Svinīgā ceremonijā Minesotas universitātes “M kluba” slavas zālē 9. septembrī uzņemts ilggadējais hokeja komandas ārsts – Latvijā dzimušais Visvaldis Georgs Nagobads, kurš par saviem izcilajiem nopelniem šogad uzņemts arī ASV Nacionālajā hokeja slavas zālē.

“Tikai dažiem cilvēkiem aizkulisēs ir bijusi tik liela ietekme uz tik milzīgu skaitu hokeja spēlētāju kā Nagobadam, kurš 34 gadus kalpojis kā Gophers hokeja komandas ārsts, strādājis ar neskaitāmām ASV nacionālajām komandām un bijis pārstāvēts starptautiskās mediķu komitejās,” tā Minesotas universitātes mājas lapā tiek pamatota Nagobada uzņemšana universitātes slavas zālē.

Nagobads ir viens no 10 ar sportu saistītiem cilvēkiem, ko šogad uzņēma “M klubā” (“M” Club Hall of Fame).

Minesotas universitātē sporta aprindās iecienītais hokeja ārsts Nagobads guvis izcilus panākumus gan ASV, gan starptautiskā mērogā. Būdams Minesotas universitātes hokeja komandas ārsts no 1958. gada līdz 1992. gadam, Nagobads šai komandai palīdzējis īstenot to, ko nevienai citai ASV universitātes hokeja komandai līdz tam nebija izdevies panākt – dalību trīs nozīmīgos starptautiskos hokeja turnīros.

Savas profesionālās karjeras laikā, Nagobads bijis ārsts piecām ASV Olimpiskajām hokeja komandām, 15 ASV Nacionālajām hokeja komandām un sešām ASV nacionālajām junioru komandām. Tāpat Nagobads bijis pārstāvēts ASV hokeja un inventāra drošības komitejā un aktīvi darbojies Starptautiskās hokeja līgas Medicīnas komitejā. Par ārkārtīgi nozīmīgo devumu hokeja popularizēšanā pasaulē 2003. gadā Nagobads saņēmis Starptautiskās hokeja federācijas balvu, kļūstot par pirmo personu no Ziemeļamerikas, kas ieguvusi šo balvu tās 12 gadu ilgās pastāvēšanas laikā.

Agrāk šogad Nagobadu uzņēma arī ASV Hokeja slavas zālē (U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame), kuras mājas lapā rakstīts, ka viņš savā laikā bijis viens no ietekmīgākajiem cilvēkiem ASV hokejā.

“Tas ir neticami. Man pietrūkst vārdu, lai pateiktu, cik lepns un laimīgs es esmu par iespēju atrasties šajās slavas zālēs,” sev piešķirto Minesotas universitātes atzinību komentē dakteris Nagobads.

1921. gadā Rīgā dzimušais Nagobads izglītību guvis Latvijas universitātē un Gīsenes universitātē, savukārt grādu medicīnā ieguvis Frankfurtē bāzētajā Tubingenes universitātē.

Nagobads savulaik pats bija aizrāvies ar hokeja spēli, kuru viņš bija aizsācis spēlēt jau desmit gadu vecumā. Kā svinīgajā ceremonijā atzīmēja Nagobads, tieši viņa personīgā pieredze hokeja spēlē ļāvusi viņam daudz veiksmīgāk pildīt hokeja komandas ārsta pienākumus.

Latvia is far from the most charitable country in the world, but its people are more giving than those in neighboring nations, according to a new study.

The United Kingdom-based Charities Aid Foundation’s (CAF) first-ever World Giving Index ranks Latvia 115th among 153 countries examined. The index was announced Sept. 8.

Based on data collected by the Gallup Inc. in its WorldView World Poll, the index ranks countries on three measures: the percent of people who give money to a charitable organization, the percent who volunteer time to an organization, and the percent who have helped a stranger.

Latvia received the same overall score as Armenia, El Salvador and Ecuador.

In Latvia, the survey found, 16 percent of the population has given money, 18 percent has given time, and 34 percent has helped a stranger. Latvia also has a wellbeing score of 4.7, indicating that people in the country do not feel very positive about their lives, which can affect their ability and desire to be charitable.

Latvia ranked ahead of its neighbors Estonia (ranked 121st), Russia (138th) and Lithuania (147th). However, Belarus scored 106.

The World Giving Index report notes that charitable giving is complex and is not necessarily tied to the wealth of a nation.

“The incidence of giving money to charity ranges from as low as 4 percent in Lithuania to as high as 83 percent in Malta,” according to the report. “Incidence of volunteering lies in a range from 2 percent in Cambodia to 61 percent in Turkmenistan. Each country has its own unique footprint and its own way to give. In Liberia, less than one tenth (8 percent) of the population give money to charity every month. Yet over three-quarters (76 percent) of Liberians help a stranger every month, more than any other country in the world.”

At the top of the index are Australia and New Zealand. Last in the index is Madagascar.

Latvian-Canadian pianist Arturs Ozoliņš has been named a honorary professor of the Rīga-based Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, which last year marked its 90th anniversary.

The academy announced the selection Sept. 7. Ozoliņš, who studied in Toronto, Paris and New York, is to receive the honor during the academy’s 91st anniversary concert, which is scheduled Jan. 11. Ozoliņš was chosen, according to a press release from the academy, for his work in popularizing Latvian music and for his unrelenting pride in his Latvian heritage.

Ozoliņš becomes the 33rd honorary professor chosen by the academy, which is the only higher education institution in Latvia devoted to music, according to school’s website. Other recently named honorary professors include composer Pēteris Vasks, conductor Mariss Jansons and pianist Vilma Cīrule.

The 64-year-old Ozoliņš was born in Lübeck, Germany. His parents were World War II refugees from Latvia. From Germany, the family moved to Argentina, but when Ozoliņš was 12 they resettled to Canada. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia of Music, at age 14 Ozoliņš was chosen by conductor Walter Susskind to perform a concerto with the National Youth Orchestra. In the 1960s he studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris and with Nadia Reisenberg at New York’s Mannes College of Music. Ozoliņš also studied with Vlado Perlmuter in Paris.

The encyclopedia describes Ozoliņš as “a champion of Latvian piano music in Canada and abroad” and notes that he has recorded works by Latvian composers Jānis Medins and Tālivaldis Ķeniņš.

Ozoliņš has performed many times with orchestras in Canada and the United States, as well as in France, Russia, Australia, Lithuania and Latvia.

In 1981, Ozoliņš won the Juno Award, presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, for the best classical music recording. In 2002, the Latvian Ministry of Culture honored Ozoliņš with a Great Music Award (Lielā mūzikas balva) for his performance in Rīga of piano music by composer Lūcija Garūta as well as for his work in popularizing Latvian music around the world. Ozoliņš also has been awarded the Order of Three Stars, Latvia’s highest civilian honor.