How about using this forum to post Latvia’s entries/ participation, and results?
The countdown to the Olympics is on.

Latvian in the Irish team:

http://www.olympicsport.ie/news/5591-olympic-team-bios.html

” SANITA PUSPURE
Rowing – Women’s Single Sculls
Sanita, 30, will be Ireland’s sole competitor in rowing and gained her Olympic spot with a great performance in the Olympic qualifier in Lucerne, Switzerland in May. She represents UCD’s Old Collegians Boat Club.
Originally from Latvia, Sanita has lived in Ireland for many years and both of her children were born here. Her surname is pronounced PUSH PURR. This very gutsy athlete could be Ireland’s surprise packet of the rowing competition.

Thinking about the olympics-who remembers brother and sister Konrads(sp?)swimmers
from Australia?
Any info.appreciated.

aivars t,

The Kondrad Kids ... Rome 1960.
Of course I remember them.
I actually met them, with a whole bunch of other Latvians, when Janis & Ilsa tourede every Latvian Centre in Australia after the Olympics.
I was only a skinny 14yo then ... and these 2 were absolutely huge .. muscular, and shoulders wider than a pick axe handle.
J. Kondrads’ close friend, swimming mentor/ colleague Murray Rose ...d only a few weeks ago.

Talking about the past ... my father was part of the Latvian Olympic Team, Berlin 1936.
There’s a Latvian made movie of the team that he was in that won the first Eropean Basketball Championships ... The Dream Team 1935 ... Andris Bulis plays the role of my father.

I saw this movie team playing in Dome Suare during the Riga 810 festival.
I recognised the uniform but had no idea what the significance was, at that time.
A couple of days later, I did. Too late.

Isn’t there a “hot” BMX racer from Latvia - who got his own stamp??  Sorry, can’t remember his name?!!  Olympics will have the BMX racing, right?  TIA!

Māris Štrombergs, the BMX cyclist who won gold in Beijing.

Didn’t want to do another post - so thought I’d edit this one!  Here’s a good site for getting updates for the Latvian Olympic team!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvia_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics

GO LATVIJA!!!

LigitaR,
Well done for finding that link.
I notice it was posted on 8th July.
Paldies.

Londonas Olimpiādē Latviju pārstāvēs 46 sportisti 9
LETA/Diena.lv. 2012. gada 9. jūlijs 14:43.

Šāgada Londonas olimpiskajās spēlēs Latviju pārstāvēs 46 sportisti, pirmdien tika apstiprināts Latvijas Olimpiskās komitejas (LOK) Izpildkomitejas sēdē.

Uz Londonu dosies 23 vieglatlēti, četri pludmales volejbolisti un četri BMX riteņbraucēji, divi peldētāji, divi modernās pieccīņas pārstāvji, divi smaiļotāji un arī brīvā stila cīkstoņi, divi džudisti un pa vienam šosejas riteņbraucējam, vingrotājam, galda tenisistam, šāvējam un svarcēlājam.

Tiesa, Latvijas rekordists 100 metru sprintā Ronalds Arājs, kuram jūnija beigās tika veikta pārrautās Ahileja cīpslas operācija, tiks pieteikts Latvijas delegācijas sastāvā, taču Londonas olimpiskajās spēlēs viņš nestartēs.

Kā jau iepriekš tika prognozēts, Latviju Londonas olimpisko spēļu sieviešu maratona sacensībās pārstāvēs Dace Lina, kurai ir izpildīts B normatīvs.

Olimpisko A normatīvu izpildījusi Jeļena Prokopčuka, bet pie B normatīva tikušas Lina, kā arī Ilona Marhele, tomēr Latvijas labākā gargabalniece Prokopčuka jau iepriekš bija atzinusi, ka Londonā nestartēs.

No B normatīvu izpildījušajām Linas un Marheles par 23 sekundēm labāks rezultāts ir pirmajai, un tieši tas arī noteica, kura no viņām ieguva iespēju startēt Olimpiādē.

Pēdējās divas dalībnieces A normatīvu izpildīja vien nedēļas nogalē, kad Latvijas olimpisko sieviešu šķēpmetēju skaits papildinājās uzreiz no vienas līdz trim - sestdien to paveica Sinta Ozoliņa-Kovala, bet svētdien viņai un Madarai Palameikai pievienojās arī Līna Mūze.

“No mūsu puses esam izdarījuši visu, kas vajadzīgs, lai sportisti varētu pienācīgi sagatavoties katra sportista karjerā tik ļoti nozīmīgajiem Olimpiskajiem startiem, tagad viss atkarīgs no pašiem sportistiem,” pavēstīja LOK prezidents Aldons Vrubļevskis.

