The following international stars are certainly the “visiting card” of Latvian sports: tennis player Ernests Gulbis, a quarter-finalist of the French Open Championships, Andris Biedriņš, one of leading players in the National Basketball Association club Golden State Warriors, Jeļena Prokopčuka, a twofold champion of the New York Marathon, and Viktors Ščerbatihs, world champion of weightlifting in the super-heavyweight category. But these are only the bright top of a building, whose strong foundations are built upon the Latvian ardour for sports.

Latvian sporting life has several specific characteristics.

Firstly, our accomplishments in professional sports are brighter than they might seem considering the available national sports infrastructure and the small number of people officially engaged in regular professional exercise.

Secondly, it is a tradition that, in major international competitions, Latvian sportsmen and women compete with rivals who have many more advantages in terms of financing and human resources, but that the Latvians often make up the difference by their significant determination, maximum commitment and sportsmanlike wisdom.

Thirdly, approximately 100 different types of sports are developing more or less successfully in small Latvia with its population of just 2.4 million. Among these sports anyone can find one the one that they find the most likeable and appropriate for participating, viewing and being a fan. Moreover, unlike most of Europe, where football followed by other competing types of sports, occupies the top 5in thesports popularity ranking, this hierarchal arrangement in Latvia has the most variable forms. It is both interesting and intriguing.

Fans of each type of sport are ready to defend their positions by any means required, but the facts cannot be denied and heads shall be bowed before the historical achievements in basketball. In 1932 Latvia was among the eight founding countries of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The Latvian national men’s team won the first European Championship in 1935.  In 1958 Riga men’s team ASK (Armee Sport Club) carried off the first European Champion’s Cup. Currently, Riga is the only European city, where both the main trophies of European tournaments for clubs have been simultaneously held, i.e. the ladies of TTT Riga and the men of ASK won these tournaments in 1960. The unique sequence of success of the TTT team, and specifically, 18 times winners of the European Champion’s Cup and 21 times winners in the Soviet Union championships, is the absolute record in tournaments for European clubs. Uļjana Semjonova (born 1952), the legendary centre player of TTT, obtained the following title honours while playing in the Soviet Union national team: twofold Olympic champion, threefold world champion, and tenfold European champion; she has been admitted to the international halls of fame both in U.S. and Europe.

Unfortunately Ula Semjonova, like her TTT team partners of many years, didn’t ever get the opportunity to enter the international sports scene under the flag of independent Latvia, since herphenomenal career ended a few years before the restoration of independence. This period of political and economic changes was complicated for sportsmen and women like everyone else, but basketball players were among those who were the first to adjust to the new conditions. The Latvian Basketball League was established just a few months after independence was actually obtained, and it became the example both for representatives of other sports in Latvia and for its nearest neighbouring countries. In 1993 the national men's team won the right to play in the European Championship after a 54 year long pause. Since then, Latvians have been regular participants in the final competitions and achieved their best results in 2001 by winning 8^th place. In the tournaments following, the Latvian national team has been a regular threat to favourite teams; it lost to Lithuania (2003) and Spain (2005) only in extra time, and it has beaten Croatia (2007). It is unfortunate that a certain instability has prevented the Team from using its entire potential capabilities, but hopes are set for the next tournament in Poland, in the autumn of 2009.

In the international scene, the authority of Latvian national team has been particularly increased during recent years since the talented centre player, Andris Biedriņš, joined the team.  He learned the basics of the game under the supervision of coach Raivo Otersons in the basketball school established by world champion Valdis Valters. He was noticed early on due to his height (211 cm/6 feet 11 inches), comprehensive development and considerable capacity for work. In the 2004 NBA draft 2004 Golden State Warriors selected him with the high 11^th overall selection number. In the 2005 season Andris Biedriņš became the youngest payer in the NBA, and within few years he has conquered stable positions not only in the club, but also in the world’s most powerful league. In 2007 he made his debut in Latvian national team and has been a real team leader since then by scoring approximately 20 points in each match.

The Latvian women’s national team made its debut in the European Championship 1999 finals and won the 9^th place. In 2005 Latvians were 6th, but then climbed higher, to 4th place, in 2007, which entitled them to continue competing for qualification for the Olympic Games. Anete Jēkabsone-Žogota, the captain of the Latvian national team was included in the Championship’s All Star top 5, and recognised as the best European basketball player of the year. Precise shots from any distance, ability to have a view of entire court and make scoring pass to a partner, excellent defensive play, and her warrior-like expression are characteristic of Anete’s individual proficiency, which has no weaknesses, and she uses her best features for the team’s benefit.

In the summer of 2008, the Latvian national team was amongst the 12 Olympic participants and won 9^th place in Beijing. This achievement did not fully satisfy its sporting ambitions. The next European Women’s Championship will take place in summer 2009 in Latvia (in Liepaja, Valmiera and Riga), and the home team will certainly be amongst the main favourites.

