Smiltene and Valka Welcome the Torch of the Latvian Youth Olympic Games
Smiltene and Valka solemnly welcomed the traveling torch of the 10th Latvian Youth Olympic Games ahead of the competitions in Valmiera.
On June 10, the torch of the Latvian Youth Olympic Games arrived in Smiltene from the Alūksne region. The celebratory event took place at the multifunctional sports complex “Teperis”, where the torch was brought in by Veronika Monika Stūriška, the World and European junior BMX champion. It was then passed to other athletes, including beach volleyball players Lauma Emīlija Bičevska and Katrīna Rozīte. On the final straight, the torch was carried by athlete Emīlija Bormane.
Astrīda Harju, deputy chair of Smiltene Municipality Council, wished the athletes endurance and good results. Kristaps Janičenoks, sports events coordinator of the Latvian Olympic Committee, thanked Smiltene for hosting the torch and emphasized that the Olympics are about respect, friendship, and excellence. The event featured performances by the modern dance studio “Kristāls” and the national anthem.
The following day, the torch was handed over in Valka. The ceremony took place at the joint Valka-Valga center, where the torch was brought in by athletes. Inese Kāposte, director of Valka Children and Youth Sports School, noted that the torch symbolizes friendship, perseverance, and the sporting spirit. Athletes were encouraged by bobsledder Arturs Klots and international ice master Mārtiņš Sausais, who competed in the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. They urged young people to be strong and proud of their municipality.
Valka will be represented in athletics, 3×3 basketball, shooting, and badminton, while Smiltene will compete in six disciplines: athletics, beach volleyball, cycling, BMX, orienteering, and trap shooting. The 10th Latvian Youth Olympic Games will take place in Valmiera from June 18 to 20 after a six-year hiatus, gathering young athletes from across Latvia.
