New FIBA-standard basketball court opens in Raiskums
A new outdoor basketball court built to FIBA standards has opened next to Aleksandrs Bieziņš Raiskums primary school with support from the Latvian Basketball Union. It is part of a wider program bringing similar courts to over 30 Latvian towns this year.
On Monday, a new outdoor basketball court opened next to Aleksandrs Bieziņš Raiskums primary school, built with support from the Latvian Basketball Union (LBS). The full-size court features FIBA-standard flooring and two hoops, allowing both 3x3 street basketball and classic 5x5 games.
The opening event was attended by LBS President Raimonds Vējonis, Secretary General Kaspars Cipruss, and Cēsis Municipality Council Chairman Jānis Rozenbergs. They noted that such courts are being installed in more than 30 Latvian towns to boost public interest in basketball and encourage people to be more physically active outdoors.
Part of a wider program
The Raiskums court is not the first of its kind — the initial one opened in Ventspils in May, with more being handed over to residents one after another in the coming months. The initiative falls under the "New Basketball Court for Future Stars" program launched in spring, partly funded through resources allocated for hosting Eurobasket 2025.
The court in Raiskums will be available not only to students of the neighboring primary school but to any resident or visitor of the town.
More courts planned across Latvia
Full-size courts are still to be built in Alūksne, Balvi, Bauska, Kuldīga, Daugavpils, Gulbene, Jelgava, Jēkabpils, Jūrmala, Liepāja, Krāslava, Ķekava, Salacgrīva, Līvāni, Barkava, Mārupe, Ogre, Ulbroka, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Smiltene, Jaunpils and Valmiera, while Kalngale and Carnikava will get half-courts intended only for 3x3 play.
To take part in the program, municipalities had to provide a construction site of 30x18 meters, design the court, and prepare the surface base according to regulatory and technical requirements. Ongoing maintenance of the courts will also remain the responsibility of local municipalities.