The best Latvian club teams are regular participants in the European Cup Championships. In spring 2008, the Riga team Barons/LMT achieved its best success by winning the FIBA EuroCup. Women’s team TTT Riga has participated in the EuroLeague tournament since 2007. Several Latvian basketball players, i.e. Anda Jēkabsone, Roberts Štelmahers, Anete Jēkabsone-Žogota, and the coach Ainars Zvirgzdiņš have won European cups by playing and coaching in foreign clubs.

Throughout the entire season, the games of the LBL Championship (Latvian Basketball League Championship) attract full stands of spectators in Ventspils, Liepaja, Valmiera, Jelgava and Gulbene. Final games, where the best team of the country is determined, are particularly popular. Ventspils was the capital city of Latvian men's basketball for seven years, but Riga has recently regained the leading position. Lately in women’s basketball, the Cesis team has been a successful rival to the clubs of the capital city.

Basketball players also demonstrate a good example of regional integration. In autumn 2004, the SEB Baltic Basketball League was established, and all the best Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian teams participate in the tournament it organises. The Baltic Women’s Basketball League tournament, where teams from other countries also play, has an even longer history.

The Youth Basketball League ensures a flow of new basketball players to clubs; approximately 5 000 children, teenagers and juniors play annually in its teams of eight age groups. The most talented ones represent the country annually in the European junior championships. Both Latvian girls’ U-20 team (2005) and boys’ U-18 (2007) national teams have won bronze.

Besides professional basketball tournaments, there are also regular competitions in students’ leagues and in different levels of amateur league, where any person who wants to play may find his own team.  

Due to the characteristics of the northern climate and the circumstances of history, football has not become the absolute leader in Latvian sports scene, and, in the terms of sporting achievements, Latvian footballers lag behind the representatives of many other kinds of sports. But a truly bright accomplishment has been achieved in more than a century-long Latvian football history, i.e. in 2004, when the Latvian national team reached the finals of the European Championship and drew with the mighty German team (0:0).

It was English seamen who brought football to Latvia, and the first known game took place in 1906. In the period between the two World Wars, the Latvian national team tried its forces in qualification games for the World Cup Championship and regularly competed with Lithuanian and Swedish national teams. Eyewitnesses assert that the international matches as well as the most tense state level championship games between Riga and Liepaja teams attracted increasingly larger numbers of spectators and the proficiency level of participants improved on an annual basis. However, no significant international success was achieved.

Latvian footballers, unlike basketball, volleyball and hockey players, could not come to the foreground of the Soviet Union sports system. Daugava Riga only played in the USSR Top League for a few seasons. Traditionally, it was players who’d grown up outside Latvia who had the greatest significance in Latvian teams.

At the beginning of the 1990s, when the restoration of independence provided Latvian football with the opportunity to play at international level once more, the formation of a national team required involving players, who had previously played in the Soviet Union’s second or third level teams. However, the new opportunities promoted a maximum motivation and devotion on the pitch, which surprised even the world stars. On 26^th August 1992, in qualification games of World Cup Championship, which was the first official match for the national team after 54 years long pause, Latvia guarded its goal safely – achieving a 0:0 draw against the Danish national team, which had become the European champions two months earlier! A month later, the Spanish team also left Riga with the same result. Latvia had announced itself in the football scene clearly and loudly.

The following period was difficult, for the  proficiency level of Latvian championship teams and players did not increase as quickly as needed. Clubs were founded and breaking apart as their owners faced the financial problems of a transitional economy. The out-of-date stadiums did not comply with modern requirements. Football management was put in place gradually and only by patient work and by attracting support from the International Football Federation (FIFA) and European Football Association (UEFA). Skonto Football Club set an example for others by not only winning the Latvian Championship from 1992 to 2004, but also by being the first football club to obtain a modern stadium and training base, establish its own system for creating reserves and by playing comparatively successfully in UEFA tournaments which brought to Riga such superclubs as Inter Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea. 

Around the turn of the Century, a generation of talented footballers had come to maturity in Latvia. Its most visible representatives were Marians Pahars, Vitālijs Astafjevs, Aleksandrs Koliņko, Igors Stepanovs, etc., who all concluded contracts with clubs in the English Premier League. Together, under the guidance of national team chief coach Aleksandrs Starkovs, they caused a sensation of international scale in the qualification tournament for the European Championship of 2004. Latvia beat such football super- powers as Sweden, Hungary and Poland, one time each, and then, in the play off games, it prevailed over the World’s Cup’2002 third best team, Turkey (1:0 and 2:2), and reached the finals in Portugal! Striker Māris Verpakovskis scored six goals in six games and was recognised as the European of the Year in Latvia in 2003.