„Gandarī, ka pirmo reizi Olimpiskajās spēlēs Latvija būs pārstāvēta galda tenisā un šajā sporta disciplīnā ir kvalificējies liepājnieks Matīss Burģis,” stāstīja Vrubļevskis. „Pēc pārtraukuma Olimpisko sacensību arēnā atgriezušies arī Latvijas brīvās cīņās un vingrošanas pārstāvji. Jāpiemin, ka Latvijai pirmo reizi ir arī sportiste brīvajā cīņā sievietēm – Anastasija Grigorjeva, savukārt BMX riteņbraukšanā - Sandra Aleksejeva.”

„28 sportistiem no 46 Londonā būs Olimpiskā debija. Izaugusi jauna olimpiešu paaudze, kas pirms vairākiem gadiem sāka savu sportisko karjeru ar dalību Jaunatnes Olimpiādēs, un par to ir patiess gandarījums,” norādīja Latvijas Olimpiskās delegācijas vadītājs Žoržs Tikmers.

„Būs arī Ginesa rekorda cienīgs ieraksts, jo šāvējam Afanasijam Kuzminam piešķirts Starptautiskās Šaušanas federācijas īpašais ielūgums startēt viņam jau devītajās Olimpiskās spēles. Mums ir arī sportisti ar nopietnu Olimpisko pieredzi, kam Londonā būs otrās, trešās vai pat ceturtās spēles. Piemēram, ceturto reizi Olimpiskajās spēlēs startēs Olimpiskā vicečempione modernajā pieccīņā Jeļena Rubļevska un viņas kolēģis Deniss Čerkovskis,” informēja Tikmers.

Pirms četriem gadiem Pekinā tiesības piedalīties spēlēs izcīnīja 50 sportisti, bet Jeļena Prokopčuka atteicās no piedalīšanās maratonā, savukārt Ineta Radeviča nestartēja grūtniecības dēļ. Pekinā Latvija pirmoreiz bija pārstāvēta komandu sporta veidos, jo startēja sieviešu basketbola valstsvienība.

Arī Atlantas olimpiskajās spēlēs 1996.gadā Latvijas delegācijā bija 48 sportisti. Četrus gadus vēlāk Sidnejā Latviju pārstāvēja 45 atlēti, bet 2004.gadā Atēnās ar Latvijas karogu startēja 32 olimpieši.

Latvijas olimpieši Londonā 2012

Vieglatlētika – Igors Kazakevičs, Māris Urtāns, Vadims Vasiļevskis, Zigismunds Sirmais, Ainārs Kovals, Igors Sokolovs, Madara Palameika, Sinta Ozoliņa-Kovala, Līna Mūze, Agnese Pastare, Arnis Rumbenieks, Edgars Eriņš, Aiga Grabuste, Laura Ikauniece, Lauma Grīva, Ineta Radeviča, Dmitrijs Jurkevičs, Ronalds Arājs*, Valērijs Žolnerovičs, Dace Lina, Poļina Jeļizarova, Mareks Ārents, Jānis Leitis

Peldēšana – Uvis Kalniņš, Gabriela Ņikitina

Modernā pieccīņa – Jeļena Rubļevska, Deniss Čerkovskis

Smaiļošana – Krists Straume, Aleksandrs Rumjancevs

Brīvā cīņa – Armands Zvirbulis, Anastasija Grigorjeva

Džudo – Jevgeņijs Borodavko, Konstantīns Ovčiņņikovs

Riteņbraukšana šoseja - Aleksejs Saramotins

Riteņbraukšana BMX – Māris Štrombergs, Edžus Treimanis, Rihards Veide, Sandra Aleksejeva

Vingrošana – Dmitrijs Trefilovs

Galda teniss – Matīss Burģis

Šaušana – Afanasijs Kuzmins

Svarcelšana – Artūrs Plēsnieks

Pludmales Volejbols – Aleksandrs Samoilovs, Ruslans Sorokins, Mārtiņš Pļaviņš, Jānis Šmēdiņš

*- Ronalds Arājs ir pieteikts, taču Londonā nestartēs Ahileja cīpslas savainojuma dēļ.

marisr - 09 July 2012 12:59 AM

LigitaR,
Well done for finding that link.
I notice it was posted on 8th July.
Paldies.

Ludzu…

Lauris,
Paldies to you too.
Your post was dated 9th July.
I say that because I was looking for the team names about a week earlier.

Yes yes yes .... Go Latvia.

(But also Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie ... Oi Oi Oi)

Maris - Oh, an Auzzie!!

My ‘other’ team I’m rooting for is Sweden!!!! 

GO SVERIGE!!!!

