Guidelines Developed for Sports Sector on Responding to Airspace Threats

The Latvian Sports Federation Council (LSFP) together with the Ministry of Education and Science has developed guidelines that set out specific procedures for sports organizations and event organizers when a cell broadcast warning about a possible airspace threat is received. These rules apply to training sessions, competitions, and other sports events, prioritizing the protection of human life and health above all.

The guidelines distinguish two types of warnings. A yellow warning is informative and does not require immediate action, but organizers should prepare to potentially interrupt the event and follow official state information. An orange warning indicates a confirmed threat, requiring immediate action – activities must be stopped unless they take place in safe premises, and participants should move to the nearest shelter.

Organizers are required to develop an action plan, appoint a responsible person, and identify safe spaces in advance. A safe space is defined as an area where at least two solid walls separate people from the outside, with at least one wall having no windows. If an activity is held in such a space, the organizer may decide to continue even during an orange warning. Outdoors, participants should take cover behind barriers or head to a forested area, avoiding crowding.

Special instructions apply to those traveling to the event. Upon receiving an orange warning, if the vehicle has not yet entered the threatened administrative territory, it should stop and await organizer instructions; if already inside and unable to leave within 15–20 minutes, the nearest shelter should be sought.

The guidelines also include prohibitions: no filming or photographing the threat source, and no publishing such material. It is also forbidden to approach dangerous or suspicious objects or to ignore the organizer's action plan. Information should only be sourced from official state channels, such as 112.lv, LSM.lv, Latvian Television, and Latvian Radio.

Sports federations may refine or supplement these guidelines according to their sport's specifics, but they must not contradict instructions from competent authorities. The full guidelines are available on the LSFP website.