).
27. Sports competition means competing of two or more sportsmen, teams, sport clubs in accordance with the regulations announced in advance, by adhering to the rules laid down by an international federation of an appropriate sport, with the aim of determining the winners, prizewinners.
28. Sport amateur means a person who takes exercise on a regular basis, goes in for a sport he is fond of, participates in competitions, strengthens and maintains his health, physical and spiritual capacities through exercising.
29. Strategic sports means the sports included by the Department of Physical Education and Sports under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter: ‘the Department of Physical Education and Sports’) in the list of the priority national sports.
30. International complex event means a sports event attended by the representatives of various countries and various sports (world university championships, games, festivals).
31. Referee activity contract means an agreement between a referee and a sports organization under which the referee undertakes to objectively supervise the course and results of a competition in compliance with the rules of an appropriate sport and/or competition regulations, and the sports organization undertakes to create conditions for the referee to objectively perform his duties and to remunerate him for the provided services.
32. Coach means a person who has acquired a qualification or qualification category in compliance with the procedure laid down by a (national or international) sport (sport branch) federation, a specialist of a certain sport, who has the right to train and engages in training sportsmen or a team for competitions.
34. Competition regulations means a document drawn up and approved by a competition organizer, which specifies the purpose and tasks of the competition, its venue, time, programme, system, requirements for competition participants and teams, methods of determination of winners, and other.
Article 3. Principles of physical education and sport
Physical education and sports activity shall be based on the following principles:
1) equality – to seek to create conditions for all to go into sports, without discrimination on the grounds of their sex, age, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and social or economic status. Separate competitions for men, women, disabled persons, competitions according to age groups, limitation of the number of participants in competitions shall not be regarded as violation of the principle of equality;
2) safety of spectators and participants of sports events – to avoid incidents within and outside stadia, enhance the reduction of violence amongst spectators; encourage appropriate organization of activities of sports fans’ clubs and good behaviour of their members;
4) fair play – moral attributes defining human actions determined by noble motives, which are highly appreciated in sports fights;
5) objectivity – to ensure that the results would not be evident in advance and to maintain a competitive balance between the sportsmen or teams participating in competitions;
Article 4. The right of the residents of the Republic of Lithuania in the field of sport
The residents of the Republic of Lithuania shall be entitled to freely choose physical activity forms and sports, to unite into sports organizations, to take part in sports management, to engage in professional sports activities, other sports activity which is not prohibited by the law
Article 5. Spheres of activity and entities of the system of physical education and sport
1. The system of physical education and sport – the totality of natural persons and legal entities who educate an individual by engaging all measures of physical education, consistent and continuing development of physical and spiritual abilities of an individual and strengthening of his health.
2. The system of physical education and sport shall comprise the following spheres of activity:
3. Entities of the system of physical education and sport shall be:
3) municipalities or institutions authorised by them, county or national sport (sport branch) federations;
6) state institutions and establishments assigned to the sphere under their regulation, the activities of which are related to the development of physical education and sport;
Article 6. The competence of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania in the field of sport
The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania shall:
4) ratify and denounce the most important international agreements on sport, to which the Republic of Lithuania is a state party;
Article 7. The competence of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania in the field of sport
The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall:
1) approve the priority directions and programmes related to the development of physical education and sport;
Article 8. The National Physical Education and Sports Council and its competence
1. With the aim to encourage the interest of all public administration institutions and non-governmental organizations in physical education and sport as well as their cooperation, the Government shall set up the National Physical Education and Sports Council and approve its regulations.
2. The National Physical Education and Sports Council shall:
3. The National Physical Education and Sports Council shall consist of the representatives of the Seimas Commission for Youth and Sport Affairs, the Office of the Government, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior, the Department of Physical Education and Sports, non-governmental sports organizations. The regulations of the National Physical Education and Sports Council shall fix the number of representatives, the duration of their term of office and lay down the procedure of election of its chairman.
