In the evening on Monday, the 11th of September, thousands of people in Riga welcomed Latvia’s basketball team after their success in winning fifth place in the recent world tournament.
Family members were the first to welcome the athletes at Riga International Airport. After the initial welcome, athletes boarded a two-storey bus and departed for Riga to attend a festive event at the Freedom Monument.
Līdzjutēji pulcējās pie Brīvības pieminekļa, kur emocijām pārpilnā un aizkustinošā pasākumā teica paldies Latvijas basketbola valstsvienībai par paveikto.
? https://t.co/Z3NkvsTLwG#FIBAWC #TrisZvaigznes @basketbols pic.twitter.com/NeF1cJfbEG
— Latvijas Radio Ziņas (@LRZinas) September 11, 2023
On their way from the airport to the monument, athletes were cheered at by thousands of people who stood on the side of the road.
Fans held Latvia’s flags and other attributes. People applauded and waved their hands at the bus carrying the athletes.
The bus approached the Freedom Monument from Aspazijas Boulevard. At times the bus had difficulty passing the crowd of fans chanting congratulatory slogans in honour of the athletes.
Several hundred people gathered at the monument. Many of them were wearing t-shirts resembling those worn by the team. All players passed through a crowd fans to get to the stage set up at the monument.
State officials were also there to welcome Latvia’s basketball team. These included President Edgars Rinkēvičs, Mayor of Riga Vilnis Ķirsis and Minister of Education and Science Anda Čakša.
The festive event at the Freedom Monument also included the signing of the Latvian anthem.
According to LETA, basketball players Kristaps Porziņģis and Klāvs Čavars did not arrive in Riga together with the rest of the team.
Latvia’s basketball team was able to win 5th place for the first time in a world cup. First Latvia won against France and Lebanon, but lost to Canada. In the next round Latvia won against Spain and Brazil, securing a place in the quarter finals, where they lost to Germany. In the match for the 5th- 8th place Latvia won against Italy and concluded participation in the tournament with a victory over Lithuania.
Also read: Special welcoming event to take place at Freedom Monument in honour of Latvian basketball team’s success