the Estonian Ski Team of two Olympic Games, comes from the former Kaagjärve Parish. Sports activities are co-ordinated by the Sports Association of Valga County, established on 30 November 1995. The Chairman of the Sports Association is Tiit Kattai. Media The office of the local newspaper Valgamaalane is located in Valga and it is being issued three times a week. Together with the newspapers Pärnu Postimees, Sakala, Virumaa Teataja and Järva Teataja the newspaper Valgamaalane also belongs to the media company AS Ühinenud Ajalehed. The events of Tõrva Town, Helme and Põdarala Parish are included in a local Helme Kihelkonnaleht which is being issued once in a month. A local newspaper Otepää Teataja is being issued twice a month by Otepää, Palupera, Puka and Sangaste Parish. The only local radio station Ruut FM is located in Valga. Well-known cultural and public figures of Valga County Jānis Cimze, a pedagogue and a musician, the manager of Cimze Seminary in Valga in 1849–1881. August Gailit, a writer, born in Sangaste Parish. Konrad Mägi, a painter and a pedagogue, born in Hellenurme Parish. Alfred Neuland, a weightlifter, born in Valga. Eduard Ole, a painter, born in Karula Parish. Urmas Ott, a TV journalist, born and educated in Otepää. Alfons Rebane, a military commander, born in Valga. Jaan Soots, a military commander, born in Helme Parish. Tiit Vähi, a politician and an economist, born in Kaagjärve; graduated from Valga I High School. He worked as a Director of Valga Car Transportation Company in 1976–1989. Paul Varul, a lawyer and a civil servant. Henrik Visnapuu, a poet and dramatist, born in Helme Parish. Education and youth work In the academic year of 2013/2014 there were 23 educational institutions in Valga County – 20 municipal schools (administered by local governments), two official state schools and one private school. 7 gymnasiums and high schools, 13 basic schools and one correspondence school belong to the municipality. Valga Jaanikese School and Valga County Vocational Training Center are state schools. The only private school of the county is the Otepää Branch of Audentes Sports Gymnasium. The biggest schools of the county are (by the number of students in 2013/2014): Valga Elementary School (846), Tõrva Gymnasium (446), Valga County Vocational Training Center (415), Valga Russian Gymnasium (391) and Otepää Gymnasium (387). Since 1 September, Valga Russian Gymnasium is proceeding as an elementary school under the name of Valga Priimetsa School. According