Valters Bergs, a representative from the Latvian Association of Sports, highlights how the pandemic had a surprisingly positive impact on physical activity levels in the past compared to now. He notes that people were more active during lockdowns when indoor sports were restricted, suggesting the closure of shopping malls encouraged outdoor activities in nature. Bergs believes this is significant, as people appeared to value their time spent outdoors more during that period.

The specialist advocates for exercising in fresh air, stating it provides more oxygen to the body compared to exercising indoors. He points out a concerning trend where today’s youth often favor gym workouts but tend to spend the majority of their time indoors, leading to inadequate oxygen intake for their bodies. His urgent message is to encourage everyone, particularly younger generations, to embrace outdoor sports and activities instead of remaining sedentary indoors.

As the conversation builds on the importance of outdoor sportiness, the emphasis is placed on understanding one’s fitness level and starting point before engaging in winter sports. This reflects an ongoing effort among sports professionals in Latvia to rekindle the joy of physical activity that was once heightened during pandemic restrictions.