To learn about the experience of the Helsinki municipality in providing opportunities for high school-age youth to train at a high level in basketball to strive for becoming national team players, Vilnis Ķirsis, Riga City Council Deputy Chairman for Education and Family Policy, will go on a two-day working visit to the Finnish capital to meet with representatives of the Helsinki municipality and visit the Helsinki Basketball Academy.
“Finland is one of the best examples of high standards in education, including efficient organisation of learning in general and vocational education, as well as sports education. Considering the long and distinguished basketball tradition in Latvia, I think it is worthwhile for us to analyse the model of the Basketball Academy in Helsinki and assess whether, in cooperation with the Latvian Basketball Union and local educational institutions, we can develop a similar concept that would provide excellence-level educational opportunities for the most talented players in Latvia,” says Vice Mayor, Vilnis Ķirsis.
Founded in 2012, the Helsinki Basketball Academy operates as a centre of excellence where young people, both girls and boys, aged 16 to 19, learn through a dedicated training and coaching programme that combines a professional league-level training process with education. The Finnish Basketball Federation cooperates with the local municipality, sports schools and general education institutions to run the Academy.