In the final tournament the Latvian team was drawn in the same group as the next semi-finalists, i.e., the Czech Republic (at the 70^th minute Latvia was ahead with 1:0, but lost by 1:2 at the end) and Netherlands (0:3) and the German national team (It was 0:0, but  both teams had chances of scoring the winning goal).

Unfortunately, the successful years were followed by less successful ones. Those who have followed those experienced national team leaders have not reached the same high level of proficiency so far. At least for now, the Skonto team has handed its leading position in Latvia over to the clubs of Liepaja and Ventspils. But boys in Latvia continue playing on many well-arranged pitches, and new talents are growing amongst them; in autumn 2008 the Latvian team beat the Italian team in the qualification tournament for the European U-19 Championship. The success in Portugal serves as an incentive for them to improve their skills, so that, sooner or later, they will outmatch the achievements of their predecessors.

Twelve seasons in the world championship elite group, participation in two Olympic tournaments, three bright stars in books of honour of both the world championships and the NHL……..that’s a brief balance sheet of Latvian ice hockey during the years since independence. The fans of Latvia must also not be forgotten - due to their active and well-organised choral festivity in stands during the world championships in Tampere, Oslo, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Cologne and Prague!

Playing ice hockey in Latvia began in 1930s.  Soon, the Latvian national team made its debut in world championship and participated in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936 Olympic Winter Games. Experience gained in these competitions and the equipment obtained was useful after the World War II, when Dinamo Riga become one of the best teams of the entire Soviet Union. Actually, due to coping with the lack of ice (for the first artificial ice-rink was built in Riga only in 1960, and from 1970 right up until the end of 20^th century only two such sport bases were operating in Latvia) the Riga team temporarily had to lose its position in the USSR championship.

The talented Russian coaches Viktors Tihonovs and Vladimirs Jurzinovs later helped Riga to regain its lost position, and the team returned to the USSR Top League under their guidance. From the beginning of 1970s, Dinamo was amongst the most popular sports teams in Latvia and encouraged youth to get increasingly involved with the dynamic game. Forward player Helmūts Balderis became the brightest star in this period, and a threefold world champion by playing in the USSR national team, and was recognised in 1977 as the best forward player of the World Championships and the best ice hockey player in the USSR.

 

In the second half of 1980s a large number of talented players who’d grown up in Latvia entered the team. They helped Dinamo Riga to win silver in the USSR Championship (1988), but they reached their sports career maturity slightly later, i.e., already under the flag of independent Latvia. Artūrs Irbe was the most remarkable amongst them. In 1990, he was recognized as the best goalkeeper of the World Championship, later he played in the NHL successfully and participated in All Star matches twice. Irbe became the strong point of the Latvian national team for many years. Defence man Sandis Ozoliņš also made an excellent NHL career and participated in All Star games seven times; in 1997 he was included in the Top6 of the League’s best players, and won the Stanley Cup with Colorado Avalanche team in 1996. Defence man Kārlis Skrastiņš set the NHL record in winter 2007 by having 495 games in a row.

In 1997 the Latvian national team made its debut in the World Championship top league and tied with eventual finalists Canada (3:3) and Sweden (1:1). This resulted in the high 7th place. Later Latvians have regularly denied points for ice hockey super powers. Successes over the Russian national team (3:2 in 2000, 2:1 in 2003) caused particularly high emotions; the Latvian national team also has had excellent games with the team from the U.S.A (3:2 in 1998, 2:0 in 2001, 3:3 in the 2006 Olympic Games). The high 7^th place was also obtained in the 2004 World Championship.

 

The 2006 World Championship was well-organised in Riga; Arēna Rīga (10 500 seats) was built particularly for this purpose, and is now also well used for basketball and show business.

Within the recent decade, modern skating rinks have been built not only in Riga, but also in Liepaja, Ventspils, Valmiera, Jelgava, Daugavpils and other cities of Latvia. Training groups for children operate in many places and ice hockey has become a popular hobby for people of different age groups. The best Latvian clubs actively participate in regional tournaments, i.e., in the Eastern European Hockey League or Belarus Open Championship. The Dinamo Riga team was re-established in 2008, and it plays in the newly formed Continental Hockey League. The full stands in Arēna Rīga testify to the wide popularity of ice hockey and encourage youth to choose exactly this kind of sport.

Athletes traditionally form the major part of the Latvian Olympic delegation, and they have brought a medal from each of the three most recent Olympic Games. These specialists are also regularly involved in the work of the organisations of other kinds of sports, especially for those sports which use elements of athletics in their training on a regular basis. The heads of the bobsleigh national team, for instance, are looking for new talent amongst Latvia’s athletes. In a word, Latvian sports cannot do without their queen.

