Mexico City, 1968. A newly-crowned Olympic champion is about to make the life-changing decision to stage a political protest on the podium. The protest came from Czech gymnast Věra Čáslavská as a reaction to the Soviet-led invasion of her country two months earlier. Caslavska turned her head away from the flag of what she called the “invaders’ representatives”, the Soviet Union. The action was understated. The ramifications were huge, as World Service programme Sporting Witness has discovered through the first-hand account of British gymnast Mary Prestidge. Prestidge spent time training alongside Čáslavská in the build-up to the Mexico Games as part of an exchange programme. The Czech gymnast was already a superstar, having won three gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, including the individual all-around title. Her chances of repeating such dominance were dealt a huge blow in the run-up to the Olympics, however, when she was forced into hiding by the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968. When the ‘Prague Spring’ reforms were consequently halted, Čáslavská, a vocal opponent of Soviet rule, feared she would be arrested so she retreated to a remote forest hideout. The Olympics were just two months away. Rather than prepare for Mexico in a gymnasium, Čáslavská...
A Czech fighter has been removed from a scheduled bout at a tournament last week for sporting neo-Nazi tattoos. Radek Roušal was expected to face Slovak fighter Nikolas Krivák in an Oktagon MMA event in Brno, but was barred from competition after it was revealed that the fighter had a portrait of Adolf Hitler emblazoned on his arm. A second tattoo on his chest revealed a skull wearing an SS cap, a reference to the SS Totenkopfverbände unit responsible for administering the Nazi death camps. Speaking with iDNES.cz, Oktagon MMA promoter Ondřej Novotný noted his disgust with the situation, adding that the outcry from MMA fans is “justified.” “It cannot happen that you would come here looking like that,” Oktagon MMA promoter Ondřej Novotný told iDNES.cz. “We have a clause about that in the contract, we could fine him. For the tattoo on his chest as well. No way! It’s absolutely justified that there’s an outcry. We didn’t study what he looks like, neither did our photographers or our cameramen noticed the tattoo. Nobody spoke of it beforehand. We did not know about it, certainly not.” Roušal later claimed that the tattoos were the remnants of his “troubled” past and that...
Slavia will face Turkey’s Fenerbahçe Istanbul, in which the Czech National Team member Filip Novák plays, in the first round of the football 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League elimination phase. Sparta, the second of the Prague clubs competing in the third-tier continental cup in the spring, will face Belgrade’s Partizan, the team from Serbia. That was decided by the draw that took place at UEFA’s headquarters in the Swiss city of Nyon. The first leg matches will take place on February 17, followed by rematches a week later. Just as it was the case so far this season, top betting sites in the Czech Republic will cover this competition with appealing odds (that if betting is your thing). Slavia, as the second-placed team in its respective group, will begin with an away match. Sparta, on the other hand, will play the opening match at home after qualifying for the Europa Conference League playoffs from third place in the UEFA Europa League group, the second-tier of continental cups. The eight group winners who advanced to the Round of 16 in the Europa Conference League directly will join the advancing teams from the first round of the elimination phase, i.e. playoffs. On...
After the Prague races, RunCzech also published the dates of its races that will take place in 2022 in other Czech cities. Runners can register for the traditional Mattoni events in Karlovy Vary, České Budějovice, Olomouc, Ústí nad Labem and Liberec. It will be also possible to purchase a gift certificate as a present for all these events. “In 2022 we will be back in full strength. I’m looking forward to seeing you all again at the start,” says Carlo Capalbo, president of the RunCzech organizing committee, to all runners. After another season, which was again interfered with the Covid, the organizers believe that the 2022 season will go according to plan. The Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary will open the season in the Czech regions (May 21). Two weeks later, the Mattoni Half Marathon takes place in České Budějovice, and in the next 14 days, the series moves to the Half Marathon in Olomouc. In the end, runners can look forward to the races Mattoni Half Marathon in Ústí nad Labem (September 17) and the Mattoni Liberec Nature Run (September 24). A full calendar is available here The upcoming season of the Mattoni Half Marathons will also bring two...