Bears’ incoming freshman will compete in 2012 Olympic Games
July 09, 2012

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Prior to arriving in Springfield, Mo. for the Fall semester, Missouri State men’s swimming incoming freshman Uvis Kalnins will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent his country of Latvia at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Kalnins was officially named to the Latvia Olympic squad on Monday (July 9) at a Latvian Olympic Committee (LOC) press conference. The LOC approved a team of 46 athletes participating in 12 different sports. Kalnins is the only male swimmer on the Latvian Olympic team and will compete in just one event: the 100-meter freestyle.

“This is my biggest achievement in my swimming career,” Kalnins described in an email. “I would not have been able to achieve this accomplishment without the support of my parents, friends and my city of Valmiera.”

Beijing - 2008 medals
Sport     Total
Athletics       0 1 0 1
Cycling - BMX 1 0 0 1
Weightlifting   0 0 1 1

BBC Sport - London 2012 Olympics - Latvia - Athleteswww.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/countries/latvia/athletesCached
Every Latvia athlete competing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London will have a page devoted to them on the BBC Sport website. Find the athlete you’re after ...

Liene Ernstsone-Tava - London 2012 Olympicswww.london2012.com/torch…/torchbearers=liene-ernstsone-tava-42…CachedNot helpful? You can block http://www.london2012.com results when you’re signed in to search.www.london2012.com
Block all http://www.london2012.com results
“My name is Liene Ernstsone-Tava from Latvia (Liepaja), 32 years old and ... very communicative and like to getting know other people from different countries. ... of the Olympic torch relay as well as representing my colleagues and company ...”

Go Latvia.

For your information:

GAREZERS, Mich.—- The students and staff of Garezers Latvian Summer High School have announced a campaign to pressure NBC to change its long-standing policy of ignoring the teams from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania during Olympic opening ceremonies.

Many Baltic-Americans remember the opening ceremony of the 1992 Barcelona Games and how sad and frustrated we were. NBC chose to ignore the Baltic States just one short year after regaining independence after over fifty years of Soviet occupation. Coverage in following years was equally discouraging.

Therefore, the Garezers Summer High School community is encouraging Balts and their friends in the United States, Canada and throughout the world to contact the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and request complete opening ceremony coverage during the procession of national teams.

Further information:

Facebook
Draugiem.lv
Garezers.org

Questions?
Contact us: Zanda Vevere or Artis Inka - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Contact NBC:

E Mails:
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/nbcolympics
http://www.facebook.com/NBCNewYork
http://www.facebook.com/nbcchicago

Contact form:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10285339/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28544273/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe/
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29041920/ns/today-today_participate/t/email-today/#.T_y6iJEmXGg
Information about your local station:
http://www.nbc.com/local-stations/

New York
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/contact-us/
Chicago
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
http://www.nbcchicago.com/contact-us/

Sample letter - I:
Dear Sir/Madam:
Re: XXX Olympiad
I am asking for your help to insure that your coverage of the opening ceremony of the XXX Olympiad is complete and includes the participation of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian teams in the procession of nations.

In twenty-one short years these parliamentary democracies have entered NATO, the European Union and enthusiastically returned to Europe and full membership in the community of sovereign, democratic nations.

Your assistance in insuring all-inclusive coverage of the many and diverse nations participating in the Opening Ceremonies would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,

Sample letter - II
Dear Sir/Madam:
Re: Inclusive Coverage by NBC
Your assistance is kindly requested in helping to insure complete and all-inclusive coverage of the opening ceremony of the Olympics, with the participation of the teams from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the Opening Ceremonies.
Thank you.
Sincerely,

Sample letter - III
Dear Sir/Madam:
Re: Olympic coverage
NBC has a long-standing policy of ignoring teams from the Baltic States during Olympic opening ceremonies. Please change this practice and cover the participation of the teams from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Thank you.
Sincerely,

http://2012-london-olympics-news.com/989/latvian-athletes-qualified-for-2012-london-summer-olympics/

Go Latvia.

Photos of faces to the names:

http://www.london2012.com/country/latvia/athletes/

I can’t resist adding my two cents to this thread.  Thank you Maris for the photos.  Anyone looking at those
faces cannot help but swell with pride.  What particularly choked me up was the names.  I feel such a kinship with Latvians but not even 10 years ago I would not have considered some of these beautiful athletes Latvians, just because their name didn’t ring Latvian.  Maybe it’s just my age or maybe I’ve grown despite my old age, I am just so proud of them for representing Latvia at the Olympics. They are more Latvian than I; more Latvian than many of us posting on LOL. I detest the term “Rusky”, which I am ashamed to say I have used quite often in the past, even on my LOL posts. 
I wish all of these wonderful athletes good luck and if they earn medals, more power to them, but just by being on the Latvian team, they are my heroes already.