Riga, Latvia – The fifth season of Olympic Month officially began in Latvia on March 24th, a nationwide initiative designed to promote healthy lifestyles and the core values of the Olympic movement. The month-long celebration will culminate on April 24th with Olympic Day, featuring traditional morning exercises and an online Olympic Hour, according to the Latvian Olympic Committee (LOK).
This year’s Olympic Day is expected to draw over 153,000 participants from 41 municipalities across Latvia, representing a broad spectrum of educational institutions, from preschools to higher education. The initiative underscores Latvia’s commitment to fostering a culture of sport and physical activity, particularly among young people.
Promoting Olympic Values and Active Lifestyles
The overarching goal of Olympic Month and Olympic Day is to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle, with a specific focus on inspiring children and youth to engage in sports. Beyond physical activity, the initiative emphasizes the fundamental Olympic values of friendship, respect, and excellence. Organizers aim to strengthen community bonds, promote teamwork, and instill a sense of fair play, while likewise encouraging individuals to emulate the positive examples set by athletes.
Virtual and In-Person Activities Planned
Olympic Day will feature a diverse range of sporting activities taking place in over 840 educational institutions throughout Latvia. Individuals can also participate in the online Olympic Hour and the Olympic Day morning exercise session, which will be streamed live. The Olympic Hour, scheduled to initiate at 9:30 AM local time, will last approximately 45 minutes and offer insights into Olympic ceremonies, an interactive Olympic bingo game (available for download here), and a Q&A session with Aigars Apinis, Latvia’s most decorated Paralympian, and content creator Santa Buša. The session will be hosted by sports journalist Kaspars Dvinskis. The live stream link is: https://youtube.com/live/b4gx3upil9M?feature=share.
Following the Olympic Hour, at 11:00 AM local time, choreographer Marta Kalēja-Millere will lead an Olympic Day exercise session, accompanied by the music of the group Olas (featuring Esmerald and Mark Mate) and their song “Saule aust” (Sunrise). The live stream for the exercise session can be found at: https://youtube.com/live/4RnwXfc45L4?feature=share.
Step Challenge and Community Involvement
Adding a competitive element to the month-long celebration, the LOK has launched a step challenge titled “Every Step is Worth a Sporty Value!” Latvian residents are encouraged to track their steps using a sports app, with separate competitions for educational institutions (registration deadline: April 17th) and the general public (registration deadline: April 24th). Participants can represent their region or school, and the institutions with the highest total steps will receive prizes from the #KomandaLatvija Olympic Collection and a program of activities to conclude Olympic Day. Regional ambassadors for the step challenge include Dāvis Hugo (Riga), Lauris Zalāns (Latgale), Dāvis Līcītis (Kurzeme), Paula Dundure (Vidzeme), and Santa Buša (Zemgale).
Throughout Olympic Month, participants have the opportunity to learn and practice the official Olympic exercise routines. Younger participants can follow along with Feneks and Lapsiņa from “Tutas lietām” while dancing to the song “Manas superspējas” (My Superpowers) by Laura Polence and Elizabete Lukšo-Ražinska. Older participants can learn a routine choreographed to GACHO’s song “Vējiem līdzi” (With the Wind). The goal is for everyone to participate in a nationwide synchronized exercise session on Olympic Day.
A Global Tradition with Local Roots
Olympic Day, first celebrated in 1987, is a global event supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), encouraging National Olympic Committees worldwide to commemorate the founding of the IOC. Latvia joined the celebration in 1992. The LOK organizes Olympic Day in the spring to coincide with its own founding anniversary on April 23rd. The event serves as a platform to promote the Olympic values of friendship, respect, and excellence across all five continents.
The project is implemented by the Latvian Olympic Committee (LOK) in collaboration with Olympic Solidarity and with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia. Moller Auto and Sportland are official partners of the initiative.
As Olympic Month progresses, all eyes are now on April 24th and the culmination of these efforts with Olympic Day. The LOK encourages continued participation in the step challenge and the practice of the Olympic exercise routines, building towards a unified and energetic celebration of sport and the Olympic spirit.
