RIGA

  • An important economic center in the Baltic Sea Region
  • The biggest center of trade between East and West
  • Cultural center – art galleries, museums, theaters
  • Riga’s historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its Art Nouveau/Jugendstil architecture and 19th century wooden architecture
  • Served by Riga International Airport, the largest airport in the Baltic states, direct flights to 60+ cities in Europe, Middle East and Asia
  • A wide variety of restaurants and cuisines from Latvian to Asian food, from fast food to gourmet restaurants
  • Rich cultural heritage and beautiful sightseeing
  • Excellent accommodation – over 15 000 beds
  • New and modern sports facilities

SPORTS

  • EFCS sport Games 2001
  • World ice hockey championship 2006
  • European championship in modern pentathlon 2007
  • European basketball championship for juniors 2008
  • European basketball championship for women 2009
  • European luge championship 2010
  • Annual Riga marathon (20 000 athletes)
  • World luge championship 2015
  • CEV 2015
  • Upcoming
  • 2015 European men’s basketball championship

CULTURE

  • National song and dance festival
  • Culture capital of Europe 2014
  • World choir games 2014

LATVIA

  • An independent state since 1918
  • Occupied in 1940. Regained its independence in 1990
  • Territory – 64,589 km2
  • Sea-border – 500 km
  • Population – 2 070 371, in Riga – 643 368
  • Members of European Union since 2004
  • Adopted Euro currency in 2014