Article 9. The Department of Physical Education and Sports, and its competence
With the aim to develop physical education and sport in Lithuania, the Department of Physical Education and Sports shall:
1) take part in shaping the policy of the Republic of Lithuania in the field of physical education and sport, as well as pursue it;
2) draw up a long-term physical education and sports strategy and a development programme, strategic action plans of the institution, control their implementation;
4) dispose of state budgetary appropriations, funds of the Republic of Lithuania Foundation for the Support of Physical Education and Sport as well as other funds received in a legal manner, exercise control over the use thereof;
5) coordinate activities of the entities from the system of physical education and sport in the field of physical education and sport;
7) set the qualification requirements for heads of physical education and sports institutions, coaches and specialists, their performance evaluation, granting of categories, the procedure for issuing certificates for physical education and sports activities;
8) promote the development of the physical education and sport information system and sports science;
10) pursuant to resolutions of the Government, lay down the procedure for paying for work to employees of budgetary institutions and organizations of physical education and sport;
11) upon the authorization of the Government, implement the rights and obligations of the owner of sports and medical centres and other budgetary institutions maintained from the state budget or state monetary funds, or the property and non-pecuniary rights of a stakeholder (owner) of public establshments.
Article 10. The competence of the Ministries and other state institutions in the field of physical education and sport
1. The Ministry of National Defence and the institutions from the national defence system shall, within their competence, organize and ensure physical fitness of solders, create opportunities for solders to practice sport and participate in sports competitions.
2. The Ministry of Social Security and Labour shall develop physical education and sport of the disabled as a means of their integration into society, support the initiatives and programmes of physical activity of the family and community.
3. The Ministry of Transport and Communications shall regulate the issues concerning the organization and management of qualifications of sportsmen and specialists of aviation sports, flight safety, control of the technical status of aircrafts, flying, motorboat, automobile and motor cycling sports.
4. The Ministry of Health shall develop the principles of healthy lifestyle, draw up and coordinate programmes for enhancing physical activity, draw up drafts of legal acts related to enhancement of physical activity, participate in solution of the issues regarding the use of doping in sports, lay down the requirements for health check-ups of sportsmen.
5. The Ministry of Education and Science shall, within its competence, form and implement the physical education and sports policy in the establishments carrying out the programmes of formal and non-formal education.
6. The Ministry of the Interior shall take care of physical fitness of the officers of the internal service system, create opportunities for these persons to practice sport and participate in sports competitions.
Article 12. The competence of municipalities
2. Municipal councils shall set up and liquidate physical education and sports institutions, may, in accordance with the procedure laid down by themselves, fund the activities of sport education centres, sport clubs and other non-governmental sports organizations which function within the municipal territory but do not carry out public administration functions.
3. Municipal councils may set out the criteria and procedure for awarding grants which would be paid from municipal budgets to sportsmen, as well as the criteria and procedure for awarding bonus payments which would be paid from municipal budgets to members of the municipal teams.
Version of subparagraph 1 until 31 December 2013:
Version of subparagraph 1 as of 1 January 2014:
1) implement measures intended for the development of physical education and sport in the municipality, which are provided for in a strategic development plan of the municipality and/or a strategic action plan of the municipality as approved by the municipal council;
2) implement a strategy of the development of sports facilities in the municipality, ensure their accessibility to the residents;
3) in accordance with the procedure laid down by the municipal councils, fund participation of teams in national and international competitions;
4) carry out educational activities, shape a positive attitude of the people residing in their territory towards the importance of physical education and sport to health;
SECTION 2
COMPETENCE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF physical education AND SPORT
Article 13. Development of physical education and sport
1. Non-governmental physical education and sports organizations, registered in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts, shall develop Olympic, Paralympic, deaflympics and special Olympics, Sport for All movements in Lithuania, various sports, groups of sports or sport for all. Physical education and sports organizations shall have the right to unite into associations in accordance with the procedure and for the purposes laid down by laws.
Article 14. Activities of physical education and sport clubs
1. A sport club shall be the main sports institution. Sport clubs may be established for sport amateurs and for professional sportsmen.
