100 years of basketball in Latvia
Basketball has always been popular and loved in Latvia. Basketball is a type of sport that not only keeps crowds of fans on the edge of their seats, but also attracts and motivates sports enthusiasts to develop their physical abilities. Basketball baskets are seen in the yards of residential buildings, and street basketball fields are available to everyone. In Latvia, basketball is played a lot both at professional and amateur levels or as a fun game.
Recent years have also seen several notable professional sports achievements on the international arena. The performance of the Latvian men's basketball team ending its 2023 FIBA World Cup appearance in the 5th place has surprised everybody and has put Latvia's basketball back on the global map. The Latvian 3x3 basketball team won the Olympic Champion title in 2021 and bronze medals in the 2023 World Cup.
Symbolically, 2023 will mark a centenary of basketball in Latvia since the Latvian Basketball Federation was founded in 1923. Taking into account the popularity of basketball, Latvijas Banka plans to issue a silver collector coin dedicated to the basketball theme.
The author of the graphic design is Paulis Liepa. The coin has been struck by the Mint of Italy. Interestingly, both Latvia and Italy were listed among the top eight leading teams in the world at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and were competing for the 5th place.
The coin brings a message about basketball as a strategic game. Both the team and the strategy of the game, as well as the ability of the players to cooperate and use the strengths of the team in the best possible way play a significant role in it. There is no victory without a smart strategy. Will the ball fall into the basket, will we get the necessary victory point?
