Dear participants of the Yonex Latvia International 2020!

First of all, I thank you very much for your trust. We’re doing everything to make the tournament happen. Together, let’s rebuild the movement at World badminton!
We have received applications from 19 countries, 118 players and 147 entries. Unfortunately, the world hasn’t recovered yet after lockdown, but it’s good to have a lot of players and a lot of countries wanting to go back to normal badminton life.

We’ll start Friday at 4 courts
Based on the number of entries, BWF has approved the schedule of the Yonex Latvia International tournament to the following: 
Thu, 20:00, August 27 (at the Venue) – Team Managers Meeting 
Fri, 11:00, August 28 (at the Venue) – Umpires Briefing 
Fri, 12:00, August 28 – Qualification rounds 
Fri, not before 16:00, August 28 – 1/16 finals 
Sat, 10:00, August 29 – 1/8 finals 
Sat, 16:00, August 29 – 1/4 finals 
Sun, 10:00, August 30 – 1/2 finals 
Sun, 15:00, August 30 – Finals and the award ceremony afterwards.

The situation wtih Covid-19 changes daily.
Many of you are interested in the situation with Covid-19. The situation changes dayly. A section about Covid-19 has also been created on the tournament’s website: https://yli.lv/covid-19/
Here’s also a link to the website of the Latvian Centre for Disease Prevention and Control where you can find list of countries from which it is possible and not possible to enter Latvia freely. The list is updated weekly. It is prepared in Latvian, English and Russian languages.
Do not worry those who are from “blacklist” countries, because the Latvian government has approved special rules for participants in major sports events like Yonex Latvia International.  Details can be found on this same website. Don’t worry either because the situation changes every day. Such a country might no longer be on the “blacklist” after three weeks.

Jelgava – cheap hotels and meals
Jelgava is waiting for participants of badminton tournament.
We offer sleeping in a comfortable hotel of the University for only €15 per night. In the gated hall there will be a cafe with the adjunct of daily food for lunch and dinner for more than €5.
Traditional festival “Milk Pack Boat Regatta” in Jelgava will take place on Saturday, at the same time as the badminton tournament. In the Football stadium next to the Sports Hall on Saturday evening, at the same time as the badminton tournament will take place Latvian Football league match FC Jelgava vs FC Spartaks Jurmala

Training and sparring
It will be possible to practice on Thursday afternoon before the tournament and Friday morning before the tournament. Teams can sign up for training times. https://yli.lv/practice-2/
Players who will lose in qualifying and 1/16 finals will be able to participate in the challenge tournament, it will take place on Saturday, August 29. Good awards will be offered.

Latvia continues to prepare badminton tournament Yonex Latvia International to restore life in World badminton tournament calendar. 
It’s motivation for players, coaches, umpires, sponsors, fans and the media. 

We use the fact that Latvia is one of the most secure Covid-19 countries of Europe.
In addition, there is a government protocol in Latvia – players from Covid-19 “blacklist” countries can also participate in the competition, including Yonex Latvia International 2020.

Borders are open, travel is allowed everywhere in Europe. Can also travel from Covid-19 blacklist countries, but in a normal situation everyone would have a limit to apply 14-day self-isolation. 
But participants of the badminton tournament Yonex Latvia International may fail to comply with the 14-day self-isolation if they can show a negative Covid-19 test performed before the Latvian border, as well as perform a repeat test within 24 hours in Latvia. In my opinion, very proportionate requirements.

New “blacklist” countries
The list of countries is currently the following, but it changes every week. There is no reason to grieve those who are on this list now, there is no reason not to worry those who are not on the list now. Everything can change. No one can say anything.
Here you can find an address to a document in English about countries.
https://www.spkc.gov.lv/lv/valstu-saslimstibas-raditaji-ar-covid-19-0

Participants  don’t have 14-day self-insulation
Previously, I wrote that participants from Covid-19 “blacklist” countries would initially have to be quarantined in Hotel in Rīga. It won’t be necessary. The players who come to Latvia will initially go for the Covid-19 test, then go to hotel. Before the results of the Latvian test have not been received (by e-mail), the players have to comply with self-isolation (there are no contacts with other players, public transport, supermarkets, etc.).
We will continue to negotiate with the laboratory on the price of the service. In Latvia Covid-19 tests are currently officially cost €59. I think we’ll be able to negotiate discounts and barter, but we don’t promise it yet. We can’t pay these tests for our own money, but we will seek refunds with free pizza and snack kits and other gifts from our sponsors.
The laboratories are both in Riga and Jelgava.

