Fitness in the Sport Structure of Latvia

Abstract Origination of physical activities in Latvia territory, the necessity for sports sector to be developed, as well as the change of people’s understanding about physical loads and the essence of active lifestyle caused by rapid growth of the fitness sector where the main principle is load applied to strengthen and improve one’s health condition. One of the most important problems is a uniform understanding of the term “fitness”, and its place in the sports sector in Latvia. Therefore the aim of the article is to evaluate fitness as structure element inclusion possibilities in the Sports Structure in Latvia. The research is based on the investigation and analysis of the literature sources and sports policy planning documents, such as “Basic Positions of Sport Policy in Latvia”, project 2013-2020, “National Sport Development Program 2006–2013” of Latvia, “National Development Plan of Latvia 2012–2020”. The place of fitness in the sports system in Latvia, the necessity and possibility to include fitness in the “National Sport Development Program” and in the “Basic Positions of Sport Policy” in perspective were studied. Commercial fitness clubs and the Latvian Fitness and Health Promotion Association (LFVVNA) are not included in the sports structure of Latvia; however, fitness is socially-cultural phenomenon which is necessary to be included in the development program of sport sector.