History

My Monday has been - mostly - very typical, and devoid of any of the angst which Mondays can bring. Housework. Gardening. Stuff. 

Ice hockey was the exception. This year's world championship (in Tampere and Rīga) has not interested me much until the final stages. The Latvian team made history by winning the bronze medal - the first time the team has won any world championship medal. 

Latvia beat the USA 4-3 yesterday in the bronze medal match. That in itself is quite remarkable, given the disparity between them in terms of resources. 

At various times today I have tuned in to bits of the celebrations in Rīga. The team arriving back at the airport. The team greeting a massive crowd in the city centre. A reception for the team at parliament.  

The Blip is a frame from the arrival at the airport. The plane is the one which brought me back from Rīga last year - Air Baltic has just one which is painted in the national colours. 

The clip is from yesterday - the dressing room scenes after the game, including the head coach getting a well earned thank you from the players. 

Towards the start of the clip the camera catches a bearded guy in a suit and wearing a scarf, looking a little bemused by it all. That is Egils Levits, the country's president.