Ranking after unfreezing
I’ve received a lot of questions about the world ranking. On Friday, BWF sent out its Memo. The results of the Latvian tournament will certainly be included in the ranking, but the BWF world ranking will not be immediately unfrozen, as it is not yet clear whether and when the next tournament will take place. The results of the Latvian tournament will be included once the ranking is unfrozen.

Withdrawal without penalty
A lot of questions about whether BWF will apply $150 in penalties to players who won’t participate in the tournament because of Covid-19.
Referring to information from Badminton Europe, that “no penalties are imposed”.
It must be correct here! Unpunished withdrawals must be linked to Covid-19.

Canceling the tournament?
Are there circumstances why the Latvian tournament may have been canceled? Yes of course there are! 
First – It may also be the Governments’ decision to shut down borders again, cancel trips.
Second – if Latvia enters the Covid-19 blacklist by 21 August. Thus we would create problems for all participants;
Third – We will have to cancel any of the events (not tournament) when there are fewer than 8 participants in any of the events or everyone will be from one country only. But I hope it doesn’t happen because the number of participants announced is high.

Recommendation:
* Continuing training for Latvian tournament!
* Save your entry! If there are problems with Covid-19, there will still be a chance to withdraw!
* Plan your trip, plan accommodation, plan your caterering, but do not make any unthinked prepayment bookings at this difficult time!

Tournament responsibility
We don’t ask to prepay for entry fees, accommodation, catering, training options etc.
Just as players have no responsibility for withdrawal, tournament organisers have limited liability this year. It is possible that the “black list” counties changing, borders are closing again, that travel rules are changing, new restrictions arise. No one can insure it and compensate it afterwards…
But currently Latvia and Jelgava are open. We are looking forward to the participants in the Yonex Latvia International. We promise good conditions to play and practice, as always in Jelgava. Together we can restore the Badminton calendar around the world.

Date	Country	Flight	Time	Pick Up	Departure		Seats
2/6	BEC	PS188	06:00	03:30	Jelgava	1	4
2/6	SUI	Šveice	06:10	03:30	Zemgale	1
2/6	SWE	Finnair	10:15	07:45	Jelgava	1	4
2/6	NOR	DY1074	12:50	10:00	Sport Hall	1	4
2/6	GER	W6 2531	13:20	10:00	Sport Hall	1
2/6	POL	Airport	14:10	11:40	Sport Hall	2	4
2/6	KAZ	Moscow	14:25	11:40	Sport Hall	2
2/6	IND	Rīga city		12:30	Sport Hall	2	4
2/6	RUS	H.Lenz	—	12:30	Sport Hall	2
2/6	UKR	Airport	16:00	13:30	Sport Hall	5	8
2/6	AUT	Airport	16:00	13:30	Sport Hall	1
2/6	POL	LO782	18:30	15:30	Sport Hall	11	8+4
2/6	ISL	Airport	19:50	17:20	Sport Hall	1	8
2/6	UMP	BUS	19:00	17:20	Sport Hall	1
2/6	FRA	H.Lenz		17:20	Sport Hall	4
2/6	UMP	Maskava	20:45	17:45	Sport Hall	1
2/6	UMP	H.Lenz		19:00	Sport Hall	3	4
2/6	WAL	FR2645	21:50	19:20	Sport Hall	3	8
2/6	IRL	Airport	22:40	19:20	Sport Hall	1
2/6	UMP	Oslo	23:40	19:20	Sport Hall	1

