Latvia first claimed its independence from Russia and became a country on November 18, 1918, following World War I. This small Baltic country is one of the oldest competitors in the Olympic hockey tournament, having made its first appearance in 1936. Latvia was again occupied by the Soviets from 1944 until 1991, when Latvia again declared its independence. Since that time, Latvia has participated in the Olympic hockey tournament three times in 2002, 2006 and 2010.
Thus, judging from its recent participation, it would appear that the Latvians will be a routine competitor in the Olympic hockey tournament. In 2002, the Latvian Olympic hockey team brought two different dated NOC pins to the Salt Lake City Olympic Games, each depicting a goaltender silhouette and bearing the 2002 Olympic snowflake symbol.
In 2010, during the Vancouver Olympic Games, I was fortunate enough to see the Latvians compete against both the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Though Latvia lost both of these games, I had a great time sitting in a sea of Latvian fans and cheering for the Baltic nation (and wearing my Latvian hockey shirt--my wife once spent time in Latvia while on an church mission and I have become a Latvian Olympic hockey supporter based on her love of the country).
The 2010 Latvian Olympic hockey team had one of my all-time favorite Olympic hockey pins. Set against the background of the Latvian flag, the dated pin depicts the Vancouver Inukshuk symbol with a hockey stick and the Olympic Rings.
The Latvian hockey team was also included in the 2010 Olympic hockey participating nations set, which I have previously written about on this blog
(see April 22, 2011,
Participating Nations Goaltender Mask Set)
.
Thus, judging from its recent participation, it would appear that the Latvians will be a routine competitor in the Olympic hockey tournament. In 2002, the Latvian Olympic hockey team brought two different dated NOC pins to the Salt Lake City Olympic Games, each depicting a goaltender silhouette and bearing the 2002 Olympic snowflake symbol.
In 2010, during the Vancouver Olympic Games, I was fortunate enough to see the Latvians compete against both the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Though Latvia lost both of these games, I had a great time sitting in a sea of Latvian fans and cheering for the Baltic nation (and wearing my Latvian hockey shirt--my wife once spent time in Latvia while on an church mission and I have become a Latvian Olympic hockey supporter based on her love of the country).
The 2010 Latvian Olympic hockey team had one of my all-time favorite Olympic hockey pins. Set against the background of the Latvian flag, the dated pin depicts the Vancouver Inukshuk symbol with a hockey stick and the Olympic Rings.
The Latvian hockey team was also included in the 2010 Olympic hockey participating nations set, which I have previously written about on this blog (see April 22, 2011, Participating Nations Goaltender Mask Set).
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