Javelin throwers are the pride of Latvian athletics. In 1956 in Melbourne, Inese Jaunzeme won the first Olympic gold for Latvia (actually, under the USSR flag). 12 years later in Mexico, Jānis Lūsis obtained the honour of a champion, and Dainis Kūla repeated the achievement 12 more years later in Moscow. The next achievement took another two dozen years until the Athens Olympic Games of 2004, where Vadims Vasiļevskis won the silver medal. In 2008, Ainārs Kovals had the same success in Beijing. Elvīra Ozoliņa, the champion of the 1960Rome Olympic Games is still living in Latvia; she moved to Riga at the end of the 1960s after marrying Jānis Lūsis.  Voldemārs Lūsis, who bore the standard of the Latvian delegation in the Sydney Olympic Games, grew up in this family of Olympic champions.

 

Such a line of success is indicative of the aptitude of Latvians for this complicated discipline and is proff of the power of tradition and the quality work of our coaches.  Lūsis achieved his successes (i.e. the full set of Olympic medals, for he also won also bronze in Tokyo and silver in Munich, fourfold European champion and twofold world record-holder) with his excellent capacity to work in training and as a result of new discoveries for the methodology of javelin throwing practices that he made under the guidance of coach Valentīns Mazzālītis. The success of Ventspils duo, Dainis Kūla and coach Māris Grīva, is based on an innovative approach to training practice. The proficiency of the experienced coach Valentīna Eiduka and the professional work of the Latvian Club of Javelin Throwers have already ensured two silvers during the years of our new independence.

There is also good reason for discussing the traditions of walking. In 1932 in Los Angeles, Jānis Daliņš won Latvia’s first Olympic medal for walking, the silver, in the 50 km event. In Sydney, 68 years later, Aigars Fadejevs repeated the accomplishment, and he was also European vice-champion (in 1998).

 

Fanatical exercising helped the long distance runner Jeļena Prokopčuka achieve the highest world’s level. This fragile-looking sportswoman has won the prestigious New York City marathon twice (in 2005 and 2006) and finished amongst the top three in other equally well-known races. Prokopčuka has twice been recognised as the best and most popular sportswoman in Latvia.

From 1990 until 2000 Latvian athletes were frequent European indoor champions in the 60 m hurdles. Igors Kazanovs became champion four times (in 1990, 1992, 1996 and 1998), and Staņislavs Olijars obtained the title in 2000. Olijars, who is considered as one of the brightest European talents, added winter European (2002) and World (2008) bronze to his collection of awards, but his best results were achieved in the European summer championships in the 110 m hurdle race: second place in 2002 and the champion’s title in 2006.

Latvian sports history also shows that glittering stars have appeared periodically in other disciplines of athletics. Within the USSR relay race teams 100 m runner Juris Silovs (silver in 1972 and bronze in 1976) and 400 m runner Inta Kļimoviča (bronze in 1976) won Olympic medals. 3,000m runner Juris Grustiņš (in 1972), shot putter Jānis Bojārs (in 1983 and 1984) and triple jumper Māris Bružiks (in 1986 and 1996) have all become European indoors champions.

Organised cycling has the longest interrupted history amongst all kinds of sports in Latvia. In 1886 Germans resident in Latvia established the Riga 1^st Society of Cyclists, but in 1891 the Latvian-speaking society responded with forming the Riga 2^nd Society of Cyclists. Competitions of road and track cycling became a regular part of the sports calendar. 10 cyclists participated in Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games.

Also, later, Latvian cyclists were frequent participants in the Olympic Games, but it was not until 1964, in Tokyo, that the first medal was won – Imants Bodnieks won silver within the USSR national team. Emīlija Sonka (in the 1964 group race) and Dzintars Lācis (in 1967, 4 km team race) became world champions. The second Olympic award was unexpected, though of course very welcome, when Dainis Ozols won bronze in the group road race in 1992 in Barcelona - the first Olympic Games after the restoration of independence.

Cyclists were amongst the first ones in Latvian sports society who succeeded in adjusting to the requirements of these new times and getting themselves fully involved in the European professional sports circuit.. Pjotrs Ugrjumovs, who was born and grew up in Riga, won the second place in the prestigious multi-day races, the Tour de France (1994) and Giro d’Italia (1993). In 2000, Romāns Vainšteins became world champion in the group race and successfully participated in many of the highest ranking competitions.

In recent years Latvian professional cycling has not had as many great results. However, mountain bike competitions have become very popular in Latvia and they attract several thousand participants from both sports and public classes. Many enterprising cyclists annually challenge themselves in extreme cycling competitions all over the World. The tradition of the Unity Cycle Race (Vienības velobrauciens), established in 1930s, has been restored, with participants of different fitness levels.

