People. Time. Events

In 21st century, we can be proud of world and European champions, winners of world and European cups, Olympians and Paralympians who have represented Latvia in various sports events.

Sports in Latvia is like a garden that has been taken care of and cherished since ancient Latvian games, from ice skating using bone skates on ice on river Daugava at the pedestal of Daugmale hill fort (Daugmales pilskalns) to first Latvian attempts to acquire different kinds of movement pieces as gymnastics, swimming, running, wrestling and weightlifting.

LaLatvians in their country started to form their sports associations along with Germans – II Riga Cyclists Association, II Riga Athletes Club, MarsHērakls and Amatieri.

The idea of Baron Pierre de Coubertin to renew Olympic Games thrilled thousands of minds all over the world. For Latvians walked into the Olympic arena for the first time on V Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912. Under the flag of Tsarist Russia though. These where the same Games where our Haralds Blaus won a bronze medal in shooting (shooting of clay pigeons) for the first time in our sports history. Tens of physically and spiritually gifted individuals who were fighting for the victory in the highest level under different foreign and home flags followed him. These are demonstrators of our national identity.

Heroes who’s names are written in our sports history - Jānis Krauze, Jānis Leskinovičs, Haralds Blaus, Jānis Dikmanis, Voldemārs Cekuls, Voldemārs Šmidbergs, Alfrēds Ruks, Rūdolfs Ronis, Alberts Rumba, Jānis Daliņš, Jānis Dimza, Adelberts Bubenko, Edvīns Bietags, Alfons Bērziņš, Jānis Krūmiņš, Valdis Muižnieks, Maigonis Valdmanis, Oto Jurģis, Lavīze Pūce, Inese Jaunzeme, Emīlija Sonka, Daina Šveica, Maija Kaufmane, Lāsma Kauniste, Renāte Lāce, Jānis Lūsis, Elvīra Ozoliņa, Mihails Tāls, Valdis Valters, Helmuts Balderis, Aldis Bērziņš, Jānis un Ilze Konradi, Dzidra Karamiševa, Skaidrīte Smildziņa-Budovska, Silvija Ravdone-Krodere, Uļjana Semjonova, Ilgvars Pauls, Teodors Ķirsis, Artūrs Irbe, Sandis Ozoliņš, Dainis Kūla, Jānis Ķipurs, Zintis Ekmanis, Vera Zozuļa, Igors Vihrovs, Dainis Ozols, Aigars Fadejevs, Ainārs Kovals, Vadims Vasiļevskis and many others.

There will be a possibility to recall the recent events of the XXX Summer Olympic Games in London 2012, where Māris Štrombergs (BMX) won a gold medal and Jānis Šmēdiņš/Mārtiņš Pļaviņš (beach volleyball) won a bronze medal as well as the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi 2014 where Martins Dukurs (skeleton) and Oskars Melbārdis/Daumants Dreiškens/Arvis Vilkaste/Jānis Strenga (bobsleigh, four-man race) won silver medals and Andris Šics and Juris Šics (luge, men's doubles) and the team of Latvia: Elīza Tīruma, Mārtiņš Rubenis, Andris Šics/Juris Šics (Luge, mixed team relay).

Latvia Sports Museum’s guides will be able to tell you extraordinary stories about Latvian athletes and their thrilling wins in world sports arenas, about unique photos legendary sports prizes, cups, sports equipment including the Olympians’ parade’s and competition’s uniforms.

 Izstade2014 2 Izstade2014 3 

The photography exhibition Let’s Go for Sport in Riga is a supplement to the exhibition People. Time. Events.