When travelling around Siauliai Region, the message about TAFISA Games has been spread in Zagare, Siauliai University and the festival of Uzventis town…

Pupils from eleven Lithuanian and Latvian Schools for children with special needs have participated in the event “Happy, healthy, and smart” in Zagare, which has been organized by Zagare School for children with special needs. According to the director of Zagare School Angele Kareckiene, the purpose of this event is to encourage persons with intellectual disabilities to communicate and cooperate, to promote healthy lifestyle, to educate creativity, to decrease social isolation, and as well to prepare for TAFISA Games, during which similar events are provided. Pupils had tried their hands on various sport races, had performed art tasks – had been drawing, acting, and dancing. They had a possibility to participate in a tourist trip in a beautiful nature of Zagare.

 “Happy, healthy, and smart” had given many great emotions, unforgettable impressions, and good mood for all participants, and what is the most important, they have been given the willingness to perform well in the events, which will be held in Joniskis and Zagare in 2012. Ingrida Maciuliene, the chief of Joniskis Region Municipality administration Education and Sports Department, the Elder of Zagare Stase Eidukiene and other guests had congratulated the participants. After all races Mindaugas Balciunas, the Board Member of Joniskis Region Municipality, Kestutis Petraitis, the Director of the 5^th TAFISA World Sport For All Games, Lorate Suodaitiene, the Chief of Omnitel Representation in Siauliai Region, had delivered the gifts to the participants. The Members of Games Directorate have participated in the traditional event “Let’s create childhood together today”, organized by Educational Research Centre of Siauliai University Faculty of Education. The motto of the event this year “University to Children – Children to University” had united the cycle of events for the mentioning of International Child Protection Day. There were “Sport races”: “Funny races”, in which children from three kindergartens (“Gluosnis”, “Kregzdute”, and “Trys nykstukai”) have participated, and basketball tour, children have watched a performance.

The cycle of events had been finished by conference-discussion “Researchers about childhood studies”, in which the researchers of various research fields (prof. PhD A. Juodaityte, PhD P. Blazevicius, and Assoc. pr. PhD R. Plunge), the Children'sRights OmbudsmanAdvisors Irena Karpaviciute and Ieva Kromelyte, teachers, guardians have participated. The participants of the conference have discussed on the development of a game, its meaning in child’s life. The conference has been held in Siauliai University Library. The sponsors and partners of the event: National Childhood Researchers Association and the Organizing Committee of the 5^th TAFISA World Sport For All Games.