Update June 1, 21:00

MAS	AY1071	29/5	09:50	Agate
RUS	Maskava	29/5	10:55	Zemgale	2
RUS	Maskava	29/5	10:55	Ozolnieki	1
BEC	Stokholma	29/5	11:10	University	1
BEL	Brisele	29/5	11:20	Zemgale	1
ENG	Londona	29/6	11:25	Zemgale	2
FIN	Helsinki	29/5	11:30	Jelgava	2
UKR	Ukraina	29/5	11:35	Ozolnieki	1
DEN	BT132	29/5	11:40	Jelgava	1
DEN	BT132	29/5	11:40	Jelgava	2
CZE	PRAGUE	29/5	11:50	University	1
UMP	Maskava	29/5	12:15	University	1
AUT	BT432	29/5	12:30	Agate	2
AUT	Air Baltic 432	29/5	12:30	Jelgava	2
UMP	BT106	29/5	12:50	University	1
IND	LH 890	29/5	13:05	Zemgale	1
GER	SN4007	29/5	13:15	Agate	1
SUI	Šveice	29/5	13:20	Zemgale	3
POL	LO783	29/5	13:25	LLKC (POL)	10
KAZ	Maskava	29/5	13:35	University	2
NOR	???	29/5	13:50	University	1
SWE	AY 1073	29/5	13:55	Jelgava	7
ENG	Londona	29/6	14:05	University	2
BEC	PS185 (Kiev)	29/5	15:20	Jelgava	1
AUT	PS185 (Kiev)	29/5	15:20	Zemgale	1
DEN	BT136	29/5	17:20	Zemgale	1
DEN	???	29/5	17:30	Jelgava	2
MLD	LO781	29/5	17:45	Zemgale	1
POL		29/5	18:00	LLKC (POL)	1
LUX	B2841	29/5	19:10	Zemgale	4
SLO		29/5	19:50	Agate	2
ENG	FR2644	29/5	21:30	Zemgale	2
SWE	SK 1764	30/5	9:30	Jelgava	2
ENG	W6 2502	30/5	12:55	Zemgale	1
POL	LO783	30/5	13:25	LLKC (POL)	11
FRA	Francija	30/5	13:50	Zemgale	1
NOR	BT160	30/5	17:20	University	1
WAL	FR2644	30/5	21:30	Zemgale	3
SCO	FR2644	30/5	21:30	Zemgale	1
GER	FR3024	30/5	21:40	Zemgale	2
ESP	IB1485	30/5	21:50	University	1
GER	BT 246	30/5	21:55	Agate	1
SUI	Šveice	30/5	22:00	Zemgale	1
FRA	FR 1976	30/5	22:15	Zemgale	3
IRL	Dublin	30/5	22:15	Zemgale	1
DEN	BT148	30/5	22:20	Zemgale	2
FRA	Francija	30/5	22:30	University	2
NOR	DY1074	30/5	22:50	Zemgale	4
DEN	DY1074	30/5	22:50	Zemgale	1
DEN	DY1074	30/5	22:50	Zemgale	1
NOR	DY1074	30/5	22:50	University	1

 

Updated May 29, 09:30

In solidarity with the sorrow of France and all Europe after the fire at the Cathedral in Paris, the Yonex Latvia International will name one of the 6 badminton courts on behalf of Notre-Dame. The BWF world ranking badminton tournament Yonex Latvia International will take place in Jelgava from 30 May to 2 June. The tournament will take place on 6 badminton courts, each of them traditionally are named in the name of a sponsor.

“We are now in the power of emotion after an unsleeping night at the TV screens, in the hope that we can save some of this European symbol. Perhaps by the end of May, when the Latvian tournament takes place in Jelgava, people will have forgotten about the fire of Notre-Dame, and it will be overshadowed by more recent events and news. That is why I want to put a little fundament on extending these memories right now. It is not just a fire, it is sacrifice to think about Europe, about values, about all of us,” believes Kristians Rozenvalds, director of the tournament Yonex Latvia International and Secretary General of the Latvian Badminton Federation.

In the past, badminton courts have been named on behalf of several sponsors in the Yonex Latvia International tournament. We have advertised brands like Opel and Renault, Inbox.lv, European Hit Radio, as well as the beverage and beer producers Venden and Rinkuskiai, the perfumery manufacturer Dzintars.

“It’s fantastic that rich people have donated billions of euros to Notre-Dame renewal in less than a day. We do not have the opportunity to participate with an equivalent financial contribution, but we can participate with our own initiative, with our own sound. That’s a lot too!” says Kristians Rozenvalds.

