He proposed including a provision stating that "a shortened version of Lithuania's national anthem complying with the regulations of international sport competitions should be played at international sport events."
Šilgalis believes that a government-approved shortened version of the Lithuanian anthem would help avoid misunderstandings and disputes.
"It's worth noting that regulations of the majority of sporting competitions include the duration of national anthems and it's shorter than the anthem of the Republic of Lithuania," the MP says.
In his words, the International Olympic Committee had warned ahead of the London Olympics that national anthems of more than 80 seconds would be shortened. The duration of Lithuania's national anthem is 91 seconds, Šilgalis states.
"With no approved standard for the shortened version of the anthem of the Republic of Lithuania, it's not clear what the piece of music - based on the national anthem of the Republic of Lithuania and played at international competitions - represents," Šilgalis said.