2. Amateur sport clubs shall be public legal entities of the Republic of Lithuania as well as branches set up in the Republic of Lithuania by an undertaking established in one of the Member States of the European Union and any other state of the European Economic Area, whose purpose shall be to satisfy public interests in the field of physical education and sport, to unite sport amateurs and sportsmen for physical activity, healthy lifestyle, development of physical education and sport, to aim at qualitative and quantitative results of physical education and sport. A unit of an educational and scientific establishment uniting sportsmen of one or several sport branches, sport amateurs, sports promoters may also be regarded as a amateur sport club.
3. Professional sport clubs shall be private legal entities of the Republic of Lithuania as well as branches set up in the Republic of Lithuania by an undertaking established in one of the Member States of the European Union and any other state of the European Economic Area, whose purpose shall be to develop professional sports as an economic activity, to aim at quantitative and qualitative sport results.
Article 15. Activities of sport (sport branch) federations
2. The Department of Physical Education and Sports shall recognize only one national sport (sport branch) federation which is registered in the Register of Legal Persons in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts, uses the name of Lithuania in its title and unites the physical education and sports organizations of that sport (that sport branch), functioning in not less than three different counties of Lithuania. The procedure for recognising national sport (sport branch) federations and other criteria shall be set out by the Department of Physical Education and Sports.
3. The Department of Physical Education and Sports shall sign a contract for use of budget funds only with a recognized national sport (sport branch) federation. The procedure and form of conclusion of such contract shall be laid down by the Department of Physical Education and Sports.
4. Only a national sport (sport branch) federation which is recognized by the Department of Physical Education and Sports shall:
4) upon the receipt of permission of the Department of Physical Education and Sports, organize international sports events, international, complex sports competitions in Lithuania;
5) according to the international doping control rules, impose sanctions for the use of doping agents and methods, organize doping control during competitions, carry out educational activities with regard to doping control;
5. A sport branch that is being developed by a sport (sport branch) federation of Lithuania in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Department of Physical Education and Sports, may be recognized as a strategic sport branch after the evaluation of the achieved sport results during the last Olympic cycle and included in the list of the strategic sports.
Article 16. Principles of organization of physical education and sport exercise in educational establishments
1. Heads of educational establishments shall be responsible for the qualification of physical education teachers, state of sports facilities, provision with teaching aids, safe and healthy sport environment during and after school hours, as well as during school holidays.
Article 17. Physical education and sport exercise in the establishments carrying out the programmes of formal education
1. In the establishments carrying out the programmes of formal education, with the exception of establishments of higher education, physical education lessons shall be mandatory not less than three hours per week and organized in compliance with the general programmes of schools of general education of Lithuania, education standards and general requirements for health safety.
2. When implementing programmes of studies of higher education, there must not be less than two hours per week of physical education and sport exercise in the first two years of studies, and in the following years of studies – for choice.
Article 18. Physical education and sport exercise in educational establishments carrying out programmes of non-formal education
1. Physical activity for children of pre-school and pre-primary education programmes shall be mandatory during the whole period of education by designating not less than one hour per day.
2. In other educational establishments which carry out programmes of non-formal education physical education exercise shall be carried out in accordance with the approved teaching plans and (or) curricula.
Article 19. Sources of funding of physical education and sport
The sources of funding of physical education and sports shall be as follows:
Article 20. Investments in the development of physical education and sport
1. The state and municipalities shall allocate investments for the development of physical education and sport (construction, acquisition of the property, human resources, etc.) in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Law on the Approval of Financial Indicators of the State Budget and Municipal Budgets. Municipalities shall allocated investments for the development of physical education and sport in accordance with the procedure laid down by municipal budgets approved by the municipal councils.
Article 21. Appropriation of funds of the state and municipal budgets for the development of physical education and sport
1. Non-governmental physical education and sports organizations may receive funds of the state and municipal budgets for the implementation of physical education and sports programmes and projects. A state institution or the municipal administration shall sign contracts for the use of budget funds with the said organizations.
