Latvian Sports Fans

They are loud, proud, and surprisingly well-behaved. Latvian sports fans might just be the best illustration of the local saying “Mazs cinītis gāž lielu vezumu” (a small knoll can overturn a heavy cart). Wherever in the world Latvian teams play, the fans make sure the athletes feel like they are playing at home. And they stand behind them no matter the result.

The Might of The Latvian Sports Fan

There are many sports Latvians compete in. What unites them is the Latvian sports fan. Dressed in maroon and white, carrying Latvian flags ranging from face paint to meters-long banners, and often drowning out others with their chants, Latvian sports fans make absolutely sure their support is felt by the players.

“SA-RAUJ, LAT-VI-JA!”, “LAT-VI-JA, UZ-VA-RA!”, “LAT-VI-JA, LAT-VI-JA!” can often be heard clearly even when Latvia plays far from home, in places with a much larger local population. And, as noted in foreign sports media and by our own athletes, Latvian fans will spend their annual savings, holiday funds, and even pay inflated ticket prices just to be there.

“In essence, the Latvian sports fan is an extra player. The energy, the chants – it pushes everyone forward and does not let go. It is no wonder that hockey, football, and basketball players alike have said that Latvian fans are unstoppable in the stands,” said Dinārs Kvedovs, founder of the Latvian Fans Organization.

Beach volleyball in Adelaide is perhaps the most surprising proof of all. When Tīna Graudiņa and Anastasija Samoilova won gold in Adelaide in 2025, Latvian fans out-cheered the Brazilians—a nation considered the loudest in the sport. “It felt a little like playing in Latvia,” coach Mihails Samoilovs told Latvian Television.

Loud, Loyal, Unlike Any Other

It does not matter whether the team is winning or losing though—the Latvian sports fans’ support is unceasing.

“Sometimes, after a lost game, the players come out looking a bit guilty. We support and cheer them up there and say, no, you’ll be better in the next game, we know it, we believe in you. Then they start to smile. I have never seen fans of larger countries support their teams like this after a loss,” Dinārs shares.

What also sets Latvian sports fans apart is that despite the noise, the celebrations, and the passion – even after the most crushing losses – they remain polite, well-behaved, and friendly. This combination of intensity and kindness has been noticed by players, foreign correspondents, and even fans from other countries.

“Foreign fans often join us because they enjoy the atmosphere and sense of community, how welcoming and friendly it is,” Dinārs shares. It is  a sentiment echoed by TSN, where Latvian hockey fans have been described as “impossible not to love.”

The Best Hockey Fans Come From Latvia

It is around 1 PM on May 29, 2023, when Riga’s city centre swells with tens of thousands of chanting, smiling people dressed in maroon and white. They are shouting “Latvija!” and “Malači!”, waving Latvian flags, clapping, and hooting.

The crowd spills out beyond the square along nearby roads and onto bridges, with some even climbing trees for a better view. It is, of course, Latvian hockey fans welcoming the national ice hockey team home after the 2023 IIHF World Championship that ended with Latvia’s first ever bronze medal.

This achievement was celebrated by more than 30,000 Latvian hockey fans in Riga alone. As shared by Kristiāns Rubīns, a defenceman who scored the two decisive goals, this level of dedication and support helped carry the team through the final stretch:

“We were still trailing with just a few minutes left in the game, but it was the fans’ energy that helped us tie the score. They even inspired the Finnish fans to join in our support. It was an incredible feeling.”

Beyond individual games and moments, the presence of Latvian fans stays with players throughout their careers.

“It is hard to put into words, but from the first second on the ice it feels like you have butterflies in your stomach, and this feeling stays until the very end of the game,” Kristiāns concludes.