An outdoor exercise area to open in Līvāni
On 30 June 2020 within the framework of project LLI-402 “Social integration of at-risk young people through sports activities” (risk-free), an outdoor exercise area will be opened in Līvāni, at 101 Rīgas Street. Eight different exercise machines and an exercise complex have been installed at the site, enabling users both young and old to improve their physical health by strengthening their bodies.
As a project partner, the Latgale Region Development Agency, in cooperation with the 13 municipalities involved in the project in the region, has, over the course of two years, purchased sports equipment and created several multifunctional outdoor exercise areas and exercise complexes in municipal territories. They have been installed in Balvi, Daugavpils, in five parishes of Daugavpils Municipality (Kalupes, Svente, Višķi, near Višķi Technical School, Silene and Krauja), Līvāni, Riebiņi and Viļāni. The sports areas created have already become very popular among young people and are being actively used. Sports equipment has been purchased for schools in the municipalities of Aglona, Preiļi, Viļaka, Baltinava and Rugāji, which will improve the quality of sports training and enable the organisation of high-quality local sports competitions in football, basketball, streetball, volleyball, floorball, gymnastics and other sports. An electronic scoreboard has been purchased and installed at Daugavpils State Gymnasium, enabling the organisation of high-level competitions at the school. Within the framework of the project, the first parkour area in Viļāni has been created, skateparks have been built in Krāslava and Ludza, and a roller-skating ramp has been installed in the centre of Riebiņi. Thanks to the sports equipment and inventory purchased, young people in Latgale have become acquainted with street sports; some have also acquired their first skills in these sports and continue learning new ones. The newly created outdoor sports areas are becoming places where young people spend their free time—not only meeting one another, but also training together and learning new exercise routines. This is an important contribution to the integration of children and young people from at-risk groups through the organisation of sports activities.
The aim of project LLI-402 “Social integration of at-risk young people through sports activities” (risk-free) is to promote the social integration through sport of children and young people from at-risk groups living in the Latvian–Lithuanian border region by improving access to public outdoor sports infrastructure and activities and, by ensuring a social support system and cooperation between organisations, creating a sports culture in these areas. It is implemented by four partners: the lead partner—the Latgale Planning Region, in cooperation with the Latgale Region Development Agency, and two partners from Lithuania—the Visaginas Municipal Administration and the Ignalina Culture and Sports Centre.
The project is being implemented within the framework of the Interreg V-A Latvia–Lithuania Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2014–2020. This project is financed by the European Union. The total cost of the project is EUR 750,973.98. The project co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund is EUR 638,327.88; the budget of the LRDA, the project partner, is EUR 350 000. This article has been prepared with the financial support of the European Union. The Latgale Region Development Agency bears sole responsibility for the content of this article, which under no circumstances may be regarded as reflecting the official position of the European Union.
