In September 2019 two new sports infrastructure objects were opened in Latvia – skatepark in Krāslava and outdoor gymnastics and parkour field in Viļāni. These are two of 13 municipalities in Latgale region, where indoor and outdoor sports infrastructure will be created or improved in the framework of the project LLI-402 “risk-free”.

During these events professional parkourists, street gymnasts, skaters and BMX riders demonstrated their skills and showed the possibilities of using the new infrastructure. Professionals introduced local children and youth to safety regulations of the opened sport fields and trained participants in alternative and street sport disciplines.

The idea of the parkour field in Viļāni was born in a youth forum, organized by municipality in 2017. In this forum, local teenagers submitted their ideas and decided, what sport infrastructure would be necessary in their municipality. In the case of Krāslava municipality, it was an initiative of an 11-year-old boy from Krāslava, who proposed his idea to create a skatepark in Krāslava to the municipality, even providing sketches of the skatepark.

Project LLI-402 “risk-free” has given an opportunity to realize these ideas of local children and youth and has inspired them to be active. Sports infrastructure and equipment in the municipalities of Latgale region will provide the accessibility of varied sport activities for children and youth, including at-risk groups, thus serving as an instrument for social inclusion.