World Report

Latvia Rallies Around Hockey Team

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ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: Thousands of Latvian hockey fans headed to Russia this month. They were cheering on their team at the World Hockey Championships.

RALPH WENGE, CNN ANCHOR: But their encouragement wasn't quite enough. Latvia failed to make it into the finals.

Latvian TV reports on the high spirits that prevailed as the team headed into the contest.

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DIVS REIZNICKS, LATVIAN TV (voice-over): On the streets of Latvia's capital city of Riga, on the streets of St. Petersburg, in the chat rooms of the Internet and in the Latvian parliament, everywhere you see and hear just one thing: screams and singing in support of the Latvian national hockey team. Call it a hockey fever, a sickness that's taken over almost everyone in Latvia.

Recent polls show that some 80 percent of the country's residents are watching the national team's games in the world championships. It's truly madness, madness about hockey, madness about Latvia. This is the fourth year in a row that people, no matter what their nationality or social status, are demonstrating that they are true fans of the national hockey team.

"We are a small country, but we are tough. We have proven that over the centuries. We still exist."

"I have the same feelings that I had 10 years ago when we stood on the barricades and pulled for independence. That was fantastic, and I think most people now have the same feelings."

During the games people talk only about hockey, no matter where, on the street, in the bars and yes, even in the parliament. Latvia's parliament was to approve a new government last week, but the process was delayed for awhile, thanks to the Latvian-Russian hockey game.

Latvia won. The deputies sang the Latvian national anthem in front of the television screen, and then they went back to work in a very happy mood. The new Cabinet of ministers was approved. But was that the lead story on the evening news? Never. The hockey victory over the all-powerful Russian dream team, complete with world stars like Russian Rocket Boutret (ph) and Yashin (ph) was story No. 1. It would be untrue to say that the hockey game didn't have a bit of politics in it.

"Now we are more secure. We know that we can afford to beat them and nothing will happen, just a lot of joy."

With a population of just over 2.5 million people, Latvia has shown that it's a strong, unified, intelligent and positive-minded force.

(on camera): You might think that's some kind of revolution, but you got it wrong. That's another win for Latvian ice hockey team and Latvian fans.

Divs Reiznicks, Latvian Television, reporting for CNN WORLD REPORT.

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