The forward of the Latvian hockey team reveals that he will receive a pension for the years played in the National Hockey League (NHL), but there is no clarity about Switzerland. “It seems to me that if policemen and army people have a retirement pension, it would be right for the state to support top-ranking athletes in a similar way. That is, if you play for years, representing the country in some top-ranking tournaments or championships, it would also result financially, not only as an honor,” says Kaspars Daugavins. “For example, if you play in ten world championships, then you are guaranteed the average state pension. If you play another five years, then you add something more. Then the players would also be ready to sacrifice themselves, knowing that there is a state guarantee afterwards. That would be solid.”
For Daugavins, this championship, in which the Latvian national team won the highest success in history – bronze, was the eleventh in which he participated. He also played in the Latvian national team in three Olympic Games. “If you received state support for it, then you would have a sense of security that you would not be left without anything,” says the 35-year-old player. “Because at the age of 45, all the old injuries of a hockey player come out, some of the hockey players remain semi-invalids. When playing, doctors are available every day, but also – irons all over the body, broken knees, lame muscles…”
“I have already lost 50% of the movements in one arm, but I will not have any social guarantees that I will be able to go and treat it. I have been absent from my early youth, I am not entitled to anything. But the care of the state for athletes to have support even at retirement age, there would be a way to motivate people to go and donate their bodies to great sport, to represent their country. If you manage to reach the professional level where you have to decide: go further in world-class teams or not, then that would be motivation.”
When playing in the national team, each player has a contract with the Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF) for a daily allowance, which is purely symbolic – for fuel to training and back, and also for ice cream. “And then there is an agreement that we receive a bonus for achievements. And the beginning to receive a bonus is entering the quarter-finals. This year was probably the fifth time in history that Latvia reached the quarter-finals. It was the first quarter-final for me,” informs Daugavins. “Then count for yourself how many times I’ve played just for honor. There’s no salary anymore. And you also donate your vacation. Because it’s not like people think that we play here for financial interest. All players earn money abroad, in their clubs . As much as you can earn there, and it requires a lot – make it there.”
The main motivation of hockey players to play in the national team is love for their country, love for sport.
Resources used:
lsm.lv
2023-07-15 22:55:00
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