**Operetta festival returning to Ikšķile**
From August 6 to 12, this year's International Operetta Festival will take place in Ikšķile, which will start a series of events for the ten-year anniversary of the Operetta Theater in the town.
**Latvian Olympic chief: Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be in Olympics**
On Monday, the Latvian Olympic Committee (LOK) is due to receive an official invitation to participate in the Paris Olympic Games, LOK President Jānis Buks told Latvian Radio July 31.
**Number employed in sports is falling in Latvia**
The number of people employed in the field of sport and related activities in Latvia is slightly under the European Union average for the sector, according to fresh Eurostat data.
**Three for the Weekend: Rock, Opera, Rock Opera**
Can't decide on the music vibe for this weekend? Here are a couple of events from rock to opera – and right in between.
**Russians easily dodge visa restrictions for football match in Latvia**
The arrival of several citizens of the Russian Federation in Latvia for a European football match as part of an Azerbaijani team has attracted the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will invite other Schengen zone member states to adopt a common approach to the matter.
**'Porta' world music festival ready for another year**
From July 27 to 29, the 'Porta' world music festival is taking place in Riga and Kuldīga. It is the 18th time the festival has been held, and over the years it has become a firm favorite with folkies in Latvia.
**Audit: Latvian National Archive could be losing digital information**
The Latvian National Archive (LNA) has not developed a system to ensure the reception and storage of electronic documents the State Audit Office (Valsts Kontrole, VK) reported on July 27.
**16 named in Latvia's slimmed-down basketball World Cup training squad**
Head coach Luca Banchi has named a 16-man training squad ahead of Latvia's participation at the FIBA Basketball World Cup next month.
**Baltic states to IOC: Don't 'open a path' for Russia and Belarus into the Olympics**
Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania made it clear July 26 they are completely against the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Olympic Games in Paris, France one year from now.
**Smiltene to host contemporary art summer school**
This year’s Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art (LCCA) annual summer school is entitled “Care of Earth, Care of People” and will focus on issues that address the changes needed in different systems to promote inclusion and sustainability in the broadest sense.
**'Salt of Freedom' project wants your stories for Ukraine**
Latvia-based Ukrainian artist Daria Kalashnikova has issued a call for stories about 'freedom' as part of her latest project, titled 'The Salt of Freedom'.
**'Voicingers on Tour' jazz festival in Rīga this week**
From July 25 to 29, the traveling jazz festival “Voicingers On Tour” will be held in Rīga for the third consecutive year. By day, jazz vocalists will learn from the world's artists, but in evening concerts at the club "Biedrība" will be held, Latvian Radio 3 reports.
**'Democracy festival' to take place in Kuldīga, Latvia**
This week, July 28 and 29, a Democracy Festival will take place in the city of Kuldīga for the third time, the organizers of the event said.
**Try Latvian unique 'sklandrausis' in Dundaga on Saturday**
Ten years ago the 'Sklandrausis' festival was first held in Talsi municipality Dundaga, but on Saturday, July 22, the local government is organizing its sixth festival.
**Valmiera city unveils exhibition on its 740th birthday**
During the celebration of Valmiera's 740th birthday, July 20 to 23, a new exhibition, named in the old name of Valmiera –de Woldemer – will be viewed free of charge in the area of Valmiera's castle, said the organizers.
**Mini-village open to visitors near Valmiera, Latvia**
New tourism objects in Latvia do not come up often, let alone an entire village. In Valmiera municipality, Santa Paegle has fulfilled her dream of a mini-village, which is now open to visitors, Latvian Radio reported.
**Three for the Weekend: Choir Concert, Art Festival, Flavor Journey**
Summer is at its peak, and so far it has been full of events to choose from. Here are a few for this weekend.
**Rundāle Palace joins European royal residence network**
The Rundāle Palace Museum has joined the Association of the Royal Residences of Europe – an organization which brings together the most prominent palaces of Europe, including Versailles, Schönbrunn, and Sanssouci, the museum's representatives said July 20.
**Open-air opera to sound through Rīga's parks and markets**
The “Melo-M” cello trio and the opera singer Sonora Vaice have created an outdoor concert program to surprise and delight the residents and guests of Riga and its guests, the musicians' representatives said Tuesday.
**Preparations underway for World Running Championship in Rīga**
Seventy-five days are left until the first-ever World Running Championship, which will start on September 30 in Rīga. Preparations are underway, the organizer Aigars Nords told Latvian Television on July 17,