Text consolidated by Tulkošanas un terminoloģijas centrs (Translation and Terminology Centre) with amending laws of:
26 August 2003 (No. 471);
30 October 2003;
29 January 2004;
9 June 2005;
26 October 2006.
If a whole or part of a section has been amended, the date of the amending law appears in square brackets at the end of the section. If a whole section, paragraph or clause has been deleted, the date of the deletion appears in square brackets beside the deleted section, paragraph or clause.
The Saeima 1 has adopted
and the
President has proclaimed the following Law:
Sports Law
Section 1. Terms Used in this Law
The following terms are used in this Law:
1) sports facility — a structure or a part thereof as well as the environment built or adapted exclusively for sport (fields, tracks for sports activities, health tracks, etc.);
2) sports employee — a natural person who performs his or her activities in the field of sport by carrying out educational, judging, methodological, organisational or other types of work;
3) [26 October 2006]
4) sports educational institution — an institution established by the State, local governments or other legal or natural persons, which has the task to implement sports education programmes, or a merchant, for which the implementation of sports education programmes is one of the types of commercial activities;
5) sports education programme — a professionally oriented sports education programme or extracurricular education programme including a specified content of sports education;
6) sports competition — an event organised for the determination of the best athletes or teams, which takes place in conformity with the requirements of regulatory enactments, procedural regulations of competitions approved by sports federations and the rules approved by the organiser of a competition;
7) sports specialist — a sports employee who has acquired a diploma in sports education and a relevant certificate of professional qualification or a diploma in sports education, or a relevant certificate of professional qualification;
8) sports training (activities) — a process to acquire, maintain and improve skills, competence and abilities in sport;
9) athlete — a natural person who engages in sport and takes part in sports competitions; and
10) sport — all types of individual or organised activities in order to maintain and improve physical and mental health, as well as to achieve success in sports competitions.
[29 January 2004; 26 October 2006]
Section 2. Purpose of this Law
The purpose of this Law is to specify the general and legal basis for sports organisation and development, mutual relationship of sports organisations, State and local government institutions and basic tasks in sports development, and the basis for the financing of sport, as well as the principles that shall be observed when taking part in the international sports movement.
Section 3. Basic Principles to be Observed in the Field of Sport
The following basic principles shall be observed in the field of sport:
1) the principle of equality, which provides that every person has a right to engage in sport;
2) the principle of fair play which determines that care shall be taken that the Olympic ideals and principles of ethics are observed, as well as dishonesty and the use of doping, physical and moral rudeness in sport is fought against in the educational, organisational and administrative work related to sport; and
3) the principle of safety which provides that sports events take place in a safe environment and are organised and conducted by qualified sports employees.
Section 4. Sport in Educational Institutions
(1) Sport educational institutions shall ensure students the improvement and development of physical and mental abilities thereof, and build up an understanding regarding an active, healthy lifestyle and sports competition.
(2) Students with special needs who study at educational institutions shall be provided with the possibility to participate in sports activities in conformity with their special needs.
(3) Sports activities shall be included in pre-school education programmes.
(4) The founder of an educational institution shall ensure that a sports facility and equipment is accessible to the students.
(5) An educational institution shall promote the organisation of sports activities after the termination of the compulsory educational process and with its own sports facility and equipment shall provide primarily the students of the institution with extracurricular sports activities and only thereafter shall provide other persons with sports activities.
(6) Pursuant to an order of the Minister for Education and Science the specialisation of general education institutions in one or several types of sport may be approved.
[26 October 2006]
Section 5. Competence of the Ministry of Education and Science in the Field of Sport
(1) The Ministry of Education and Science shall implement State administrative functions in the sports sector.
(2) In the field of sport the Ministry of Education and Science shall:
1) implement a unified State policy;
2) develop draft regulatory enactments;
3) implement purposeful international co-operation and ensure Latvian representation in international sports organisations;
4) perform other functions and tasks specified in regulatory enactments.
(3) The recognition of sports federations shall be performed by the Sports Department, which is a direct administration institution subordinate to the Minister for Education and Science.
[26 October 2006]
Section 6. Competence of Other Sectoral Ministries in the Field of Sport
(1) The Ministry of Welfare in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Science shall:
1) support the Latvian Paralympic Committee and the programmes developed by it, as well as promote the implementation of care programmes for disabled athletes; and
2) develop a programme to support the outstanding sports veterans of Latvia and ensure the implementation of the referred to programme, taking into account an opinion of the Latvian National Sports Council.
(2) The Ministry of Interior in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Science shall:
1) ensure the general and special professional physical fitness of the employees of the Ministry of Interior and its institutions;
2) support the training and competition possibilities of the best athletes of the State — employees of the Ministry of Interior and its institutions; and
3) in accordance with a recommendation of the Latvian National Sports Council, support individual types of sport in the institutions of the Ministry of Interior.
