Other events in Baltic States

Latvia will be represented by 54 to 57 athletes at the Sochi Olympics, informs LETA.

As Latvian Olympic Committee General Secretary Zorzs Tikmers said during a Saeima Sports Sub-Committee meeting today, the number of Latvian athletes competing at the Winter Olympics will be above the average.

59 athletes represented Latvia at the Vancouver games four years ago.

The qualification period for the Winter Olympics will conclude on January 19, but the first Latvian athletes are expected to arrive on January 31.

''Several question marks remain, like skeleton slider Lelede Priedulane, one snowboarder and several skiers,'' LOC President Aldons Vrublevskis told LETA, adding that Latvia will be represented by over 50 athletes, but that the final number will be known on January 21.

According to information from the International Skiing Federation, two cross-country skiers and five down-hill skiers from Latvia could qualify for the Winter OIympics.

Priedulane has not qualified for the Olympics yet, but she could get a special invitation.

Two skeleton sliders and eight bobsleigh team members from Latvia are expected to qualify in the very near future.

''Recent results by some of our Olympic athletes in the skeleton and bobsleigh are very promising. Furthermore, Rastorgujevs has been one shot away from triumphing in several Biathlon World Cup stages recently, and has been very close to a podium finish,'' Tikmers said, adding that he is most worried about the performance of Latvia's luge athletes.

The following athletes have already ensured their participation in the Sochi Olympics:

Speed-skating - Haralds Silovs

Biathlon - Zanna Juskane, Andrejs Rastogujevs

Luge - Ulla Zirne, Eliza Tiruma, Martins Rubenis, Inars Kilvenieks, Kristaps Maurins, Andris Sice/Juris Sics, Oskars Gudramovics/Peteris Kalnins

Short-track - Roberto Pukitis

Ice hockey - Kristers Gudlevskis (Syracuse "Crunch", AHL), Ervins Mustukovs ("Esbjerg", Denmark), Edgars Masalskis (without club), Sandis Ozolins, Arvids Rekis, Georgijs Pujacs, Krisjanis Redlihs, Kristaps Sotnieks (all - Riga "Dinamo", KHL), Oskars Bartulis (Donetsk "Donbass", KHL), Arturs Kulda (Ufa "Salavat Yulaev", KHL), Ralfs Freibergs (Bowling Green "Falcons", NCAA), Miks Indrasis, Martins Cipulis, Vitalijs Pavlovs, Lauris Darzins (all - Rigas "Dinamo"), Martins Karsums (Moscow "Dinamo", KHL), Mikelis Redlihs, Janis Sprukts (both - Yaroslavl "Lokomotiv", KHL), Ronalds Kenins (Zurich "ZSC Lions", Switzerland), Kaspars Daugavins (Geneva "Servette", Switzerland), Herberts Vasiljevs (Krefeld "Pinguine", Germany), Koba Jass (Liberec "Bili Tygri", Czech Republic), Juris Stals ("Poprad", Slovakia), Armands Berzins (Atirau "Beibaris", Kazakhstan), Zemgus Girgensons (Buffalo "Sabres", NHL).