Up to 100,000 lats for medals

RIGA (BNS) - Latvia will pay 100,000 lats ($164,000) to athletes who win gold medals in the upcoming Olympic Games in Sydney. The awards for silver and bronze will be up to 50,000 lats and 30,000 lats, respectively, under new government regulations.

At present, 161,300 lats have been allocated for awards to medal-winning athletes in the state budget. Should this amount prove insufficient, the Latvian Sports Administration will request more allocations from the budget, Education and Science Ministry spokeswoman Ilze Ake said Aug. 24.

The government regulations also provide for awards to athletes who place fourth to sixth in the Olympic Games. They will receive up to 15,000, 10,000 or 5,000 lats respectively.

A total of 300,000 lats were set aside for awards to athletes under this year's budget, of which 138,700 lats have already been awarded, leaving 161,300 lats.

The government decided to award athletes in this way after a recommendation by the National Sports Council, which reviews proposals submitted by sports federations.

The Latvian Olympic Committee on Aug. 23 named 45 Latvian athletes, to represent the country in the Olympic Games in Sydney Sept. 1 to Oct. 15.

The Latvian Olympic delegation to Sydney will be headed by Latvian Sports Administration head Einars Fogelis.