High hopes for Latvia in Sydney

The biggest sporting event of 2000 starts this week in Sydney and 45 athletes from Latvia will be on hand.

Olympic Games in Australia have been good luck for at least one Latvian athlete in the past. In 1956, when the games were held in Melbourne, Latvian javelin thrower Inese Jaunzeme brought back gold, the first Latvian ever to do so.

This time in Australia, Latvia's best medal hopes include: Victor Scerbatiks in weightlifting; Aigars Fadejevs, Stanislavs Olijars, Modris Liepnieks and Eriks Rags in track and field; Ainars Kiksis and Viesturs Berzins in cycling; Andris Reinholds and Jefims Klementjevs in rowing; and Boriss Timofejevs in target shooting. The Latvian track and field delegation also includes seven speed walkers - Aigars Fadejevs, Anita Liepina, Modris Liepins, Anita Liepina, Jolanta Dukure, Modris Putenis and Ugis Bruvelis.

Fadejevs is one of Latvia's best hopes for a medal. When he started the little known sport, Fadejevs almost immediately gained notoriety and has promoted the sport within Latvia.

At the 1998 European Championship Fadejevs won the silver medal. In Sydney, Fadejevs will participate in the 25- and 50-kilometer events.

Scerbatiks, the weight lifter, will be another Latvian to watch. He told reporters before leaving that he wants nothing less than to return with the gold.

If he does, Scerbatiks will see a significant increase in his bank account. The Latvian government has offered 100,000 lats ($164,000) to any athlete that brings home gold, 50,000 lats for silver and 30,000 lats for bronze.

To commemorate the Games, Latvia's postal service will issue a new stamp dedicated to the Latvian athletes.