Latvian government approves €225,000 for international sports events; bridge championship must compete for funding
The Latvian government approved a reallocation of €225,000 to support international sports events. Funds will be distributed through a competition, with the main criterion being economic impact and attraction of foreign visitors.
On Tuesday, the Latvian government supported the Ministry of Economics' proposal to reallocate €225,000 to provide financial support for hosting international sports events. The funds will be transferred to the Ministry of Education and Science, which will entrust their administration to the Latvian Sports Federations Council (LSFP). The LSFP will organize a competition for sports federations, and the funding will be awarded to at least two international events.
Unlike previous support programs, the main criterion this time will be the economic contribution of the events. The supported events must collectively attract at least 13,500 foreign visitor overnight stays in Latvia. According to the Ministry of Economics, the average daily spending of a foreign visitor is €217, and the state investment must generate at least a double return to the budget. The goal is to strengthen Latvia's international recognition and promote tourism exports.
LSFP President Vladimirs Šteinbergs stated that the competition will be announced as soon as possible after the government's decision. Various sports federations can apply, including the Latvian Bridge Federation, if it can meet the criteria. Šteinbergs views this competition as a pilot project to test a new approach to funding international competitions.
Public discussions have suggested that a large portion of the funding could go to the bridge championship, but the Ministry of Economics emphasizes that the decision will be based on economic justification and visitor numbers. Previously, a separate program of the Ministry of Education and Science had about €200,000 per year, supporting 8–10 events. This year, that program no longer exists, so federations have fewer opportunities to receive state support.
The Latvian National Sports Council has already approved several future international championships, including the 2026 European Bridge Championship, the 2027 World MTB Orienteering Championship, the European Wheelchair Basketball Championship in 2027 or 2028, and others. However, approval does not guarantee state funding—all federations can compete for support equally, but if funding is not awarded, the costs must be covered by the federations themselves or their sponsors.
