English
On June 17, a Ghetto Football tournament will take place in Bolderāja, at the sports field of Riga Secondary School No. 33. The event, organized in cooperation with the Port of Riga, will bring together children and young people from Bolderāja and other neighborhoods of Riga for the third consecutive year. It is expected that this year the number of teams could exceed 100, making it the largest Ghetto Football event in Bolderāja to date. The tournament will feature activities for those who do not play football: the Port of Riga’s “Kuģa tauvošanas (Ship Towing)” challenge, contests and prizes, as well as activities from the Resilience Center “Mobilais buss (Mobile Bus).”
The tradition of organizing Ghetto Games events outside of Grīziņkalns dates back to 2024, when the Port of Riga became one of the first partners to help. It was decided to bring street sports closer to young people in their own neighborhoods. The idea is based on the belief - not all kids have the same chance to travel to the city center for events. That is why sports should go right to where the young people live.
The results of this collaboration confirm that this approach is successful. While 64 teams participated in the Bolderāja tournament in the first year, last year there were already 89 teams. The increase in local teams is particularly significant - while eight Bolderāja teams participated in 2024, that number tripled last year.
“We often talk about how important it is to create opportunities for young people, but those opportunities should be organized in the place where they live. The Bolderāja tournament is a great example of how sports can become more accessible, helping young people meet like-minded peers, discover their passion, and become part of a larger community. We see that many young people, after their first experience in Bolderāja, continue to participate in other Ghetto Football tournaments, and that is the greatest proof of this project’s value,” said Raimonds Elbakjans, founder of Ghetto Games.
The Port of Riga has long been implementing initiatives aimed at developing the neighborhoods adjacent to the port and improving residents’ quality of life, with a special focus on children and young people.
“It is important to the Port of Riga that our neighboring communities not only have a well-maintained living environment, but also a place where children and young people have opportunities to gain experience, develop, and do useful things with their time. Ghetto Football in Bolderāja is a great example of how sports can help strengthen the local community, promote an active lifestyle, and create an environment for young people to meet friends, build character, and gain confidence in their abilities. We are delighted to see that this initiative is attracting more and more participants every year and is becoming a significant event for the residents of Bolderāja,” emphasized Ansis Zeltiņš, the Freeport of Riga CEO.
Starting at 5:00 p.m., the Resilience Center’s “Mobile Bus” will be on site, offering children and young people the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational, developmental, and exciting activities throughout the event. In addition to the football tournament, event attendees can look forward to various activities, contests, and prizes. One of the most exciting activities will be “Ship Towing,” or a tug-of-war in two age groups, where participants will compete for special prizes provided by the Port of Riga.
Ghetto Football Bolderāja will take place on June 17 at the sports field of Riga Secondary School No. 33. Registration for U12/U14/U16 will begin at 2:00 PM, with the tournament starting at 3:00 PM. Registration for 17+/Lady begins at 5:00 PM, and the tournament will start at 6:00 PM.
Participation in the event is free for everyone; participation in the football tournament is also free for teams from Bolderāja.
Registration is available through the Ghetto Games app (GGAPP): https://ej.uz/ghetto_games
Information for media
- [email protected], +371 670 308 53
- Freeport of Riga Authority
- Mihaila Tāla iela 1, Rīga, Latvija, LV-1045
