Poker Now A Sport in Lithuania

3/21/10 – It's official….poker in now a sport in the Baltic state of Lithuania, which is also making progressive moves toward the regulation of Internet gambling.
 
On March 20, the government's Department of Physical Education and Sports issued an official decree recognising the Lithuanian Sports Poker Federation as an official sports federation.
 
“This is extremely important step in our work,” Andrius Tapinas, president of the Lithuanian Sport Poker Federation, said. “We are receiving congratulations from many of our colleagues abroad and I know that we are breaking thick ice with our progress for similar international initiatives.”
 
Tapinas revealed that the LSPF will soon present its official tournament schedule to the Lithuanian sports media. Along with his presidency of the LSPF, Tapinas, is the presenter of the of the most popular Lithuanian business TV show. His cashes in WSOP and Unibet Open tournaments were also covered on the front pages of biggest Lithuanian daily.
 
The Inaugural LSPF tournament will take place from April 24 through 26 in Vilnius. Tapinas expects this might be the biggest poker tournament in any Baltic country yet.