International Basketball Camp 'Global Hoops Camp 2026' Concludes in Riga
From June 15 to 19, the international basketball camp 'Global Hoops Camp 2026' was held in Riga, bringing together more than 100 young basketball players from ten countries.
From June 15 to 19, Riga hosted the international basketball camp 'Global Hoops Camp 2026,' which attracted over 100 participants from ten countries, including Latvia, Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Romania, France, Sweden, and Poland. Over five days, young athletes honed their individual skills under the guidance of experienced coaches and developed mental resilience and discipline.
The camp's program was based on the 'Skills Laboratory' concept, featuring three specialized stations for individual technique, decision-making, and basketball IQ development. In addition to training, participants competed in shooting contests, skills challenges, and 1-on-1, 3-on-3, and 5-on-5 tournaments. A basketball quiz was also held, and the camp concluded with an All-Star Game and awards ceremony.
Special guests included former Latvian national team captain Jānis Blūms, national team point guard Kristers Zoriks, NBA scout Reinis Lācis, hip-hop artist Fiņķis, and slam dunk specialists Kristaps Dārgais and Eduards Avotiņš, who shared their experiences.
The coaching staff comprised specialists from Latvia, France, Spain, Greece, Scotland, Lithuania, Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia, many of whom work in top European leagues and national teams. Notable coaches included Latvian men's national team head coach Jānis Gailītis, women's national team coach Matīss Rožlapa, and others.
The organizers – Jānis Gailītis, Lauris Blaus, and Haralds Kārlis – have already begun planning next year's camp, 'Global Hoops Camp 2027,' aiming to make it even larger.
The event was supported by numerous sponsors, including Culligan Latvia, FitEG2, BALTA, and others, ensuring high-quality training conditions.