2. The state and municipal institutions which appropriated funds for the purposes referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall have the right to check how these funds are used. The organizations which have received funds from the state and municipal budgets must submit a report on the use of these funds to the institutions which appropriated the funds.
3. If after the receipt of the funds from the state and municipal budgets, the organizations fail to present the reports on the use of the funds or fail to provide conditions to check the budget funds, the manager of the budget appropriations shall have the right to suspend, reduce or terminate the allocation of the budget funds for the implementation of programmes.
Article 22. Grants for sportsmen
1. Sportsmen of high-level sport mastership in Olympic and Paralympic sports, who go into training for international competitions and represent Lithuania in such competitions may be paid state grants the amount of which are set by the Government.
2. On the recommendation of the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee, the Lithuanian Paralympic Committee and the federations of appropriate sports (sport branches), the Department of Physical Education and Sports shall allocate the grants in the amount set by the Government, as well as lay down the procedure for paying such grants.
3. The municipal administration or an institution authorised by it may pay grants to sportsmen in accordance with the procedure laid down by paragraph 3 of Article 12 of this Law.
Article 23. Encouragement of teams of high-level sport mastership
1. Bonus payments in the amount set by the Government may be granted to the sportsmen and other members of the teams of high-level of sport mastership for sporting achievements.
2. Bonus payments shall be allocated from the funds of the state budget, which are appropriated for the Department of Physical Education and Sports.
Article 24. State support of sport
The State shall support with financial and economic measures the practice of sport by residents, improvement of health by various forms of physical education in the manner prescribed by law.
Article 25. Physical education and sports training
1. Physical education and sport exercise may be carried out only by physical education and sports specialists.
2. When employing a physical education and sports specialist, an employer must ascertain that the person has got the adequate education or a valid certificate for physical education and sports activities. The employer who violates the provisions of this Article shall be held liable under the Code of Administrative Offences.
Article 26. Certificate for physical education and sports activities
The Department of Physical Education and Sports shall lay down the procedure for issuing certificates for physical education and sports activities, the period of validity of such certificates, the qualification requirements for persons wishing to become physical education and sports specialists and obtain the said certificate.
Article 27. Regulation of activities of physical education and sports specialists
A physical education and sports specialist may sign an employment contract with the organizations in which he carries out physical education and sport exercise, or he may pursue individual activities as defined in the Law on Income Tax of Individuals.
Article 28. Regulation of activities of coaches
1. A coach may sign an employment contract with organizations or pursue individual activities as defined in the Law on Income Tax of Individuals.
2. When pursuing individual activities a coach must sign with the organization a sport activity contract referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 35 of this Law, with the exception of the provisions specified in subparagraphs 6, 7 and 12.
Article 29. Regulation of activities of referees
1. A referee may pursue individual activities. When pursuing the individual activities as defined in the Law on Income tax of Individuals, a referee must sign with the organization a referee activity contract.
2. The referee activity contract must indicate:
5) commitments of the referee to adhere to the sport (sport branches) rules, regulations of the competition, the principle of impartiality, etc.;
3. International and national sports (sport branches) federations shall lay down the procedure of qualification improvement of referees.
Article 30. Rights and duties of sportsmen
1. Sportsmen shall have the right:
1) to receive according to the approved training programmes the funds of the state and municipal budgets for training for and participation in competitions and other sports events;
2. By adhering to the principles specified in Article 3 of this Law, a sportsman must:
3) restrain from unreasonable physical risk and activity which may cause illness, injury, disability or death;
5) not use doping agents and not apply the methods banned by the international and national organizations;
Article 31. Composition and formation of sports teams
1. A team may be composed of: sportsmen, coaches, physicians, masseurs, scientists, psychologists, managers, team heads, and other service staff members necessary in certain sports.
2. A federation of an appropriate sport shall set up sport teams of individual age groups and national teams (of individual sports and sport games).