(3) The Ministry of Defence in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Science shall:
1) develop programmes for the improvement of the physical fitness of young people;
2) ensure the general and special professional physical fitness of soldiers;
3) support the training and competition possibilities of the best athletes of the State — soldiers; and
4) in accordance with a recommendation of the Latvian National Sports Council, support individual types of sport in the institutions of the Ministry of Defence.
(4) The Ministry of Justice in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Science shall develop sports programmes and ensure the implementation thereof in places of imprisonment.
(5) The Ministry of Health in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Science shall:
1) provide the compilation and analysis of data related to the physical development and physical fitness of the general population (especially children and adolescents);
2) organise health care and medical surveillance in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Cabinet for athletes and children with increased physical loads;
3) carry out the measures necessary for implementation of the provisions of the 19 October 2005 International Convention against Doping in Sport and the 16 November 1989 Council of Europe – ETS No. 135 – Anti-doping Convention (hereinafter – anti-doping conventions);
4) organise doping control in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Cabinet; and
5) develop programmes of sports medicine and co-ordinate issues related to sports medicine in the State.
[29 January 2004; 9 June 2005; 26 October 2006]
Section 7. Competence of Local Governments in the Field of Sport
(1) Local governments, when promoting a healthy lifestyle and sports development in their administrative territories, are entitled to:
1) specify an employee or institution responsible for sport;
2) build and maintain sports facilities and ensure the necessary equipping thereof;
3) promote the formation and operation of sports organisations, including sports clubs;
4) support the further education of sports specialists and other sports employees;
5) finance sports competitions; and
6) finance licensed sports education programmes and sports events, which are implemented by sports clubs in the administrative territory thereof.
(2) Local governments shall finance sports education programmes in the accredited sports educational institutions under their supervision.
[26 October 2006]
Section 8. Competence of Employers
(1) Employers shall support their employees in engaging in sport.
(2) Employers are entitled to organise sports competitions, as well as ensure the participation of the employees in the competitions organised by other persons.
[26 October 2006]
Section 9. Latvian National Sports Council
(1) The Latvian National Sports Council is a public consultative institution, which participates in the development of the State sports policy, facilitates sports development and co-operation in the field of sport, as well as in the making of decisions regarding matters related to sport. The Cabinet shall approve the by-law of the Latvian National Sports Council.
(2) The Latvian National Sports Council and its chairperson shall be approved by the Cabinet. The Latvian National Sports Council shall consist of the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Interior, the Minister for Education and Science, the Minister for Welfare, the Minister for Health, a higher State official responsible for sports specified by the Minister for Education and Science, the president of the association “Latvijas OlimpiskÄ Komiteja†[Latvian Olympic Committee], the president of the association “Latvijas Sporta federÄciju padome†[Council of the Latvian Sports Federations], the head of the association “Latvijas PaÅ¡valdÄ«bu savienÄ«ba†[Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments], the rector of the Latvian Academy of Sports Education and the president of the association “Latvijas Augstskolu sporta savienÄ«ba†[Sports Union of Latvian Higher Education Institutions]. The Cabinet may include also other members in the composition of the Latvian National Sports Council but not more than three members of the Cabinet and three heads of sports federations, taking into account that the number of additionally included members of the Cabinet and the heads of sports federations must be the same.
(3) The Latvian National Sports Council shall:
1) participate in the development of the State sports policy;
2) develop recommendations for the division of the State budget funds in the field of sport and submit such recommendations to the Ministry of Education and Science;
3) provide the Cabinet with recommendations in relation to the awarding of monetary prizes for outstanding achievements in sport;
4) provide an opinion regarding the organisation of international competitions (Olympic Games, final competitions of the World and European Championships) in Latvia;
5) provide an opinion regarding the conformity of a sports facility to the status of a national sports facility;
6) [26 October 2006]
7) advise the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Interior regarding the types of sport to be supported in the institutions of such ministries; and
8) provide the Ministry of Welfare with an opinion regarding a support programme for the outstanding sports veterans of Latvia.
(4) The decisions of the Latvian National Sports Council shall be accessible to any interested person.
[29 January 2004; 9 June 2005; 26 October 2006]
Section 10. Sports Organisations
(1) Sports organisations are sports clubs, sports federations and other institutions referred to in this Law.
(2) A sports club is an association in which natural persons and legal persons have united in order to implement their interests in a specific type of sport and to promote its development. Sports clubs may join together into a sports federation.
