Czech Republic

Exciting sporting Past

The Czech Johann Amos Comenius (Jan Amos Komensky) worked as a theologist and educationalist in Poland, England and Sweden. Persecuted in his homeland, he had been on the run since 1621, until he eventually settled in the Netherlands. Even today, Comenius remains a prominent figure in European education. Physical education was of particular interest to him. In his works, he focused on ball games, swimming, fencing, hiking, ice-skating, sledging, running races, sword lancing, hoop jumping, tight-roping, and walking on hands.

From labour to sports
Skiing originated in the north of Europe. Stone Age images of skiers dating back to 4,000 B.C. have been found in Scandinavia, which takes its name from the 'ski goddess', Skadi.
However, skiing was also popular in many other countries. It is documented that the first skis were manufactured in Bohemia in 1892, when Baron Jan Hellrich ordered them for his foresters - for work rather than sport.
Nevertheless, skiing, as a sport, increased in popularity. In 1894, skiers from Prague organised their first special excursions into the Sudeten Mountains and the Bohemian Forest. As early as 1903, the Czech Skiing Association was founded, which today has over 10,000 members. This makes it the world's oldest skiing association.

Extraordinary records
Football marathon
Dr Jan Skorkovský from Prague is the record-holder in 'marathon running whilst keeping a football in the air'. On 8 July, 1990, he ran the 42.195 kilometres of the Prague Marathon in 7 hours, 18 minutes and 15 seconds while constantly keeping the ball up with his feet.
In Zurich on 6 April, 1991, he ran 3.3 kilometres in 34 minutes and 36 seconds whilst balancing a table tennis ball on his forehead.

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