Translated using ChatGPT service.
On Thursday, June 5, Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis presented a Certificate of Recognition from the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia to rally organizer and motorsport enthusiast Raimonds Strokšs for organizing stages of the World and European Rally Championships in Latvia in 2024.
According to the event organizers, the WRC (World Rally Championship) and ERC (European Rally Championship) stages held in July last year were attended by an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 people, about one-third of whom were international visitors. Additionally, the event was broadcast to a global audience of 80 million viewers via television and digital platforms. According to the organizers, for every euro allocated to the event, foreign visitors generated €6.80 for the national economy and €10 for the regional economy.
“Raimonds Strokšs’ contribution to organizing large-scale events in Latvia holds not only significant national value by putting Latvia on the global map but also delivers tangible financial returns. His events attract tourists, boost the hospitality and service sectors, and prove that, while we may be a small country in size, we are capable of hosting high-quality world-class events,” emphasized Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis.
Raimonds Strokšs is prepared to continue organizing rally championship stages in Latvia in the future. An ERC stage is planned for 2026, followed by WRC stages in 2027 and 2028. It is estimated that organizing the ERC will require €0.41 million from the state budget, the WRC in 2027 will require €2.93 million, and the WRC in 2028 will require €3.05 million. The total estimated economic impact of all events on the national economy ranges from €31.9 to €52.6 million. Currently, the government is evaluating options to provide the necessary support.
Organizing major international events in Latvia promotes economic growth, tourism development, and the country’s global visibility. As previously reported, a support program amounting to €23.67 million has been established to fund the organization of major international events and foreign film productions in Latvia. Currently, the government is reviewing support requests for 12 projects totaling €5.63 million, including major events planned for 2025 such as the UEFA Futsal European Championship and the European Veterans Table Tennis Championship.