 

The year 2008 will remain significant in the history of Latvian cycling as Māris Štrombergs, won the inaugural Olympic gold in the new Olympi c discipline of BMX. The first BMX (bicycle moto-cross) competition in Latvia took place in autumn 1988, and one of its main participants, Ivo Lakučs, was the rider and coach twenty years later in the Beijing Olympic Games in Latvian Olympic team. The development story of BMX was characteristic of the Latvian affection to sports. Namely, for many years almost no state or municipality support was provided; sportsmen and their parents arranged tracks themselves, made bikes and, thus, accumulated the proficiency and experience in this particular kind of sport. Ivo Lakučs won silver in the World Championship in 2001 and became European champion in 2003. Boys, who were few years younger, grew up in Valmiera next to him and collected European medals in competitions for their age groups. Around 2004, when the inclusion of BMX in the programme of Beijing Olympic Games was announced, Latvia already had a new team that was able to gain success. In 2006 Latvians occupied the entire medal podium of the European Championship. In February 2008 for the first time, Artūrs Matisons won the Supercross World Cup in Madrid, but, at the beginning of June, Māris Štrombergs became world champion! Latvians arrived at Beijing Olympic Games with hopes for two medals. Only one was obtained, but it was the most shining one. Māris Štrombergs won six races out of seven and became the first Olympic champion in the history of this particular cycling discipline! Two weeks after returning home, BMX cyclists had a magnificent celebration of the 20^th anniversary of their kind of sport in Valmiera and immediately started to make plans for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

In 1924 in Chamonix, Latvia was amongst the 16 countries represented in the Olympic Games I. Firstly, considerable success was gained in speed-skating, when Alfons Bērziņš became absolute European champion in 1939. Thirty years later, in 1969, Lāsma Kauniste won the title of world champion.

Around that time, the Cīrulīši luge track was built near Cesis by the hands of enthusiasts, and this track has helped in the winning of six Olympic medals. Valdis Tiliks and Rolands Upatnieks, who had the imagination of engineers as well as ardour for sports, became interested in the luge sport when they saw it in featured in the foreign press.  Sleds were hand-made, not only aspiring to achieve the best foreign standards, but also to overtake and improve on them. This new sport drew the attention of youth, and Latvians were soon amongst the best luge racers in the entire Soviet Union. The intensive work was rewarded in 1980 when Vera Zozuļa won gold, and Ingrīda Amantova won bronze in the Lake Placid Olympic Games. Two years earlier, Zozuļa and the 2-man crew of Dainis Bremze/Aigars Kriķis had already become world champions.

Latvian bobsleigh racers needed an even shorter period before achieving Olympic success. The decision to develop this expensive and technically complicated kind of sport in the Soviet Union was adopted in summer 1980, and the guidance of USSR national team was entrusted to Rolands Upatnieks, who was experienced in the luge.  Determined exercising and the development of original techniques were simultaneously emphasised in the quest to reach the highest world level. Latvian sportsmen were the core of USSR national team and surprised the world in 1984 with the conceptually new construction of their bobs and with their excellent results. In the Sarajevo Olympic Games, Zintis Ekmanis, with Russian pusher Vladimirs Aleksandrovs, won the bronze in the 2-man event. Four years later in Calgary the highest gratification of all was received for the intensive eight years long work, when Jānis Ķipurs together with Vladimirs Kozlovs became the Olympic champions. In the 4-man competition the Ķipurs team won bronze.

When the Sigulda artificial ice track was completed in 1987, it became a new incentive for developing luge sport and bobsleigh. Since it is amongst world’s technically most complicated tracks, good conditions for training can be ensured. Despite growing competition in the world and a decrease in available resources after the restoration of independence, the representatives of Latvia have maintained their positions in luge sport and in the bobsleigh elite. 4-man teams piloted by Sandis Prūsis (in 2003) and Jānis Miņins (in 2008) have won the title of European Bobsleigh Champions. Luge racer Mārtiņš Rubenis won silver and bronze in world championships, but Latvia won the team event in the 2008 European championship. Independent Latvia obtained its first, and so far only, medal of Olympic Winter Games for the luge, when Mārtiņs Rubenis got the third place in 2006 in Turin. Rubenis achieved his entire success with sleds he designed and made himself.

The gripping biathlon has been the third “hit” of Latvian winter sports programme for many years. Ilmārs Bricis, the leader of Latvian national team, won two bronzes in the world championships. Obtaining an Olympic award was close, but unfortunately it was not achieved (5^th place in the 20 km distance in Nagano 2008 and 4^th place in Turin 2006 in racing). At the age of 38,  Bricis continues preparing for his sixth Olympic Games, and the talents of the next generation are getting prepared alongside him.

Short track speed skaters continue the traditions of skaters in Latvia, and their leader, Haralds Silovs, became the absolute European champion in winter 2008.

