Czech Republic - Culture - Sports

Sports

See also: Sport in the Czech Republic, Czech Republic men's national ice hockey team, and Czech Republic national football team

Sports play a part in the life of many Czechs, who are generally loyal supporters of their favorite teams or individuals. The two leading sports in the Czech Republic are ice hockey and association football, both drawing the largest attention of both the media and supporters. Tennis is also a very big sport in the Czech Republic. The many other sports with professional leagues and structures include basketball, volleyball, team handball, track and field athletics and floorball. The Czech ice hockey team won the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics and has won six gold medals at the World Championships including three straight from 1999 to 2001. In total the country has won 10 gold medals in summer (plus 49 as Czechoslovakia) and five gold medals (plus two as Czechoslovakia) in winter Olympic history.

Sport is a source of strong waves of patriotism, usually rising several days or weeks before an event. The events considered the most important by Czech fans are: the Ice Hockey World Championships, Olympic Ice hockey tournament, UEFA European Football Championship, FIFA World Cup and qualification matches for such events. In general, any international match of the Czech ice hockey or football national team draws attention, especially when played against a traditional rival. The Czech Republic also has great influence on tennis with such players as, Ivan Lendl, 8 times Grand Slam singles champion, 2010 Wimbledon Championships – Men's Singles finalist Tomáš Berdych, 2011 Wimbledon Championships – Women's Singles champion, Petra Kvitova, 1998 Wimbledon Women's Singles title Jana Novotná, 2011 Wimbledon Championships – Women's Doubles champion Květa Peschke and 18 time Grand Slam Champion Martina Navratilova.

  • Prague Astronomical Clock is the oldest working astronomical clock in the world

  • Karlštejn Castle in the Central Bohemian Region, founded in 1348 by Charles IV

  • Jaromír Jágr is the leading point scorer among active NHL players

  • Mariánské Lázně, a spa town in the Karlovy Vary Region

  • Český Krumlov Castle in the South Bohemian Region

  • Royal castle in Hluboká nad Vltavou, built in the 13th century

  • St. Barbara Church in Kutná Hora

  • The folk costume of kroje, seen in Vlčnov, Moravia

  • Český Šternberk is an early gothic castle from the mid 13th century

  • The Ski resort in the Krkonoše mountains

  • Chateau in Lednice, a village containing a palace and the largest park in the country

  • The Czech Crown Jewels are the fourth oldest in Europe

Read more about this topic:  Czech Republic, Culture

Famous quotes containing the word sports:

    Short of a wholesale reform of college athletics—a complete breakdown of the whole system that is now focused on money and power—the women’s programs are just as doomed as the men’s are to move further and further away from the academic mission of their colleges.... We have to decide if that’s the kind of success for women’s sports that we want.
    Christine H. B. Grant, U.S. university athletic director. As quoted in the Chronicle of Higher Education, p. A42 (May 12, 1993)

    Come, my Celia, let us prove
    While we may the sports of love;
    Time will not be ours forever,
    He at length our good will sever.
    Ben Jonson (1572–1637)

    Guys do not have a genetic blueprint that allows them to understand or love sports.
    Lesley Visser, U.S. sports reporter and announcer. As quoted in Sports Illustrated, p. 82 (June 17, 1991)