In Paralympics discus throw, Apinis sets record, earns silver medal

Andris Straumanis | 

Aigars Apinis of Latvia has added another medal to his collection, earning a silver in the discus throw at the 2012 London Paralympics. The 39-year-old athlete also set a new world record.

Competing in the Sept. 6 event, Apinis threw the discus a distance of 21.0 meters, which set the new world record for the F52 classification. Apinis competes in the F51/52/53 category, which is for athletes who throw from a seated position in a wheelchair.

The gold medal went to Mohamed Berrahal of Algeria, who scored a total of 1,093 points in the event. Apinis had 1,010 points for the silver. The bronze medal was earned by Mohamed Zemzemi of Tunisia with 917 points.

This is the fourth time Apinis has medaled in the event. In 2000 during the Sydney Paralympics, he earned a bronze medal. In 2004, he won a gold medal in the Athens games. In 2008, he won another gold during the Beijing games.

In London, Apinis also claimed the gold medal—and another world record—in the Aug. 31 shot put event for the F52 classification.

The 2012 London Paralympics began Aug. 29 and run through Sept. 9.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

Rīgā notiks konference “Izglītība, kas vieno”

Daina Grosa | 

7. septembrī Rīgā, viesnīcā “Monika Centrum Hotels” notiks konference “Izglītība, kas vieno”.

Konferences mērķis ir uzsākt profesionāļu diskusiju par vienotas un dalītas izglītības sistēmas ietekmi uz sabiedrības saliedētību nacionālā valstī. To atbalsta LR Kultūras ministrija, Pasaules brīvo latviešu apvienība un Austrumeiropas politikas pētījumu centrs. Diskusija par izglītības lomu ir svarīga, ja vēlamies saglabāt Latviju kā vienotu neatkarīgu valsti un cerēt uz kopīgiem visas nācijas centieniem palikt Rietumeiropas telpā. Konferencē uzstāsies pārstāvji no dažādām zinātņu nozarēm, starp tiem LU profesore Dr. Ruta Ināra Kaņepāja, Austrumeiropas politikas pētījuma centra izpilddirektors Andis Kudors, komunikācijas eksperte Rita Našeniece, sociolingviste un LR Saeimas deputāte Dr. Vineta Poriņa, kā arī Berlīnes Brīvās Universitātes profesors Ulrihs Brukners un Stokholmas Universitātes emeritētā profesore Baiba Metuzāle-Kangere.

Konferenci tiešraidē varēs arī noskatīties Latvians Online portālā. Tā pēc Rīgas laika sāksies plkst. 10.00, beigsies plkst 15.30.

Daina Gross is editor of Latvians Online. An Australian-Latvian she is also a migration researcher at the University of Latvia, PhD from the University of Sussex, formerly a member of the board of the World Federation of Free Latvians, author and translator/ editor/ proofreader from Latvian into English of an eclectic mix of publications of different genres.

Jubilatio – six centuries of sacred choral works

Egils Kaljo | 

The Rīga Cathedral Girls’ Choir, conducted by Aira Birziņa, has released their latest CD, Jubilatio, a collection of sacred choral performances. Covering works from a span of almost six centuries, Jubilatio was recorded at the Rīga Cathedral in 2011 and 2012.

The collection also features distinguished organist Vita Kalnciema, playing the legendary organ of the Rīga Cathedral, who performs in a number of the works, and also has a solo performance with “Toccata alla Fantasia” by Pauls Dambis.

The Choir was founded in 1997, and has about 90 singers, from the ages of nine to nineteen. Birziņa has been the conductor since 2000.

Previous releases by the Choir include Gribas drusku pablēņoties (DVD and CD), as well as Kas kaitēja nedzīvoti (2004) and Te Deum (by Rihards Dubra, 2006).

For more information on the Rīga Cathedral Girls’ Choir, please visit their website at www.girlschoir.lv

Track listing:
1. “Hebe deine Augen auf” from the oratorio “Elija”, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartoldi
2. “Sound the Trumpet” from the ode “Come, ye Sons of Art” – Henry Purcell
3. Ave Regina caelorum – Guillaume Du Fay
4. Ecce Maria – Michael Praetorius
5. Laudate Dominum – Rihards Dubra
6. The Lord Bless You and Keep You – John Rutter
7. Laudamus in Domine – Ieva Alenčika and Austriņa
8. Salve Regina – Miklós Kocsár
9. Miserere – Eva Ugalde
10. Gloria – Michael Bojesen
11. Exsultate Deo – Vytautas Miškinis
12. Toccata alla Fantasia – Pauls Dambis
13. O salutaris hostia – Ēriks Ešenvalds
14. Missa de Spiritu Sancto I Kyrie / II Gloria / III Sanctus / IV Agnus Dei – Rihards Dubra

image

Egils Kaljo is an American-born Latvian from the New York area . Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.