The few hills appropriate for sport activities are very popular amongst ski-runners and snowboarders during the short Latvian winters, though most of the active ones travel to the Alps and other winter sports centres to improve their proficiency to the utmost scale. It will not be a surprise if any of them come to popularise the name of Latvia internationally. 

It is not only the strong traditions and the succession of achievements that characterise the Latvian sports system. Both during the conditions of the strictly planned Soviet period and those of free initiative, the highest results have been achieved – including in those kinds of sports, which have neither modern sports bases nor other necessary preconditions. However, the talent and devoted work of sportsmen and their closest assistants, as well as their belief in the path they have selected has ensured considerable success in the World.

The shooter Afanasijs Kuzmins, born in Daugavpils district, has the largest collection of medals; he became Olympic champion (in 1988), and was tenfold world and eightfold European champion during his 40-year long sports career. Most of his success was achieved within USSR national team, but Kuzmins was the person who won the first Olympic medal for Latvia after restoration of independence, by winning second place in the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games in the rapid-fire pistol shooting event. Since 1976 Kuzmins has participated in eight Olympic Games and was successful, even at the age of 61 , whene he took 13^th place in Beijing.

The career of canoeist Ivans Klementjevs has also passed under two flags. In 1988 in Seoul he became Olympic champion in the canoe singles within the USSR national team, but won silvers in Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 as the representative of Latvia. During his career Klementjevs won world championships at the 1,000 m distance seven times.

 

The weightlifter Viktors Ščerbatihs has become the most popular Latvian sportsman of the recent decade. The trainee of coach Eduards Andruškevičs from Dobele has become one of most powerful heavyweights in the world as a result of contributing a fanatical workload. Winning the world champion’s title (in 2007), Olympic silver in Athens 2004 and bronze in Beijing 2008 have been the peak of his career. Ščerbatihs is also a fivefold European champion (in 2001 and 2005-2008), he has won also several European silvers and bronzes.

Around the turn of the century, the excellent results of Latvian gymnasts in international competitions surprised and delighted. Igors Vihrovs became the first Olympic champion in the sports history of independent Latvia when he won gold in the floor exercise in Sydney 2000. Jevgeņijs Saproņenko has won silvers in the vault in the world championships (1999 and 2001), European championship (in 2004) and at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games; he also become European champion in 2005.

Judoist Vsevolods Zeļonijs won bronze in the Sydney Olympic Games; he has collected a considerable collection of awards in European championships (silver in 1992, 1993, 1995, bronze in 2002 and 2004), and he has also won the third place in world championship (in 1997).

Jeļena Rubļevska is considered the benchmark for sports determination in Latvia. In the physically hard and technically complicated modern pentathlon, she won two bronzes in the world championships (in 2000 and 2005) and the second place in Athens 2004 Olympic Games, when she became the first woman to win an Olympic medal for independent Latvia.

Competitions in technical sports, i.e., motor sport and auto-racing, have traditionally caused considerable interest in Latvia. Internationally, the motorcycle racers Kristers Serģis and Artis Rasmanis achieved the most significant success by their fivefold winning of world champions title in the motorcycle race sidecar class (in 1997, 1999, 2000-2002). Within recent years, the representatives of Latvia have been regular participants in the Dakar Rally Raid. Motorist Jānis Vinters has achieved the best accomplishment by winning the 6^th place in the overall class in 2007, which included wins in two stages. In international motor racing, the new formula driver Haralds Šlēgelmilhs (1987) is still the most successful at the moment; he participated in Formula Masters and GP2 Asia competitions successfully and is hoping to become the first Latvian driving in F-1.

Latvia traditionally has had more talented sportsmen than there are resources available for improving their proficiency to the utmost level. Therefore, many Latvians are quickly seeking for opportunities to continue their development abroad. New ice hockey and basketball players, and particularly tennis players, choose such a path. The most talented tennis player Ernests Gulbis (1988) acquired his playing skills in Niki Pilic Tennis Academy, Germany. Gulbis showed his talent to the world tennis community early on, when he beat several favourites in the US 2007 Open and reached the last 16.  In 2008, Ernests Gulbis achieved what is currently his greatest success in Grand Slam series tournaments, by reaching the quarter-finals in the French Open. World tennis experts have no doubts that Gulbis is able to enter the top 10 of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) ranking table. Family support has also been of great importance to the development of Ernests Gulbis. By the way, his grandfather Alvils Gulbis was a leading member of the ASK Rīga basketball team and won the European champion cup three times.