(3) A sports federation is an association, which is composed of sports clubs and other persons the work of which is associated with a specific type of sport or field of activities, and the purpose of which is to manage and co-ordinate the work in the relevant type of sport or field of activities, as well as to represent such type of sport or field of activities in the relevant international sports organisations. A sports federation may represent several types of sport or fields of activities.
(4) A sports federation has the right to manage and co-ordinate the work in the relevant type of sport or field of activities in the State, as well as to represent the State in the relevant international sports organisation if such federation has been recognised by the Sports Department. The Cabinet shall determine the criteria and the procedures by which a sports federation shall be granted or have removed the right to manage and co-ordinate the work in the relevant type of sport or field of activities in the State, as well as to represent the State in the relevant international sports organisation.
(5) Only one sports federation may be recognised in one type of sport or field of activities.
(6) The activities of the sports federations recognised by the Sports Department shall be co-ordinated, their shared interests represented and implemented by the sports organisation — the association “Latvijas Sporta federÄciju padomeâ€.
(7) The activities of the sports federations recognised in Latvia in respect of the Olympic sports approved by the International Olympic Committee shall be co-ordinated, their shared interests represented and implemented by the sports organisation — the association “Latvijas OlimpiskÄ Komitejaâ€.
(8) The activities of sports federations of disabled persons recognised in Latvia in respect of the types of sport represented in the International Paralympic Committee and other types of disabled sports shall be co-ordinated, sports interests of disabled persons represented and implemented by the sports organisation — the association “ Latvijas ParalimpiskÄ komiteja†[Latvian Paralympic Committee].
(9) The co-operation of the local governments in the field of sport shall be co-ordinated, their shared interests represented and implemented by the association “Latvijas PaÅ¡valdÄ«bu savienÄ«baâ€.
(10) The preparation of the best sportspersons in the State in the individual types of Olympic sports for participation in the Olympic games, youth Olympiads and other international sports competitions shall be ensured by the specialised sports organisation – the limited liability company SIA “Latvijas OlimpiskÄ vienÄ«ba†[Latvian Olympic Team];
(11) Student sport in Latvia shall be co-ordinated, and their shared interests represented by the association “Latvijas Augstskolu sporta savienÄ«baâ€.
[26 October 2006]
Section 11. Latvian Olympic Committee
(1) The Olympic movement in the State shall be managed and co-ordinated by the sports organisation — the association “Latvijas OlimpiskÄ Komitejaâ€.
(2) The association “Latvijas OlimpiskÄ Komiteja by combining the State, local government and its own financial resources shall implement the following programmes:
1) the Olympic education programme;
2) the Olympic Movement youth programme;
3) the Olympic Movement regional development programme;
4) the programme for the development of types of sport; and
5) the programme for the participation of the State’s best athletes in the Olympic games, youth Olympiads and other international and regional complex competitions.
[26 October 2006]
Section 12. Sports Facilities
(1) Sports facilities shall be developed and maintained in order to provide the general public with the possibility to engage in sport. The sports facilities owned by the State or local governments shall be used for the provision of sports services necessary for the general public.
(2) On the basis of an opinion of the National Sports Council, the status of a national sports facility may be granted to such sports facilities as conform to the requirements of international sports federations and which regularly host competitions on the international level. A special law shall determine the status of a national sports facility.
Section 13. Financial Resources for Sport
(1) The State budget funds for sport shall be allocated in accordance with the annual State budget law. The amount of financing of the budget sub-program “Outstanding Achievements in Sport†shall not be less than in the previous budgetary year.
(2) Financial resources for sport shall also contain the resources of local governments, legal and natural persons, the resources of sports organisations and allocations of international sports federations.
(3) Children’s and youth sport shall be above all financed from the State budget.
(4) Sports federations recognised by the Sports Department have rights to receive financial resources from the State budget.
(5) The State shall financially ensure the preparation and participation of the national team in sports games in European and World championships and Olympic games selection tourneys and final competitions according to the procedures specified by the Cabinet.
(6) Sports events co-financed from the State budget shall indicate in the information thereof that the event is supported from the State budget. The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which it shall be indicated in the information that it is co-financed from the State budget, as well as the content of the information.
[30 October 2003; 26 October 2006]
Section 14. Monetary Prizes for Outstanding Achievements in Sport
(1) The Cabinet may award monetary prizes for outstanding achievements in sport to athletes, their coaches, sports employees that provide services to athletes, including sports doctors, to service personnel and the relevant sports federations.
(2) Procedures by which monetary prizes for outstanding achievements in sport shall be awarded and the amount of monetary prizes shall be determined by the Cabinet.
[9 June 2005]
Section 15. Organisation of Sports Competitions
(1) An organiser of sports competitions may be a legal person, natural person with the capacity to act, as well as the State or local government institutions.