The investment group of Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský has bought a 27% stake in West Ham, the Premier League club said Wednesday. The 1890s holdings a.s controlled by Kretínský is the majority owner of Czech football team Sparta Prague who also owns energy conglomerate EPH. Kretínský and his colleague, Pavel Horský, became members of West Ham’s board as a result of the acquisition into a club that is currently in third place in the Premier League after its 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday, a result you could predict with the bets built by Footy Accumulators Co-chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan have controlled West Ham since 2010 and the club has made impressive strides in recent years under manager David Moyes in his second spell in charge. “Having been to the London Stadium recently to watch David Moyes’ team, I know it is an incredible time to become part of the West Ham United family,” said Kretínský, who attended the Liverpool game. “I feel privileged to now have the opportunity to help everyone here build on the proud traditions of this great club.” In the Czech Republic, Kretínský owns book publishing houses, a sport daily and magazines, and he...
Today, a calendar of the three most anticipated sporting events opens for all running enthusiasts – the traditional Prague Half Marathon, the classic Volkswagen Prague Marathon with a dm family-run, and the Birell Prague Grand Prix. All of the above-mentioned races will take place on the traditional dates, i.e. April 2nd, May 8th, and September 3rd, 2022. “We feel confident that there will not be of any covid complications, and that lockdowns and restrictions on sports will not happen, as we are adhering to basic anti-epidemic measures”, says Carlo Capalbo, president of the organizing committee of RunCzech. Thus, after months of uncertainty and the cancellation of past races, the 2022 program will take place in its entirety. A total of 39,000 runners will take part in the above-mentioned three races alone. In the next few days, all pre-registered runners from previously canceled races will be contacted by e-mail to confirm their registrations for the individual races that will happen next year. They must decide if they intend to participate. “There is traditionally a huge interest in participating in the Prague races, among Czech and foreign runners. Therefore, we need to find out as soon as possible whether any of the...
With one year to go until the 2022 World Cup gets underway in Qatar, several nations have now booked their place – while others must face a nervous wait. A dramatic final round of fixtures in European qualifying drew to a close on Tuesday. In the final game of the group stage, the Czech Republic beat Estonia 2:0 in Prague’s Letná stadium. The home team went into the lead in the 59. minute after a goal by Jakub Brabec. Substitute Jan Sýkora upped the score to 2:0 five minutes before the end of the game. The Czech Republic finished third overall in Group E, behind Belgium and Wales and will have to make it through the knock-out stage of the qualifiers to play in Qatar next year. Who has qualified from Europe? European Championship runners-up England qualified for the 2022 World Cup as one of 10 group winners, sealing top spot in style by thrashing San Marino 10-0 in their final Group I game on Friday. Also heading to the World Cup are 2018 winners France, while Belgium, Denmark and Germany all safely navigated their groups as well. It was not all straightforward for Europe’s heavyweights, however. There were some crucial top-of-the-table deciders in the final round of...
The revolutionary RacketPal application, which has already been downloaded by tens of thousands of tennis players, is heading to the Czech Republic. It is the third country in which racquet sports players will be able to use the application to help with the return to sports, movement, and overall mental well-being. Having already helped more than 40,000 tennis players in London and Melbourne, the new RacketPal application assists players in finding opponents and teammates at their level and with similar time options. It will also help them find coaches or braiders. “Together with co-founder Bogdan, we realized that we didn’t know of any way we could meet other players who would also like to play the sport,” explained Robert Rizea, CEO and co-founder of RacketPal. In less than three years, RacketPal has moved from a mere database of racquet sports players to a modern application that can be downloaded on both available App Store and Google Play platforms- it’s a sports social network Users have access to discussions, private and group chats, personalized search for the most suitable opponent or a sophisticated system of ratings and statistics. The startup currently has 25 employees with a plan to create the largest...