Latvia is proud of its rich traditions for sports games of the mind. Chess player Mihails Tāls has excited millions of fans of the ancient game with his brilliant style of play. In 1960 he won the title of world champion. Although the title was lost one year later, Tāls was able to maintain his position in the World elite for three decades and maintain considerable popularity far beyond the borders of Latvia. Draughts player Andris Andreiko held the title of World Champion from 1968 until 1972. Draughts players Zoja Golubeva and Guntis Valneris continue successfully to maintain these traditions. Golubeva won the title of World Champion eleven (!) times (recently – in 2000) and won the first World Mind Sports Games in Beijing in 2008. And Valneris has also been world champion (in 1994) and vice-champion several times. In 2008 he became European champion and won third place in the World Mind Sports Games.

For two years in a row, orienteering has been recognised, by democratic voting on the Internet, as the most popular sport in Latvia. A succession of public competitions regularly attracts thousands of participants. A star of international level has appeared in this sport also: Mārtiņš Sirmais won two silvers in the European championships.

Sigulda luge track, the most unique object of Latvian sports infrastructure, was completed in December 1986, and since then it has regularly attracted participants of the highest level in international competitions. Experts recognised it as one of world’s technically most complicated and interesting courses, so that competition results are not at all predictable. Since 1990, Sigulda has annually hosted participants in the World Cup competition stages. In 1996 the European Championship, and in 2003 the World Championship, took place in Sigulda. Sportsmen and women, not only from Latvia but also from Russia, Estonia and other countries, regularly use the track for training purposes.

In terms of international recognition, the World Ice Hockey Championship in Riga in Spring 2006 was the largest international sports event since the restoration of independence. The modern hall Arēna Rīga, with10,500 seats, was built in Latvia’s capital city for to host 16 national teams.  In the space of two and a half weeks, several thousand ice hockey fans visited Riga and left with the best possible impressions of the organisation of the championship and the hospitality of the inhabitants of Riga. Arēna Rīga has now become the traditional home for the best Latvian basketball and ice hockey teams, and for competitions of many other kinds of sports, as well as concerts and shows that take place here.

In recent years, the European championships in modern pentathlon (in Riga, in 2007), short track speed skating (in Ventspils, in 2008), orienteering (in Ventspils, in 2008) and many other competitions at senior, junior, and youth level, have been organised successfully in Latvia. The final tournament of European Women Basketball Championship will take place in June 2009 in Valmiera, Liepaja and Riga. A large international public sport event, the European Community Sport Games, took place in Riga in 2001.

Competitions of different kinds of sports and levels take place in Latvia on a daily basis. In order to systematise them and encourage the activity of municipalities in promoting sporting life according to the initiative of Latvian Olympic Committee, a comprehensive competition, the Latvian Olympics, has been organised every four years since 2004. Also, the Latvian Youth Olympics take place regularly.

In a period of 100 years and under three flags, Latvian sportsmen and women have won 17 golds, 38 silvers and 14 bronzes in Olympic Games, as well as three gold, one silver and six bronze awards in Winter Olympic Games.

Development of sports in the current territory of Latvia began in the middle of 19^th century, and Baltic Germans were the first to take part. In 1831, Aleksandrs Vahmuts established the first gymnastics institution in Jelgava, and a similar one was established in Riga in 1846. In the years following, the inhabitants of the Russian Empire, Vidzeme and Kurzeme Provinces also became acquainted with other kinds of sport – rowing, shooting, sailing, swimming, heavy athletics , cycling, athletics, skating and chess. Enthusiasts banded together in sports clubs and societies. Until World War I, sports clubs and societies were mostly sorted according to nationality: Germans, Latvians, Russians and other minorities resident in Latvia all had their own individual organisations. By the beginning of 20^th century, sports activities were also becoming much more common outside Riga.

In 1912, the inhabitants of the territory of Latvia participated in the Olympic Games for the first time. The official accreditation documents show that 28 inhabitants of Kurzeme and Vidzeme Provinces participated in Stockholm within the Russian delegation (at that time Latgale was included in Vitebsk Province, where sports were almost unknown). They participated in five kinds of sports, i.e., wrestling, swimming, cycling, shooting and athletics. The Riga Polytechnic School student Haralds Blaus (1885-1945), born in the area of Ergli, won bronze in clay pigeon shooting.

In 1913 the heavy athlete, Jānis Krauze from Riga, won third place in World Championship in Breslau (Wroclaw).

In 1914, the Russian Olympic Competition was organised in Riga, but was not completed due to the outbreak of World War I.

After the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia and the end of the War, sporting life began to develop for the independent country. Latvian General Sports Event I took place in September 1920, the Union of Latvian Sports Organisations was established on 6 March 1921 and the founding of individual sports federations and associations began. The first international success was achieved in 1921, when Rūdolfs Ronis became world vice-champion in Greek-Roman wrestling.

On 23 April 1922, at a meeting of Latvian sports organisations, the Latvian Olympic Committee (Latvijas Olimpiskā komiteja - LOK) was established. In 1923 LOK received an invitation to the 8^th Olympiad in Paris and to the winter Olympic week competition in Chamonix (later this was named the first Winter Olympic Games). 37 Latvian sportsmen participated in the Paris event, and it was our country’s largest delegation right up until 1996.

