EU Commission criticises Baltics for excessive requirements for asylum-seekers' admission
Latvia, alongside Lithuania and Estonia, has drawn the European Commission's criticism over its hesitation to house refugees, the LNT commercial TV channel reported Friday.
Brussels says the three Baltic countries have neglected to relocate asylum-seekers without sufficient reason, as they have been unable to meet the Baltics' exorbitant conditions.
The Latvian government has established specific criteria for the asylum-seekers it would be willing to admit from Greece and Italy, and these criteria were developed to ensure that the immigrants are able to integrate into Latvian society. Latvia wants to relocate families with children, and educated people with foreign language skills and work experience. Lithuania and Estonia have set similar conditions.
The Baltics' criteria have displeased Brussels. In its most recent monthly report, the European Commission remarked that "Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have rejected relocation requests without providing substantiated reasons or on grounds other than those specified in the Council Decisions on relocation."
EU Commission criticises Baltics for excessive requirements for asylum-seekers' admission
21 athletes from Latvia march in Rio Opening Ceremony
21 Latvian athletes participated in the Opening Ceremony of the Rio Olympics today.
The nation's Olympic team marched into the Maracana Stadium as the 110th delegation.
A total of 38 individuals comprised Latvia's delegation at the Opening Ceremony, including coaches and officials.
Two-time Olympic BMX gold medalist Maris Strombergs carried the Latvian flag at the Opening Ceremony.
Other Latvian athletes taking part in the Opening Ceremony included track and field athletes Madara Palameika, Sinta Ozolina, Laura Ikauniece-Admidina, Gunta Latiseva-Cudare, Ilona Marhele, Ariana Kira Hilborna, Zigismunds Sirmais, Rolands Strobinders, Pauls Pujats, Mareks Arents, Arnis Rumbenieks, swimmers Uvis Kalnins and Alona Ribakova, judo athletes Jevgenijs Borodavko and Arturs Nikiforenko, women's tennis player Jelena Ostapenko, Ketija Birzule (sailing), beach volleyball players Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Janis Smedins, as well as shooter Dainis Upelnieks.
Cyclists Toms Skujins and Aleksejs Saramotins, whose events started today, as well as weightlifters Rebeka Koha and Arturs Plesnieks, opted to miss the Opening Ceremony in order to make final preparations.
EU Commission criticises Baltics for excessive requirements for asylum-seekers' admission
Estonia
Estonian culture minister departs for Olympics
Estonian Culture Minister Indrek Saar on Thursday evening left for Rio de Janeiro to observe the Olympics as a representative of the government.
Saar plans to attend the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games and support Estonian athletes. "The efforts of our athletes already deserve recognition," he remarked before departing.
Saar stressed that competition for medals must be done up to Olympic standards. Doping greatly undermines those ideals and the world's sports organisations need to do everything possible to safeguard the honesty of the competition, he added.
Latvia
Presidential couple remind athletes to show 'endurance of Latvia's pines' in Rio
President Raimonds Vejonis and First Lady Iveta Vejone have encouraged Latvian athletes to "preserve the freshness of the Baltic Sea in the Brazilian sun" and to display the "resilience and endurance of Latvia's pines."
On the day that the Latvian national flag was raised at the Olympic Village, the presidential couple posted a prerecorded video on YouTube. "We will be with you, sending you good thoughts and wishes," the president promised.
Vejonis also emphasised that Latvia's rich sporting traditions fortifies and unites the nation.
First Lady Iveta Vejone asserted in the video that the entire country is cheering for the Latvian team. "We take pride and keep fingers crossed for you," she said.
Latvia will be represented at the Rio Olympics by 33 athletes instead of 34, due to an injury suffered by women's javelin hurler Lina Muze, which has prevented her from participating.
Latvia has won at least one medal in each summer Olympics since the restoration of independence, but is hoping for at least three or four medals at this year's Games.
