The origin of Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education (LAPE) is traced to 1934 when the Higher Courses of Physical Education (HCPE) were set up offering a higher education degree. The HCPE were founded with the idea to conciliate such subjects as body exercises and military training so that the graduates would be able to teach these two subjects in gymnasiums. The HCPE were closed in 1938 and its role to train physical education teachers and military training officers was taken by the Department of Physical Education established at Vytautas Magnus University.

As an independent institution - Lithuanian National Institute of Physical Education was founded in 1945. Recently the Institute has been renamed into Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education. From its very beginning LAPE remains a unique higher education institution offering studies in the field of physical education and sports in Lithuania.

AND NOWADAYS

LAPE is an important centre of sports science and a fosterer of physical education and sports values and traditions in Lithuania. Since its foundation the institution has trained nearly 9000 teachers of physical education, highly skilled coaches in various sports, physiotherapists, tourism and sport managers, etc. Many distinguished scholars, world-known coaches and prominent public figures graduated from the Academy. A great number of LAPE graduates have become champions and prizewinners of the Olympic Games, world and European championships such as European boxing champion A. Šocikas, winner of Olympic gold medal and world basketball champion M. Paulauskas, winners of Olympic gold medals V. Chomičius, R. Kurtinaitis, V. Alekna, etc