(2) An organiser of a sports competition shall submit a submission to the local government in the administrative territory of which the competition is intended to take place regarding the organisation of a sports competition.
(3) An organiser of a sports competition shall ensure and be responsible for the public order, access to medical assistance, observance of hygiene, fire safety, safety equipment and other safety provisions and regulatory enactments during the competition at the venue thereof.
(4) Athletes, spectators and other persons involved in the competition process have a duty to observe the instructions given by the organiser of the sports competition, general provisions regarding public order and safety, as well as regulatory enactments.
[26 October 2006]
Section 16. Participation in International Sports Competitions
Athletes and teams, after co-ordination with the relevant sports federation, shall use the national symbols in international sports competitions in accordance with the procedures prescribed by regulatory enactments. Participation of national teams in international sports competitions shall be organised by the sport federation of Latvia that is represented in the relevant international sports organisation.
Section 17. Organisation of the Olympic Games, Final Competitions of the World and European Championships
The Olympic games in Latvia shall be organised by the association “Latvijas OlimpiskÄ Komitejaâ€, the final competitions of the World and European Championships — by sports federations, after co-ordination with the Latvian National Sports Council. Organisers of the Olympic games, the final competitions of the World and European championships have a duty to fulfil the requirements of the International Olympic Committee and international sports federations.
[26 October 2006]
Section 18. Rights and Duties of Athletes
(1) An athlete has a right to participate in sports training and competitions.
(2) When participating in sports competitions, an athlete has a duty to observe the rules of international and Latvian sports federations, principles of sports ethics and fair play, rules of the anti-doping conventions, as well as regulatory enactments.
(3) An athlete shall be responsible for his or her state of health, performance of regular health examinations, and his or her health and life insurance.
(4) Parents (persons who exercise custody rights) and sports specialists shall be responsible for the health care, regular performance of health examinations, health and life insurance of under-age athletes.
[26 October 2006]
Section 19. A Professional Athlete
A professional athlete shall be a natural person who on the basis of a contract of employment and for the agreed remuneration prepares himself or herself for sports competitions and participates therein.
Section 20. Duties of a Sports Employee and a Sports Specialist
(1) A sports employee shall observe the rules of international and Latvian sports federations, principles of sports ethics and fair play, rules of the anti-doping conventions, as well as regulatory enactments.
(2) A sports specialist shall conduct sports training (activities) and organised sports activities by applying physical loads that are appropriate for the human body, by efficient use of sport in order to strengthen and preserve human health, and achieve a high proficiency.
(3) The qualification requirements of sports educators, except for those educators who implement sports education programmes shall be determined by the Education Law. The certification of sports specialists shall be performed by the association “Latvijas Sporta federÄciju padomeâ€. The Cabinet shall determine certification procedures of sports specialists and requirements to which sports specialists must conform in order to acquire the right to work in the field of sport.
[26 October 2006]
Transitional Provisions
1. Until the adoption of the relevant Cabinet regulations, but not longer than six months from the date of coming into force of this Law, the following Cabinet Regulations shall be applied insofar as they are not in conflict with this Law:
1) Cabinet Regulation No. 169 of 14 May 1996, By-Law of Latvian National Sports Council; and
2) Cabinet Regulation No. 62 of 15 February 2000, Procedures By Which Monetary Prizes for Outstanding Achievements in Sport Shall Be Awarded.
2. Procedures for the certification of sports specialists and requirements to which sports specialists shall conform in order to acquire the rights to work in the field of sport shall come into force on 1 September 2004.
3. The Sports Department on 1 January 2004 shall commence the recognition of sports federations in compliance with the provisions of Section 10, Paragraph three of this Law.
4. The Latvian National Sports Council shall commence its operation not later than six months after the coming into force of this Law.
5. Up to the day of the coming into force of the new Cabinet regulations referred to in Section 10, Paragraph four of this Law, but not later than by 1 March 2007, Cabinet Regulation No. 505 of 9 September 2003, Procedures for the Recognition of Sports Federations shall be applied insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law.
[26 October 2006]
6. Up to the day of the coming into force of the new Cabinet regulations referred to in Section 20, Paragraph three of this Law, but not later than by 1 March 2007, Cabinet Regulation No. 593 of 28 October 2003, Certification Procedures of Sports Specialists and Requirements to which Sports Specialists must Conform in order to Acquire the Right to Work in the Field of Sport shall be applied insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law.
[26 October 2006]
7. Amendments to Section 20, Paragraph three of this Law regarding the delegating of the certification of sports specialists to the association “Latvijas Sporta federÄciju padome†shall come into force on 1 March 2007.
[26 October 2006]
This Law was adopted by the Saeima on 24 October 2002.
President V. VÄ«Ä·e-Freiberga
RÄ«ga, 13 November 2002
