Latvia's Defence Minister Raimonds Bergmanis and the Latvian Olympic Committee have signed an agreement to promote sporting projects ©Twitter

Latvia's Defence Minister Raimonds Bergmanis and the Latvian Olympic Committee (LOC) President Aldons Vrublevskis have signed an agreement to promote the Young Guard and an LOC project aimed at prompting a healthy lifestyle.

The programme aims to motivate children and young people to engage in sport, and is organised in collaboration with the Young Guard's summer camp.

The Young Guard is Latvia’s largest youth organisation and operates under the wing of the Latvian Home Guard.

It is organised and managed by the Latvian Defence Ministry, with the aim of educating young people about national defence, patriotism, physical abilities and discipline. 

"We are always in favour of the importance of sports activities for young people in everyday life and the promotion of healthy lifestyles," said Bergmanis.

Latvian Olympic Committee President Aldons Vrublevskis, left, signed the deal with Raimonds Bergmanis, right ©LOC
Latvian Olympic Committee President Aldons Vrublevskis, left, signed the deal with Raimonds Bergmanis, right ©LOC

"This collaboration with the LOC comes at the right time, and we are determined to promote it as the Young Guard movement is becoming more and more popular throughout Latvia."

The agreement commits both parties to promoting the participation of youth in various types of sports activities and competitions.

Last week the LOC announced it had completed the first two volumes of the Olympic Encyclopedia. 

Expected to total 12 volumes in all, the encyclopedia is set to contain 120 years worth of information on the Olympic world for future generations.

It is the result of more than 50 years of research by a Latvian team led by Olympic historian Genadijs Macirevs.