During the badminton tournament, a maximum of 20 games can take place on one of  badminton courts. So 20 times that court name will be resonated in the Sport Hall, by calling new game on that court. The name of the court is also published in all tables of the tournament, game descriptions, and live TV and Internet broadcasts from this court.

“At the moment, we are planning to further visualisation this court so that players, coaches and spectators can remember both Notre-Dame’s history, the tragedy of the fire and vision for future,” Kristians Rozenvalds says.

“Such social advertising, I think, is a good start, something unprecedented in Latvia, Europe and World badminton. It is also an opportunity for a badminton and any other type of sport to become more socially important as a public event. We will certainly also plan for other years to focus this on something socially topical, not just advertising our sponsors. I think that such social initiatives will soon be carried out in other countries’ badminton tournaments,” Kristians Rozenvalds says.

It should be noted that Yonex Latvia International has a special relationship with the French badminton players. Traditionally, the French delegation in Jelgava was one of the largest. Three years since the tournament take place in Jelgava, the French badminton players have won 5 out of 15 titles. Toma Junior Popov, which has been recognised by the European Badminton Confederation for 2 consecutive years as a Junior of the year, in Jelgava won his first title in adult tournaments.

The Yonex Latvia International bringing together 350 players from 40 countries in Jelgava and was one of biggest European badminton tournament in 2018. It is not yet known whether this record will be beaten this year, but players from countries that have not been represented at Latvian tournaments, including Dominican, Peru, Chile and Australia, have already applied for the tournament. The deadline for applying for this year’s tournament will be closed on April 30.

Date	County	Persons	Flight	Time	Location
Jun 4	POL	2	6:00	3:15	Akva
Jun 4	FRA	9	6:05	3:30	Brīze
Jun 4	GER	1	6:05	3:35	LLKC
Jun 4	FRA	3	7:40	4:40	Brize
Jun 4	FRA	1	7:20	4:50	Brize
Jun 4	FRA	2	7:20	4:50	Brize
Jun 4	FRA	2	7:20	4:50	Brize
Jun 4	SUI	2	7:50	4:55	LLKC
Jun 4	BEC	1	9:55	7:25	Jelgava
Jun 3	DEN	5	9:55	7:25	Jelgava
Jun 4	HUN	1	9:55	7:25	Jelgava
Jun 4	PYF	1	10:50	7:30	Brize
Jun 4	REF	1	12:40	9:40	Tehnikums
Jun 4	GER	5	12:10	9:50	LLKC

Jelgavā notiekošajā Pasaules reitinga badmintona turnīrā “Yonex Latvia International” šogad Latvijas spēlētāji netika tālāk par 1/8 finālu, tāpēc jau sākot ar sestdienas vakaru spēlēt Jelgavā turpina tikai ārzemnieki. Visilgāk no Latvijas spēlētājiem Jelgavā noturējās Latvijas sieviešu dubultspēļu pāris Ieva Pope & Monika Radovkska, kuras 1/8 finālā divos setos (15-21 21-21) zaudēja Francijas pārim Vimala Heriau & Margot Lambert. Continue reading →

Date	State	Number	Hotel	Time	Flight
Jun 2	IND	1	LLU	6:15	3:40
Jun 2	FRA	2	Brīze	7:20	4:30
Jun 2	DEN	2	Jelgava	7:40	4:40
Jun 2	SUI	2	LLKC	7:50	4:45
Jun 2	DEN	2	Agate	7:40	4:50
Jun 2	SWE	5	Jelgava	8:30	6:00
Jun 2	FIN	1	Sport Hall	11:05	8:35
Jun 2	GER	2	Sport Hall	13:10	10:40
Jun 2	POL	1	Sport Hall	14:05	11:30
Jun 2	POL	1	Sport Hall	14:05	11:30
Jun 2	FIN	2	Sport Hall	14:20	11:30
Jun 2	ESP	2	Sport Hall	17:00	14:30
Jun 2	BEL	1	Sport Hall	18:15	15:45
Jun 2	POL	1	Sport Hall	18:30	15:45
Jun 2	POL	1	Sport Hall	18:30	15:45
Jun 2	FIN	1	Sport Hall	18:30	15:45