Erasmus+ Sports Games Held in Daugavpils: Preili Gymnasium Team Wins
The Erasmus+ Sports Games in Daugavpils brought together 22 teams from Latvian regions and international students. The winners, a team from Preili State Gymnasium, earned a trip to the European Parliament in Brussels.
The international Erasmus+ Sports Games, a youth competition combining sports tasks, intellectual challenges and team-building activities, took place in the sports hall of Latgale Industrial Technical School in Daugavpils, Latvia. This year 22 teams from various Latvian regions took part, along with international students. The winning team, from Jānis Eglītis Preili State Gymnasium, received a trip to Brussels to visit the European Parliament. Erasmus+ is a European Union programme that gives young people opportunities to study and gain experience abroad.
The games were organised by the Europe Direct Latgale centre in Daugavpils together with Latgale Industrial Technical School and Daugavpils University. This is the third year running, and the event is part of the Europe-wide initiative Erasmus Days. Teams represented the municipalities of Augšdaugava, Rēzekne, Smiltene, Preiļi, Krāslava and Balvi, as well as the cities of Daugavpils and Rēzekne. Exchange students of Daugavpils University joined in, and there were international teams from Côte d'Ivoire and Türkiye.
A broader programme
According to organiser Oskars Zuģickis, head of Europe Direct Latgale, the programme was expanded this year with particular attention to intellectual contests. Participants had to show not only physical fitness but also erudition, quick thinking and teamwork. Besides technical schools, gymnasiums, secondary schools and music and art schools took part.
Mārīte Kravale-Pauliņa, dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Daugavpils University, said internationalisation is one of the university's strategic priorities and that such events make international cooperation tangible in everyday life. Ināra Ostrovska, director of the technical school, said the main benefit of the games is new acquaintances and team spirit.
Results
The five strongest teams were identified. First place went to Preili State Gymnasium, second to Rēzekne Technical School and third to Daugavpils Science Secondary School. The trip to Brussels follows an invitation from Member of the European Parliament Reinis Pozņaks. The organisers also thanked the organisation "Radošais sektors", the team "Prāta spēles", the Daugavpils Education, Youth and Sports Department and the young volunteers.