3. Municipal sport teams according to age groups shall be set up by the director of the municipal administration or establishments authorised by the director of the municipal administration, taking into account the information of a sports organization about the achievements of sportsmen and planned results.
4. On the recommendation of the national sport (sport branch) federations, with the purpose to participate in international complex events held by international sports organizations, teams shall be set up by the national sports organizations which are the members of the said international sports organizations.
Article 32. Training of sportsmen
1. Sportsmen shall be trained in sport education centres, sports (sport branches) clubs and sports camps organized by the federations.
2. Sportsmen shall be trained pursuant to training programmes approved by the Department of Physical Education and Sports, and individual training plans for certain competitions, which are made up by the specialists who train sportsmen.
3. Training programmes approved by the Department of Physical Education and Sports as well as plans for individual training must be based on the theoretical and practical achievements of the modern sports science.
Article 33. Competence of sport education centres
1. The Department of Physical Education and Sports or a state or municipal institution authorised by it shall coordinate the implementation of programmes of high-level sport mastership, as well as programmes of education of children and youth in the sport education centres.
2. Programmes of high-level sport mastership may be implemented by institutions of higher education as well.
3. Sport education centres who concluded sport activity contracts with sportsmen in accordance with the procedure laid down by this Law, may, when the sportsman changes sports organizations, request a financial compensation for the education of the sportsman from the sports organization to which the sportsman moves. The terms and conditions as well as procedure of payment of such compensations must be provided for in the sport activity contract, as well as in the contracts between the sport education centre and the sports organization to which the sportsman moves.
Article 34. Training of sportsmen of Olympic teams
1. Sportsmen of Lithuanian Olympic teams and Olympic reserve shall be trained in pursuance of the programmes for training for Olympic games, approved by the Department of Physical Education and Sports and the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee.
2. Programmes for training for Olympic games must be drawn up on the basis of the theoretical and practical achievements of the modern sports science.
Article 35. Sport activity contract
1. When carrying out sports activities in a sports organization, a professional sportsman must conclude a sport activity contract with this organization.
2. The sport activity contract (hereinafter: ‘the contract’) must indicate:
4) the commitments of the professional sportsman to adhere to the rules and other provisions laid down by the sports organization, the sport branch federation and international federations to which the sports organization belongs;
7) the procedure for compensating for the damage done to the health of the sportsman during the training for competitions and during the competitions;
5. Contracts may also be concluded with sportsmen, however, they will not acquire the status of professional sportsman. The conditions for conclusion of contracts, laid down in this Article, except the conditions provided for in subparagraph 5 of paragraph 2 of this Article, shall apply to such contracts.
Article 36. The sport activity contract of an under-age professional sportsman
Under-age professional sportsmen from 14 to 18 years of age may conclude sport activity contracts only with the consent of their parents or guardians.
Article 37. Changing of sports organizations by professional sportsmen
Taking into account the terms and conditions laid down in the sport activity contract or agreements of sports organizations, a professional sportsman shall have the right to move from one Lithuanian or foreign sports organization to another in order to participate in competitions. The conditions of changing organizations may also be regulated by the rules of the international federation of an appropriate sport to which the sports organization belongs.
Article 38. Protection of interests of professional sportsmen
Professional sportsmen shall have the right to form associations to protect the interests of their sports activities.
Article 39. Representation of professional sportsmen
1. When maintaining relations with sports organizations, a professional sportsman may himself protect his interests.
2. Professional sportsmen may be represented by legal entities and the branches set up in the Republic of Lithuania by an undertaking established in one of the Member States of the European Union and any other state of the European Economic Area, which are insured with the third-party insurance.
3. Professional sportsmen may be represented by natural persons who engage in individual activities registered in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts and are insured with the third-party insurance.
4. In certain sports the procedure for representing professional sportsmen may be regulated also by the rules of an appropriate sport.
5. The contract which is being concluded in writing between a professional sportsman and his representative must specify the purpose of the third-party insurance, the amount of civil liability, liability of the parties to the contract, and other provisions.