LOK president Jānis Dikmanis became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1926. He performed those duties until Latvia lost its independence, but he was not invited to IOC sessions after the World War II.

During the inter-war period, Latvian sportsmen participated in the Olympic Games in Paris (in 1924), Amsterdam (in 1928), Los Angeles (in 1932) and Berlin (in 1936), as well as in the Winter Olympics in Chamonix (in 1924), St. Moritz (1928) and Garmisch-Partenkirchen (1936). Two silvers were won during this period, i.e., Jānis Daliņš in 1932 (50 km walking) and Edvīns Bietags in 1936 (Greek-Roman wrestling), as well as one bronze won by Adalberts Bubenko (50 km walking).

Latvian sportsmen got actively involved in international sporting life. Shooter Kārlis Kļava became world champion (in 1937), wrestler Edvīns Bietags (in 1934), walker Jānis Daliņš (in 1934), the national basketball team (in 1935) and speed-skater Alfons Bērziņš (in 1939) won the titles of European champions. Latvia hosted the European championships in Greek-Roman wrestling (in 1926), basketball (in 1937) and speed skating (in 1939).

After the occupation of Latvia, the operations of all Latvian sports organisations were terminated. It was often done in a legally incorrect manner. For instance, no official decision on liquidating the LOK was adopted, but, in 1951 when the Soviet Union National Olympic Committee was established, its operational jurisdiction was illegally attributed also to the territory of Latvia). Many outstanding sportsmen were repressed, and many were forced to leave their homeland. Latvian exile sports organisations tried to become involved in international sports life, but did not receive any invitation for participating in the 1948 Olympic Games or other large international competitions. In the years following, many Latvian-born people and their descendants continued their sports careers in their new countries of residence. Two of them, the swimmer Jānis (John) Konrads (Australia) and volleyball player Aldis Bērziņš (U.S.A), became Olympic champions.

From 1945 until 1991, sport in Latvia was a constituent of the strictly centralised and comparatively well-provided Soviet Union sports system. This situation provided good opportunities for the best sportsmen to achieve their best accomplishments, and, within USSR national teams, 11 Latvian sportsmen (basketball players, volleyball players, rowers and athletes) won the titles of Olympic champions in team sports, by competing together with Russians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Georgians and leading representatives of other nations comprising the USSR. 23 Latvian sportsmen became world champions, and 32 - European champions. In individual competition, six Latvian sportsmen became Olympic champions under the flag of the USSR, i.e., the three javelin throwers Inese Jaunzeme (in 1956), Jānis Lūsis (in 1968) and Dainis Kūla (in 1980), canoeist Ivans Klementjevs, shooter Afanasijs Kuzmins and luge racer Vera Zozuļa. Most Latvian sportsmen and women, however, were unable to cope with the enormous competition and did not participate in international competitions.

Over the years, the disadvantages of the centralised sports system and the so-called “Stateprofessionalism” became increasingly apparent, i.e., ignorance of the actual Olympic ideals, inexpedient expenditure of funds and increasing sports bureaucracy. At the end of the 1980s, as discontent grew, Latvian sports society began requesting more independence in its decision-making and activities. On 19 November 1988 the Latvian Olympic Committee was re-established during a meeting of Latvian sports activists. Sports federations gradually started managing their own particular kinds of sports and also searched for opportunities to enter the international scene under Latvia’s own flag.

Complete independence was only achieved for sport in the autumn of 1991, after the actual obtaining of national independence. On 18 September, Latvian rights were reinstated in a meeting of IOC executive committee in Berlin, and the LOK was invited to take part in the 1992 Winter Olympic Games at Albertville and in the Barcelona XXV Olympiad.

Since the restoration of independence, 189 Latvian sportsmen have participated in five Olympiads and won two golds, nine silvers and three bronzes. 185 sportsmen have taken part in five Winter Olympic Games and one bronze has been won. Canoeist Ivans Klementjevs (in 1993, 1994), cyclist Romans Vainšteins (in 2000, road racing), weightlifter Viktors Ščerbatihs (in 2007) and BMX cyclist Māris Štrombergs (in 2008) have become world champions of Olympic sports.

The Latvian Olympic Unit, established in 1994 by the LOK, Ministry of Education and Science, and the Latvian Academy of Sport Education, provides financial, methodological and medical support for the best sportsmen and women.

Olympic centres, operating in Aluksne, Cesis, Daugavpils, Gulbene, Jelgava, Liepaja, Limbazi, Riga, Sigulda, Valmiera and Ventspils, promote the development of sport in Latvian regions, and approximately 70 sports schools operate in Latvia.

Finally, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia is the supervisory institution for the sports industry.