Sky News has learnt that Daniel Křetinský is in advanced talks to acquire a 27 per cent stake in in the London-based English Premier League football club West Ham United, with a view to a possible full takeover in the future. The transaction could be announced as soon as the first weekend of November, when the Hammers play Liverpool at London Stadium – live on Sky Sports. Financiers said the deal was expected to include an option to take full control of West Ham after an unspecified period. Mr. Křetinský’s initial stake purchase is likely to value the club at between £600m and £700m, according to one person briefed on the transaction. If he proceeds to take full control of West Ham, it would end the decade-long control of David Gold and David Sullivan, who acquired the club in 2010. If confirmed, it would be the latest in a series of major deals involving Premier League clubs, following the controversial sale of Newcastle United to a Saudi-led consortium. Křetinský, who owns assets in the energy, media, industrial and retail sectors, has become a significant player in corporate Britain, and now ranks as the largest shareholder in Royal Mail and the...
An investigation into alleged racist abuse by thousands of children against a black player at a Europa League game was closed by UEFA on Friday for lack of evidence. Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara appeared to be booed by young Sparta Prague fans two weeks ago though the Czech club denied and pushed back on the claims. “The investigation has now concluded that there was insufficient evidence of racism or discriminatory conduct at the match to warrant the opening of disciplinary proceedings,” UEFA said in a statement. The game was played in front of about 10,000 fans aged from six to 14 as part of a punishment UEFA imposed on Sparta for racist abuse of a Black opponent in a previous game this season. Tensions were raised for Rangers’ visit to the Czech Republic because Kamara was racially abused by a player from Sparta’s city rival, Slavia Prague, at a Europa League game in Scotland last season. In that case, UEFA banned Slavia’s Ondrej Kudela for 10 games in its competitions forcing the 34-year-old defender to miss the European Championship. xosotin chelseathông tin chuyển nhượngcâu lạc bộ bóng đá arsenalbóng đá atalantabundesligacầu thủ haalandUEFAevertonfutebol ao vivofutemaxmulticanaisonbetbóng đá world cupbóng đá...
Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara was booed throughout tonight’s Europa League match with Sparta Prague by a crowd full of children. The shocking scenes were reported by Jordan Campbell of The Athletic, who was present at the Sinobo Stadium. Sparta Prague fans racially abused Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni so faced a stadium closure tonight vs Rangers. The only exception is that 10,000 local kids under 14 years are in but Glen Kamara, racially abused by Slavia’s Ondrej Kudela, is now being booed with every touch. — Jordan Campbell (@JordanC1107) September 30, 2021 “Sparta Prague fans racially abused Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni so faced a stadium closure tonight vs Rangers,” he tweeted. “The only exception is that 10,000 local kids under 14 years are in. “But Glen Kamara, racially abused by Slavia’s Ondrej Kudela, is now being booed with every touch. “Doesn’t get more depressing than that.” The 25-year-old, who was sent off with 15 minutes to go in the match, took the knee before proceedings began, with his opponents opting to stand around the centre circle instead. From that point onwards, the Finnish international was subjected to what broadcaster Emma Dodds describes as ‘disgusting’ abuse from the young crowd. Dodds claims Kamara was ‘booed above...
Plans have commenced for a project which will see the neglected river transform into a clean outdoor sports ground. The Ministry of Defence had previously indicated that the wild water track in Štvanice, which he had once used for an exhibition race along with the Czech army, was set to be destroyed due to its lack of use. Martin Leskovjan, founder of the Vlna Stvanice association, has since negotiated with the Ministry of Defence to hand over the lease of the Vltava River Basin on new lease conditions. The thought of the destruction of Štvanice, which is unique in the world as one of two artificial tracks with wild water, is behind Martin’s motivation to bring a new lease of life to the abandoned area. “The longer I deal with Štvanice, the more possibilities, and potential I see,” said Leskovjan. “The strong positive response and support of the project is concentrated from all sides and confirms to me that the project can bring together many paddlers and surfers, but also the city and its inhabitants.” As an active paddler himself, Martin plans to bring the first river surfing wave to the centre of Prague, where it will be possible to...
Don’t have an account? Register
Already have an account? Log In
How Would You Like to Promote Your Business? PR ArticleDisplay bannersVideo productionNewsletter adsJob ListingsInfluencer Marketing
Your Email
We will come back to you within 24 hours with our proporsal
