Other events in Baltic States

A total of 56 teams have signed up for the upcoming "Amber Cup" Hockey World Cup for Recreational and Oldtimers' Teams that will be held in Riga this week, as the tournament's organizers told a press conference on Monday, informs LETA.

Teams from the United States, the Czech Republic, Canada, Russia, Norway, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Latvia will participate in the tournament that will continue Tuesday through Sunday. Russia will be represented by the highest number of teams at the tournament – 18, followed by Sweden – ten, and Finland – seven teams.

"A total of 56 teams have applied for participation in the tournament so far, in various age groups. The 50+ group currently has the most participants," said the "Amber Cup" Director Normunds Kupcis. The idea of organizing the tournament in Riga goes back to 2010, he revealed, adding that the final decision on bringing the tournament to Riga was taken in 2012. An unlimited number of Latvian teams could apply for participation in the World Cup, for which the tournament presents a unique opportunity to play at the largest arenas in Latvia.

Riga is just one of the venues hosting the tournament – games will also be played at the ice rinks in Pinki, Ozolnieki, Jelgava and Ogre.

Speaking at the press conference, Kupcis emphasized that hockey in Latvia should not be exclusively associated with professional sports but rather considered a national sport.

Playing hockey is very popular with many veterans in Latvia, there are local championships taking place among veteran teams in several counties, said Daumants Znatnajs, President of the Latvian Veteran – Senior Sports Association, adding that these teams were looking forward to playing in the "Amber Cup" tournament.

Also participating in the press conference were sport management agency "Sportveteran" Director Vladimir Ovchinnikov, who represents the "Amber Cup" in Moscow and has helped the organizers of the tournament to bring more Russian teams for the tournament in Latvia.

The World Cup is divided into eight age groups, from 10-35 to the 65+ groups, and into two categories.

Also during the international tournament, the European Recreational and Oldtimers Association Euroha will hold the founding congress in Riga.