With BluOr Bank’s support, a modern beach volleyball hall is being built in Ogre

Dmitrijs Latiševs, Chief Executive Officer of “BluOr Bank”, points out that the project is a good example of how entrepreneurial initiative can also generate broader public value. “Such projects simultaneously promote entrepreneurship, regional development, and access to sports. It is important for us to support local entrepreneurs who implement sustainable and socially significant initiatives. This year, “BluOr Bank” is actively continuing its small and medium-sized enterprise lending program, for the implementation of which more than EUR 350 million has been allocated in total,” says D. Latiševs.

The new sports hall will be one of the few indoor halls in Latvia specifically built for beach volleyball and only the third infrastructure facility of this kind in the country designed from the outset according to the requirements of this sport. The design process also took into account international experience, including best practice examples from Estonia, where similar sports infrastructure has been developed in recent years. The hall will meet the requirements for national-level competitions, including ceiling height and other essential technical parameters.

“We are pleased to see that there is already a waiting list of people interested in using the new hall. Initially, it was intended for the children of our club — around 300 young athletes who currently do not have a suitable place to train in beach volleyball during the winter season. However, the interest is much broader — from neighboring municipalities, adult players, and competition organizers. Therefore, this will become an important addition to sports infrastructure not only in the wider region, but also in Latvia as a whole,” says Artūrs Mangulis, head coach of the Ogre Youth Volleyball Club and president of volleyball club “Ķirzaka”.

A memorandum of cooperation has been signed with the Ogre Municipality, providing an opportunity for children declared in Ogre Municipality to use the beach volleyball courts free of charge for training sessions. Interest in using the hall has also been expressed by sports clubs and organizations, including Latvia’s leading beach volleyball athletes and the Latvian Volleyball Federation.

Currently, there is no specialized beach volleyball hall in Ogre or the surrounding area, meaning that winter training sessions in this sport take place in Riga or are adapted to other premises that are not always suitable for beach volleyball. The new hall will ensure uninterrupted training opportunities throughout the year, as well as the ability to host competitions, training camps, and other sports events.

The project is being jointly implemented by entrepreneur and sports enthusiast Jānis Paukšēns and Artūrs Mangulis, head of the Ogre Youth Volleyball Club. The idea for such a hall has been developing for several years, initially focusing on the needs of the club’s children and youth, but over time recognizing the wider demand for high-quality beach volleyball infrastructure in the region.

“Beach volleyball in Latvia has experienced rapid growth in recent years — driven both by international achievements and increasing interest at the local level. It is also one of the gentlest sports, suitable for different age groups. At the same time, such a sports facility is not a classic commercial project — it also has significant social value and involves a certain level of risk. Therefore, in projects like this, both the commitment of the developers themselves and the willingness of financial partners to believe in the idea are especially important. We are convinced that this hall will provide a significant contribution both to children’s and youth sports and to promoting an active lifestyle in Ogre and the surrounding region,” says entrepreneur and chairman of the board of volleyball club “Ķirzaka”, Jānis Paukšēns.

Construction works have already begun, and the new hall is expected to be completed in the autumn of this year so that the sports center can welcome visitors by the end of the year.

Project publicity photo.