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The Grateful Dead Makes Lithuanian Basketball Bronze Possible

How the Lithuanian basketball team became Olympic heroes in 1992 thanks to the Grateful Dead.

In 1992, newly independent Lithuania managed to get its basketball team into the Barcelona Olympics after American rock band Grateful Dead agreed to help with fundraising. A brilliant generation of Lithuanian players then won a bronze medal in a grudge match against the former Soviet Union. Witness speaks to Arvydas Sabonis and Gintaras Krapikas, two members of the Lithuanian side.

With contributions from journalist Ramunas Bogdanas

Picture: The Lithuanian team in their Grateful Dead shirts, Credit: Getty Images Sports Classic

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9 minutes

Last on

Sun 24 Aug 201403:50GMT
BBC World Service Online

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  • Sat 23 Aug 201413:50GMT
    BBC World Service Online
  • Sat 23 Aug 201421:50GMT
    BBC World Service Online
  • Sun 24 Aug 201403:50GMT
    BBC World Service Online

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