Article 40. The title of a meritorious sportsman, coach and sports employee of the Republic of Lithuania
1. The Department of Physical Education and Sports may confer the title of a meritorious sportsman and coach of the Republic of Lithuania on the following citizens of the Republic of Lithuania:
1) champions and prize-winners of Olympic games (winners of gold, silver and bronze medals), their coaches;
3) record holders of European and world championships of the Olympic sports, Olympic games, their coaches;
2. The Department of Physical Education and Sports may confer the title of a meritorious sports employee on a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania for the merits in the field of sports science, the field of sports management and other fields.
Article 41. Conditions and procedure for paying annuities to sportsmen
1. A sportsman, citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, who has finished the sporting career and does not participate in Olympic games, world and European championships, shall have the right to receive a monthly annuity in the amount of 1,5 monthly average wages in the national economy as announced by the Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, provided that the sportsman, while possessing the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania and representing the Republic of Lithuania, became or, before the entry into force of this Law, acquired the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania and, prior to the acquisition of the citizenship, had become:
3) before 11 March 1990 a world or European champion of the discipline which was removed from the Olympic programme prior to the achievement of the result or added to the Olympic programme after the achievement of the result;
4) a European or world record holder of any Olympic discipline of an Olympic sport, a record holder of Olympic games;
2. The annuity shall not be granted to a sportsman, and the granted annuity shall not be paid, if:
1) he has insured income, with the exception of the income received for the work in the field of physical education and sport;
3) a judgement of conviction for committing a premeditated crime has become effective with respect to the sportsman (until the expiry of the conviction);
3. The Department of Physical Education and Sports shall award annuities in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Government; such annuities shall be paid from the funds of the state budget by the State Social Insurance Fund administration institutions authorised by the State Social Insurance Fund Board under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour (hereinafter: ‘the State Social Insurance Fund Board’).
4. A sportsman must notify the institution which pays the annuity to him about the occurrence of the circumstances, referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, within five working days from the occurrence thereof. If the sportsman fails to notify about the said circumstances in due time and this results in the overpayment of the annuity, the sum of the overpaid annuity shall be recovered from the recipient of the annuity in the manner prescribed by law.
Article 42. Principles of organization of sports competitions and events
1. Sports competitions or events at all levels shall be held in pursuance of competition regulations. Competition regulations may be prepared for concrete competitions or for the whole championship, having regard to the rules of an appropriate sport.
2. The organizer of a sports competition shall draw up competition or event regulations and be responsible for their implementation.
3. Each sport (sport branch) federation must have competition safety rules. Taking into account the requirements of the international organizations of sport branches, the management bodies of the sports (sport branches) federations shall, within their competence, approve such rules.
4. Organizers of sports competitions and events shall be responsible for the safety of sportsmen, sports specialists, sports lovers and spectators during sports competitions or events.
5. During a sports event or competition sports lovers and spectators must be provided with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the competition safety requirements. If sports lovers, spectators fail to meet the set competition safety requirements and public policy rules, the organizer shall not be held liable for the damage incurred by spectators and (or) done to others.
6. Organizers of sports events and competitions may be assisted by volunteers during a sports event or competition.
7. If the funds of the state budget appropriated by the Department of Physical Education and Sports are used in order to organise a sports event or competition, when planning the use of such funds, the organizers must act in compliance with the financial standards of execution of sports events, as set out by the Government.
Article 43. The system of sports competitions
1. International, national, complex, regional and local competitions may be organized and held in the Republic of Lithuania.
2. A sportsman or a team from a foreign state must take part in an international sports competition.
4. Competition of several sports shall be held in complex sports competitions, which may be attended, by sportsmen or teams from Lithuania as well as foreign countries.
5. Regional sports competitions shall be attended by sportsmen or teams from one or several counties of Lithuania or from several municipalities which are not situated within the same county.
6. Local sports competitions shall be attended by sportsmen or teams from one municipality or several municipalities which are situated within the same county.
