Other events in Baltic States

Skeleton athlete Martins Dukurs will carry the Latvian flag at the Vancouver Winter Olympics' opening ceremonies, LETA was informed by the Latvian Olympic delegation's press secretary Marita Vilcina.

This decision was made Thursday by members of the Latvian Olympic Team during a meeting at the Olympic Village in Whistler.

All Latvian Olympic Team members have closely followed along Dukurs' successful Skeleton World Cup season, which he won by a huge margin, as well as his victory in the European Skeleton Championships, thus he received much support from fellow athletes to carry the Latvian flag at the opening ceremonies, Vilcina pointed out. No other candidate was nominated.

Also during the meeting, it was confirmed that members of Latvia's ice hockey team, down-hill skiers, bobsled and skeleton athletes, as well as cross-country skiers will march in the opening ceremonies. It is most likely that Latvia's luge, biathlon and short-track athletes will not march in the opening ceremonies, due to the fact that their competitions begin the next day.

As reported, in previous opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, the Latvian flag has been carried by ice hockey players Leonids Vedejs (1936), Harijs Vitolins (2002) and Arturs Irbe (2006), bobsled athletes Janis Kipurs (1992), Zintis Ekmanis (1994) and Sandis Prusis (1998), as well as speed-skater Alberts Rumba (1928) and cross-country skier Roberts Plume (1924).

Latvia will be represented by 58 athletes at the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

Latvian athletes will compete in nine events at the Olympics – speed-skating, biathlon, bobsled, ice hockey, down-hill skiing, luge, skeleton, cross country skiing and short-track.

The opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics will be broadcast live on LTV7 at 4:00 a.m. early Saturday morning.