Abstract

The journal “Sport Science” celebrates the anniversary as 20 years ago the very first number was successfully published. It was long and difficult period for the journal to mature, survive, and become integral part of national sport life. Lithuanian Sport Science Council in cooperation with Lithuanian Olympic Academy published the journal “Sport Science News” in 1994. Editorial board was formed from these members: A. Gailiūnienė, J. Jankauskas, P. Karoblis (editor-in-chief), A. Raslanas, A. Stasiulis, J. Žilinskas (executive secretary). In those years, two numbers of the journal were published; the first one contained three articles (by P. Karoblis, A. Bingelis with J. Daniševičius and O. Anderson) and the second one – six (by A. Gailiūnienė, P. Karoblis, J. P. Jankauskas, M. Andrašiūnienė, R. Kairytė, and A. Bingelis with J. Daniševičius). It is important to mention that, in the first number, O. Anderson’s article on runners’ training peculiarities in Kenya was published next to two Lithuanian scientists’ publications. Thus, the very beginning of the journal promised it to concentrate not only on local – Lithuanian – sport science but on situation in foreign countries as well. 1995 was the year when more members were included into the editorial board (Prof. Dr. Habil. B. Bitinas, Prof. Dr. Habil, S. Kregždė, Prof. Dr. Habil. J. Jankauskas, Prof. Dr. Habil. P. Karoblis, Dr. A. Raslanas, Prof. Dr. Habil. A. Gailiūnienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr. A. Stasiulis, Prof. Dr. Habil. S. Stonkus, Assoc. Prof. J. Žilinskas) and the journal was named as it is up to the present day – “Sport Science”; every member of the board was appointed to particular thematic chapter of the journal to coordinate. It was also intended to announce information on occurred as well as on future scientific events (symposiums, conferences, seminars, etc.), defended dissertations, scientific news, technical inventions, and improvements in sport area. Articles were reviewed and presented with summaries in English. P. Karoblis stayed as the editor-in-chief, J. Žilinskas – as executive secretary; Lithuanian editor and proof-reader was Z. Šakalinienė, English editor – R. Urmulevičiūtė-Žilinskienė; the cover was created by R. Dočkutė, the design – by R. Dubonis. Two “Sport Science” numbers appeared in 1995, three - in 1996; the journal was decided to be published every three months (four times per year) in 1997. Through time the editorial board structure had changed, foreign scientists were included eventually and coordinated particular science area of the journal as every other board member. At the beginning, journal published translated foreign scientists’ articles; later articles were published in English as they were. Research Council of Lithuania acknowledged the journal as prestigious in 1996. In 2006, it was indexed in INDEX COPERNICUS database and included into German Federal Institute for Sport Science Literature data bank SPOLIT as well as into the catalogue of Lithuanian scientific journals that represented “Sport Science” in scientific conferences, book fairs, and internet. Those achievements in quality recognition, gained because of hard work, leads to survive in diverse and competitive sport science world and to further strengthen sport science values in Lithuania and foreign countries. The journal has to keep its position in the area of sport, culture, and science while archiving achievements and planning future perspectives. The journal publishes not only local scientific reviews, it introduces to the very recent data of authors from various countries: Germany, Great Britain, USA, Poland, Russia, Check Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Greece, etc. as well as Lithuanian sport science conferences material, presentations of International Olympic Academy scientists, doctoral theses of Lithuanian scientists, descriptions of highly skilled athletes’ coaching for the Olympic Games experiences are also presented in here.