Athletes return home

Latvia's Olympic champions - gold-winning gymnast Igors Vihrovs, silver medalist distance walker Aigars Fadejevs and bronze medal-winning judoist Vsevolods Zelonijs - have been welcomed home. Last to arrive back in Riga was Fadejevs, who was greeted by several hundred fans at the Riga International Airport on Oct. 6. He immediately hugged his baby son, and then went on to receive congratulations.

It is still not known when the Olympic champions will receive their awards from the state, but it is known that over a total of 400,000 lats ($657,737) was allocated for Olympic winners by the government, but it has yet to be approved by Parliament.

Kristers Sergis and Artis Rasmanis are three-time world champions in Sidecar Motorcycle racing, in 1997, 1998, and in Cesis 2000. However, they have only been allotted 3,000 lats as a premium from the state.

This is considered unfair and the PM Andris Berzins has put forward the suggestion that 20,000 lats be allocated for this purpose. Both Parliament and Finance Ministry are looking into this, but as to date, this has not been confirmed. Both men said 3,000 lats was an insult and if the situation was not resolved, they would consider racing under a different flag next season.