While Basketball Europe is busy with another series of Youth European Championships the hosts of EuroBasket 2011, Lithuania, are working behind the scenes in order to get ready for the fast approaching blockbuster event.

Despite hosting the U18 European Championship in the country's capital, Vilnius and staging numerous preparation games of the men's team prior to this year's World Championship the whole country is feverishly preparing to be ready come next September.

Kaunas Mayor Andrius Kupcinskas showing around FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin

The OMNITEL U18 European Championship is held in one of the Venues that will also be used for EuroBasket, Siemens Arena.

It already saw crowds of more than 3,500 people cheering their juniors to a tidy 6-0 record in the tournament.

But the other cities are not far behind in the preparations.

On Thursday, FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin went on a roundtrip to visit Klaipeda, Kaunas and Alytus, three cities that will play host to teams and fans next year.

In Kaunas he met with Mayor Andrius Kupcinskas to take a look at the still under construction Arena that is built on the outskirts of Lithuania's second largest city.

They took the time for an up-close inspection of the construction site.

"We are generally very pleased with the progress of the project EuroBasket 2011" commented Zanolin.

"We have great people here working with enthusiasm on our most prestigious event.

"The new Arena in Kaunas will be a jewel and I am sure that Kaunas will be a fantastic host city" he added.

The new arena in Kaunas will have a capacity of more than 15,000 sprectators

Next on the list was the inspection of numerous other sites which are important for the event, such as Hotels, city centers and the general infrastructure.

"All the projects running here in Lithuania are according to the schedule" said Zanolin

"Our friends from the Lithuanian Basketball Federation and the Local Organizing Committee are working very hard to ensure the highest quality."

Next on the list are two more host cities, Panevezys and Siauliai that will be visited on Saturday.

The visit will end at the OMNITEL U18 European Championship in Vilnius, where the whole country will have an eye on their juniors, and hoping it will be a good omen for the senior team in one year's time.