Sporto rūmai in Vilnius: decade-long debates continue as project costs rise

Lithuania’s Seimas Culture Committee has postponed a decision on the future of the Sports Palace in Vilnius until autumn, extending a debate that has dragged on for over a decade, LRT reports.

The committee had been expected to address the fate of the long-abandoned building, but members said discussions would continue due to differing opinions on how to proceed. Faina Kukliansky, chair of the Lithuanian Jewish Community, has urged authorities to stop delaying and take action, though she opposes proposals to convert the site into a convention centre.

Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas warned that further delays risk driving up costs. The estimated price tag for renovating the Sports Palace has already tripled since 2015, rising from €29 million to €90 million in 2026, according to the State Property Bank.

The building sits on the site of a historic Jewish cemetery, adding sensitivity to the project. Some lawmakers, including Šarūnas Birutis of the LSDP, argue the structure could be repurposed as a revival centre or memorial, incorporating exhibitions on Lithuania’s independence movement and the Jewish community’s history.

In 2015, the government under Algirdas Butkevičius approved plans to transform the Sports Palace into a convention centre, but the process stalled following international backlash. Vytautas Juozapaitis of the TS-LKD faction noted that ignoring such reactions was not an option.

Maintaining the unused building currently costs around €100,000 annually, according to the State Property Bank.