Latvia to request €1.48 million for sports prize money, amount may change

The Latvian National Sports Council (LNSP) is preparing to ask the government to allocate €1.48 million from its contingency fund. The money would be used for bonus payments to athletes who have achieved high-level results in international competitions.

In an interview with Latvian public media, Edgars Pukinskis, deputy state secretary for sports and youth affairs at the Ministry of Education and Science, said the amount could still increase. This means the final figure is likely to be determined only after all eligible achievements have been assessed and the relevant criteria have been applied.

According to the official, calculations are currently under way to establish the exact amount needed. The initial request of €1.48 million is therefore a preliminary estimate rather than a fixed final number. The additional funding is needed to ensure that athletes can be paid their bonuses in a timely manner.

The government still has to review the request, and a final decision on the sum may be made once the evaluation process is complete. The sports community in Latvia is watching closely to see what level of support will be provided to athletes who have brought success to the country. No detailed breakdown of the proposed amount by individual sports, disciplines, or specific competitions has been made public so far.