Onco-Olympics 2010 in Warsaw

Six families of Rugutė took part in the Onco-Olympics 2010 in Warsaw on the 16^th-18^th of July. Małgorzata and Tomasz Osuch, heads of the Polish Fundacja Spełnionych Marzeń (The Fulfilled Dreams Fund), had visited Lithuania in April, 2010, and had invited our sick children to represent their country in the Olympic Games for children.

 

Our little Fighters’ trip began in the early morning of the 16^th of July. In spite of being early, the bus was filled with children’s laughter and speculations about what was going to happen in Poland. Having unanimously agreed that our goal at the Olympics was to have fun and make new friends, but not necessarily to win medals, we arrived in Warsaw before noontime.

 

As we arrived in Warsaw, the Ambassador Egidijus Meilūnas kindly welcomed us to the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Poland, where children and their parents heard a short presentation about the Embassy and took a tour around its building. The excursion ended in the Ambassador Egidijus Meilūnas’ office, where every little Fighter was given a chance to try the Ambassador’s chair. Ignas joked that the Ambassador’s chair was hard but comfortable; however, it would be boring to sit in it all day since there were not enough games around. As a good-bye to the Ambassador Egidijus Meilūnas, our girls Jekaterina, Ligita and Simona performed the theme song of The Island of Friends called Šypsenėlė that reminded us all that there is nothing more precious than friendship.

 

Having left the Embassy, we soon arrived at the venue of the Olympics, the Academy of Physical Education and Culture of Warsaw. After we settled in and had lunch, we gathered up for a rehearsal of the Olympic Games in the large stadium of the Academy. During the rehearsal the Lithuanian delegation received some good news – firstly, the Lithuanian delegation would be the first team to march in the participant’s walk, secondly – Aistė was invited to carry the Olympic flag, and thirdly – the biggest surprise was given to Urtė, as she was entrusted to do a very important task – to light up the Olympic fire.

 

We were looking forward to Saturday, the day of the Olympics, with huge impatience. Right after dinner our children decided to go practice in the stadium. The practicing was intense – Jekaterina, Simona, Urtė and Ignas practiced running, while Aistė and her dad tried to reveal the secret of a successful long jump. After an hour of practicing everybody finally decided to go get some rest before the big day.

 

The morning of the 17^th of July (the day of the Olympics) welcomed us with good mood and a very intense sunshine. In spite of the heat, all the participants were full of enthusiasm as they arrived at the stadium, where the opening parade was soon to start. Aistė, together with children from other countries, carried the Olympic flag. Behind the flag, as promised, the Lithuanian team was marching: Titas firmly held a sign that said Lithuania, while other children held our national flags and smiled.

 

The Olympic flag was waving high as the famous Polish athlete carried the Olympic torch into the stadium. Dariusz Dziekanowski, former famous soccer player of Poland who is now a soccer coach, and our little Fighter Urtė took the torch in their hands. An impressive moment got all the Lithuanian team members teary – Dariusz Dziekanowski lifted Urtė up in his arms and the little Fighter lit up the Olympic fire.

 

As Małgorzata and Tomasz Osuch, the heads of Fundacja Spełnionych Marzeń, announced the opening of the Olympics, all the participants were greeted in their native languages by their ambassadors or representatives of the embassies. The Lithuanian team also received a sincere greeting from Egidijus Meilūnas, the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania in the Republic of Poland.

 

As soon as the Olympic Games started, we were all surprised by Titas’ victory – he won gold in a swimming event. We were also proud of our little runners – Urtė and Ignas. Ignas and Titas also tested their strength in ball throwing event, where Titas won again, this time – a silver medal.

 

The Lithuanian team (though small, but very enthusiastic) tried hard to support every participant of the event. One could have heard slogans and a name of Lithuania being chanted all the time. It was both the incredible fan support and the infinite persistence of Jekaterina and Simona that helped the girls in the running event – both girls made it to the final and won another medal for the Lithuanian team: Jekaterina took 2^nd place in 100 m running event. The last one participating in the events was Aistė. She successfully completed a long jump, jumping 150 cm and winning the Olympic gold.

 

As children were taking parts in different events and chilling under a stream of cold water in the stadium, the Olympic Games passed by like a blink of an eye. Exhausted by the extreme heat, but still full of energy, all the participants gathered up for the closing ceremony. All children received diplomas, Aistė with children from other countries let the Olympic flag down, and the former soccer player Dariusz Dziekanowski, just like in the opening ceremony, took Urtė in his arms and helped the little girl to blow out the Olympic fire.

 

When it seemed that the event was over, Ambassador Egidijus Meilūnas managed to surprise the children one more time. The Ambassador shook the children’s hands, greeted them all with victories and gave them special badges of Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a reward for promoting the name of Lithuania. This gift once again gave meaning to the children’s participation in the Olympics by making them feel special – like real athletes who make their country famous.

 

At night, all the participants were invited to a function where children got to experience even more surprises – a ride on a segway, a chat with Star Wars characters, fun on the dance floor, and finally - spectacular fireworks at the end of the night.

 

That night the Lithuanian team also visited the old town of Warsaw. Altogether, we were elevated to the top of the viewing tower and saw the city from above. We also took a walk on cozy streets and enjoyed a refreshing ice cream dessert in a local cafe. Both children and parents returned to the camp full of special memories, and hurried to have rest before another, also very interesting and intense day.

 

Sunday welcomed us with gray skies and rain. However, the children’s smiles managed to scatter the clouds away and we went to the Warsaw Zoo together with Małgorzata Osuch, the head of Fundacja Spełnionych Marzeń. Children were full of emotions – unseen colorful birds, monkeys, elephants, giraffes, hippos and other animals, as well as beautiful environment and wonderful playgrounds were loved by all.

 

After lunch we once again returned to the old town of Warsaw where we were invited to have dinner with Małgorzata and Tomasz Osuch. As we shared our impressions from the Olympics and our experience in the zoo, a few hours passed without noticing.

 

The time to say good-bye came too soon. Warm embraces and a promise to see each other in the next Olympic Games took the blues away.

 

A long road home was still ahead... Unexpectedly, our little athletes were full of energy and everybody in the bus was having fun – the three girls Galiorka occupied the back seats and sang songs, as usual, while the other children filled the bus with happy laughter. The noise only quietened around midnight. The Lithuanian delegation reached Vilnius before dawn.

 

Everyone on the team came home with new experiences and unforgettable memories from Poland, but we also brought home a feeling that we all won things that no medals could ever prize – a sincere wish for success of a friend, aiming for the same goals and love that is impossible to measure or calculate.

 

 

We are profoundly thanking Małgorzata and Tomasz Osuch, heads of the Fundacja Spełnionych Marzeń – for the invitation to participate in the Onco-Olympics and for the unforgettable emotions that children with oncological diseases brought home. Thank you for your meaningful work that provides especially beautiful and bright experiences to our little ones.

 

Sincere thanks to Egidijus Meilūnas, the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania in Poland – for the full-time support, for the special friendship and for igniting the spirit of a Fighter in our children’s hearts.

 

We also thank Tomasz and Ewa, the curators of the Lithuanian team, and all the organizers of the event – for their care that we received all through the Olympics.

 

We say the most sincere thank you to families of Titas, Urtė, Ignas and Aistė, and to Jekaterina, Simona and Ligita – for the wonderful trip, for taking part in the events and for the biggest gift of all – an immeasurably valuable friendship.

 

From all of our hearts we thank the interpreter Juliana for helping us to communicate with Polish people, and Linas and Vaidas – for the immortalized moments of the Olympics. 

 

 

Photo gallery – Onco-Olympics 2010 in Warsaw