7. National federations of the appropriate sport branches shall be responsible for the setting of the system of competitions of an appropriate sport and the conditions of holding such competitions. The national sports federations must insure that sports competitions are organized and held pursuant to the regulations set by the international sports organizations, rules of the appropriate sports and competition regulations.
Article 44. Organization and holding of sports competitions
1. Implementation and organization of a system of sport (sport branch) competitions in Lithuania shall be coordinated by the national federation of an appropriate sport (sport branch), recognized by the Department of Physical Education and Sports.
2. The national federation may assign organization and holding of sports competitions at regional and local level to other sports organizations.
3. Organization and holding of sports competitions at international and national level may be transferred only to the sports organizations which meet the criteria set out by the Department of Physical Education and Sports, and the requirements set out by international sports organizations.
Article 45. Health check-up
1. Persons who take part in physical education and sport exercise of any form and participate in competitions, must have their health checked up regularly. The periodicity and procedure for checking up health shall be laid down by the Department of Physical Education and Sports together with the Ministry of Health.
Article 46. Ban on the use of doping agents and methods
1. Sportsmen shall be prohibited to use and physicians, sports specialists and other persons – to administer, encourage and force to use doping agents or apply doping methods which are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and international sports organizations.
2. Doping shall be prohibited for horses of the equestrian sports and other animals participating in sports competitions.
3. Sanctions set out by international and Lithuanian sports organizations shall be applied to the persons who have used, encouraged or forced to use doping agents or apply doping methods.
4. Sportsmen or other persons indicated in paragraph 3 of this Article, who do not agree to the imposed sanctions, shall be entitled to file an appeal to the sports arbitration formed in accordance with the procedure laid down by paragraph 2 of Article 51 of this Law.
5. Doping control shall be conducted in Lithuania in pursuance of the international documents which the Republic of Lithuania have ratified or otherwise acceded to, as well as according to the testing standards lay down by international organizations.
6. Control of doping agents and doping methods shall be conducted in the Republic of Lithuania by the Department of Physical Education and Sports or an institution authorised by it.
7. With the aim of fighting the use of doping agents and methods in sport the Lithuanian Anti-doping Commission shall be set up from representatives of the interested institutions in compliance with the procedure laid down in the rules of procedure of the Government. The said Commission shall approve a programme for fighting the use of doping agents and methods in sport, and shall coordinate its implementation. The Government shall determine the composition of the Lithuanian Anti-doping Commission, the term of office of its members and an order of business of the Commission.
Article 47. Broadcast of sports competitions on television
The national television of Lithuania shall broadcast national championships of strategic sports, competitions of selection to European or world championships, unless the national federations of the strategic sports conclude contracts with other television companies for the broadcasting of international competitions.
Article 48. Requirements for sports facilities
1. It shall be prohibited to use sports equipment or facilities, which do not meet the safety, sanitary, hygiene, fire protection and other requirements, for sport exercise and competitions.
2. Owners or legal possessor of sports facilities shall be held liable in accordance with the procedure laid down by the law for the damage done to participants of sport exercise or competitions, sports lovers or spectators during such sport exercise or competitions because of non-compliance with the requirements specified in paragraph 1 of this Article.
Article 49. Maintenance of sports facilities of the Department of Physical Education and Sports
Sports facilities possessed by the Department of Physical Education and Sports by the right of trust or the right of use shall be maintained with the funds of the state budget.
Article 50. Sports facilities of national significance
1. Multifunctional sports facilities that meet the requirements may be recognized as sports facilities of national significance in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Government.
Article 51. Settlement of disputes
1. Disputes concerning the protection of the rights defined in this Law shall be settled in accordance with the procedure laid down by legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania. Rules of an appropriate sport may lay down the preliminary procedure for settlement of disputes out of court.
2. If the parties to the dispute request so, they may settle the dispute in the sports arbitration. The procedure for forming sports arbitration and rules of procedure shall be defined by the Department of Physical Education and Sports.
I promulgate this Law passed by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.