Type Silver coin Material Silver 925° Issuance Date 2000 Month March Nominal Value 1 Ls Maximum Mintage 10 000 Quality Proof Graphic design Plaster model Minted Valcambi SA (Switzerland) available: 0

Obverse

The large coat of arms of the Republic of Latvia, with the year 1999 inscribed below, is placed in the centre. The inscriptions LATVIJAS and REPUBLIKA, each arranged in a semicircle, are above and beneath the central motif, respectively.

Reverse

A motif of two athletes riding bicycles is featured in the centre of the coin. The inscription SIDNEJA · 2000 · OLIMPISKAS SPELES (Sydney 2000 Olympic Games) encircles the central motif along the coin's edge. The numeral 1 and inscription LATS are placed beneath the motif.

Edge

Two inscriptions LATVIJAS BANKA (Bank of Latvia), separated by three stars.

The most celebrated Latvian track cyclist is Imants Bodnieks, who participated in three Olympics (1960, 1964, 1968) and won silver for double sprint in the Tokyo Olympic Games. The first of Latvian athletes to win the World Track Cycling Championship was Dzintars Lacis (1967; 4-kilometre team pursuit). Dainis Liepins is a silver (1981) and bronze (1983) medallist in 4-kilometre individual pursuit and a world-record holder in 4- and 100-kilometre distances (1980 and 1983). The Atlanta Olympic Games were quite successful for Ainars Kiksis (the eighth in 1-kilometre time trial) and Viesturs Berzins (the ninth in sprint). In the 1998 World Championship in Bordeaux, Kiksis won the silver medal in keirin. Kiksis and Berzins were the 1997 and 1998 European champions.

Eight Latvian track cyclists have won World Championships for juniors: Dainis Liepins (four times), Martins Palejs, Gaidis Lapins, Andris Locmelis, Dainis Grantins, Armands Freimanis, Eriks Feldmanis and Kiksis.

During the 1999 World Cup series, the Latvian team took the fifth and seventh place in Olympic sprint. Due to the twelfth position in Olympic sprint in the 1999 World Championship in Berlin, Latvian athletes (Kiksis, Berzins and Gvido Miezis) have won the right to participate in all sprint events in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.