Latvia in the Eurovision Choir of the Year going to develop a new show to join the existing Eurovision Family of Events. The event was officially confirmed on 30 November 2016, with Latvia chosen to host the inaugural event scheduled to take place on 22 July 2017. On 14 February 2017, it was confirmed that the inaugural contest would take place at the Arena Riga, located in the Latvian capital. The arena is primarily used for ice hockey, basketball and concerts. Riga Arena holds a maximum of 14,500 and was completed in 2006. It was built to be used as one of the venues for the 2006 IIHF
On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia The Declaration "On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia" () was adopted on 4 May 1990, by the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR. The Declaration stated that, although Latvia had "de facto" lost its independence in 1940, when it was annexed by the Soviet Union, the country had "de jure" remained a sovereign country as the annexation had been unconstitutional and against the will of the people of Latvia. Therefore it resolved that the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 were illegal,