Sports sector wants decisions, not strategies, from Latvia's next education minister
Latvian sports organisation leaders say the next education and science minister should deliver quick decisions on implementing the new Sports Law and on funding. The basketball federation wants a clear plan to get more people exercising regularly.
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Representatives of Latvia's sports sector have set out their expectations for the next education and science minister, who oversees sport, ahead of the formation of a new government. Vladimirs Šteinbergs, president of the Latvian Sports Federation Council (LSFP), said on 10 November that the sector wants decisions rather than new strategies. Kaspars Cipruss, secretary general of the Latvian Basketball Association (LBS), wants a clear answer on how to get more people in Latvia moving regularly.
More than a month ago, the 15th Saeima (parliament) election took place, and the "Apvienotais saraksts" (United List) won by a wide margin. Andris Kulbergs, prime minister in the outgoing government, has been tasked with forming the new cabinet. It is not yet known who will lead the Ministry of Education and Science.
Sports Law regulations
Šteinbergs noted that the new Sports Law has been in force since 1 August. By 31 May 2027, the government must adopt implementing regulations on coach certification, supervision of federations, the Sports Register, funding and safety in training. In his view, without them the law will remain on paper. The LSFP is already working with the ministry and federations on several draft regulations.
He also said sport lacks a unified register and quality data, so a Sports Register must urgently be created. Each year discussions recur over federation funding criteria and payment timing, and he said many of the issues concern fixing the system rather than extra money.
Children's and youth sport
Šteinbergs said roughly every second child trains at least 2–3 times a week, yet the interior and defence sectors report increasingly poor physical fitness among young people. Since 2009, when the Sports Administration was abolished, nobody at national level has assessed the quality of children's and youth sport.
Cipruss proposed starting with children: opening school sports halls after lessons and giving sports schools and clubs equal terms of use. In his view, funding priorities should reflect how many children train regularly, while also supporting elite sport. He wants federations to be able to plan several years ahead.
