Planning began with a simple question: How can we bring the Youth Leaders model beyond Kaunas so more young people experience unified sport? Seeing gaps in Vilnius, Emilija and Titas imagined pop-up “activity days” that could travel anywhere. When Lithuania was selected to host the European Unified Youth Basketball Tournament, the team realized the perfect showcase had arrived: they could embed their idea inside an international event and let athletes, coaches, and spectators feel inclusion in action. Support from families, friends, and mentors—and the promise that their work would be seen worldwide—fueled their commitment.
What began as a local idea transformed into Special Olympics Stars Day, a vibrant and inclusive activation embedded within the European Unified Youth Basketball Tournament. Led by Emilija, Titas, and their youth team, the project featured a two-part dribbling relay, a four-spot shooting contest, and a fun free-throw finale for coaches—all designed, piloted, and executed by youth leaders. After testing the format in Kaunas to ensure smooth transitions and safety, they ran the full event in the Vilnius arena, guiding 60 athletes through each station, tracking scores, coordinating cheering squads, and even organizing giveaways. Kamile and Gabija anchored the logistics, while the entire experience was filmed and shared online to extend its impact and inspire future replication.
Stars Day became a powerful catalyst for inclusion, uniting 12 youth leaders with and without intellectual disabilities who worked side-by-side to bring their vision to life. Their leadership and enthusiasm inspired 25 new youth to join the Special Olympics Lithuania movement, excited to contribute to future projects. Sixty athletes and 30 peers without ID participated in the activities, cheered on by families, coaches, and volunteers. While social media impressions were modest, the event’s emotional and cultural resonance was unmistakable—leaving smiles, sparking interest in replication across Lithuania, and showing that when youth lead with creativity and care, joyful and inclusive communities can flourish.
“We’re proud that we celebrated our successes—athletes, coaches, and youth leaders together. Careful ‘what-if’ planning meant no challenge could stop the fun,” Kamile reflects. Emilija adds that she honed organizational skills, public speaking, and critical thinking, while Titas discovered how leadership can amplify an athlete’s voice. The team will “keep in touch and keep promoting inclusion” as they roll the Stars Day blueprint to new Lithuanian cities in 2025.