@article{2017,title={THE ROLE OF SPORTSIIN THE NATIONAL IDENTITY CREATION: SAMPLE OF LITHUANIA AND BASKETBALL},abstractNode={Today we can say that modern sport has a considerable impact capacity. Especially after 1990, it became a big economy and managed to attract the people attention. Modern sports events include national elements such as flags and anthems. Therefore, sports competitions, enables nations to introduce in the international arena and to define their identity. This article focuses on sports as a cultural element in the formation of national identity. The interaction between modern basketball and Lithuania has been examined in order to explain the influence of sports on national identity. The positive effect of basketball on the nation independence in Lithuania is apparent in the process of separation from the Soviet Socialist Republics. Modern basketball has become a national sport in Lithuania during the 20th century and leaving a mark with different roles.},author={Mertkan ÜÇÜNCÜOĞLU},year={2017},journal={The Journal of Social Sciences}}