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Czech Republic
Exciting sporting facts
The 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.
The Incredible
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.
International sporting events 2004
24 April - 9 May: World Ice Hockey Championships in
Prague
On 16 May the 'Peace Race' (cycle-race) finishes in
Prague (see section on Poland).
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Things to do
Hra a slepou bábu (Blind Granny)
What you need:
An obstacle course, a blindfold
How to play:
One child is blindfolded and becomes the 'blind granny'.
He/she must complete the obstacle course in the shortest
time possible. Meanwhile, the other children help by
shouting instructions. After each round, the obstacles
are rearranged. The 'blind granny' with the fastest
time wins.
In the Czech version, children also compete in pairs.
One child is the 'blind granny', whilst the other is
their guide through the obstacle course. The pair with
the fastest time wins.
Known elsewhere as:
In Germany, the game is called 'The Walk of Trust'.
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