Sport in the Czech Republic
Encyclopedia
Sport plays a significant part in the life of many Czechs who are generally loyal supporters of their favourite teams or individuals.
The two leading sports in the Czech Republic
are football and ice hockey
, both drawing the largest attntion of both the media and supporters. The many other sports with professional leagues and structures include basketball
, volleyball
, handball
, athletics, floorball
and others.
Sport is a source of strong waves of patriotism
, usually rising several days or weeks before an event and sinking several days after.
The events considered the most important by Czech fans are: the Ice Hockey World Championship, the Olympic ice hockey tournament
, the European football championship
, the football World Cup
and qualification matches for such events. In general, any international match involving the Czech ice hockey
or football national team draws attention, especially when played against a traditional rival: Germany
in football; Russia
, Finland
, Sweden
and Canada
in ice hockey; and Slovakia
in both.
Both summer and winter Olympic games
are also very popular.
and the Euro Hockey Tour
. The national team captured their first Olympic Gold at the 1998 Games in Nagano. Prominent Czech players include Dominik Hašek
, Patrik Eliáš
, Jaromír Jágr
, Aleš Hemský
, Tomáš Kaberle
, Milan Michálek
and Robert Lang, who captained the 2006 Olympic team to a bronze medal.
were a force to be reckoned with, finishing runners-up twice in the World Cup and winning UEFA Euro 1976. The sport gained even more support when the national team qualified for their first World Cup since the break-up of Czechoslovokia. More recently players such as Petr Čech
, Tomáš Rosický
& Pavel Nedvěd
have gone on to achieve great success at top European clubs and have become national icons.
In domestic football, the Gambrinus liga
is the top-level in the Czech football league system. The most successful clubs are the two capital-based sides Sparta Prague and Slavia Prague. For a long time, Sparta Praha has supplied the national team with players such as Libor Sionko
, Jaromír Blažek
, Zdeněk Grygera
, and Tomáš Rosický
.
, among others skiing
and tennis
, was originally credited with starting rugby as well back in 1895. He went to England and brought back a rugby ball with him. Efforts were made to play the game at the Czech Yacht Club, but a public struggle ensued, and rugby subsequently never really caught on.
Czechoslovakia was a founder member of FIRA
in 1934, and joined the IRB in 1988.
Currently, Brno
in Moravia, and the capital Prague
are considered to be the centres for rugby in the country.
is the third most widespread sport in the Czech Republic. Among notable shooters is Kateřina Emmons
.
. A few Czech have signed contracts and are now playing in Minor League Baseball
. The Czech Republic has been invited to compete in the qualifying round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic
.
in 2000.
The Czech Cricket Union is the official governing body of the sport of cricket in Czech Republic. Its current headquarters is in Prague, Czech Republic. The Czech Cricket Union is the Czech Republic's representative at the International Cricket Council and is an affiliate member. It is also a member of the European Cricket Council.
The teams that participate in the CCU Cup are:
Prague Cricket Club,
Vinohrady Cricket Club,
Prague Bohemians Cricket Club,
Prague Barbarians Cricket Club,
Brno Cricket Club .
is gaining in popularity, with the Czech Republic national rugby league team
representing the Czech Republic in international tournaments. In 2009 they were the runner up in the Rugby League European Shield.
(when it was Reichenberg
) hosted the FIL European Luge Championships in 1914
and 1939
. The city hosted the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009. Prague
hosted the 1958 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in 1958.
, Czech Republic Davis Cup team
, Czech Republic Fed Cup team
, I. Czech Lawn Tennis Club
Synot Tip Arena
Located in Prague's district of Vršovice, Synot Tip Arena has a seated capacity of 21,000. It is the home stadium of football team SK Slavia Praha and opened on 7 April 2008.
O2 Arena
Located in Prague Vysočany
, the O2 Arena is the largest Czech multi-functional hall. Its capacity is 18,000 seats. HC Slavia Praha play their games there.
The two leading sports in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
are football and ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, both drawing the largest attntion of both the media and supporters. The many other sports with professional leagues and structures include basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
, athletics, floorball
Floorball
Floorball, a type of floor hockey, is an indoor team sport which was developed in the 1970s in Sweden. Floorball is most popular in areas where the sport has developed the longest, such as the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. The game is played...
and others.
Sport is a source of strong waves of patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
, usually rising several days or weeks before an event and sinking several days after.
The events considered the most important by Czech fans are: the Ice Hockey World Championship, the Olympic ice hockey tournament
Ice hockey at the Olympic Games
Ice hockey tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since 1920. The men's tournament was introduced at the 1920 Summer Olympics and was transferred permanently to the Winter Olympic Games programme in 1924. The women's tournament was first held at the 1998 Winter Olympics...
, the European football championship
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
, the football World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
and qualification matches for such events. In general, any international match involving the Czech ice hockey
Czech national ice hockey team
The Czech men's national ice hockey team is the national ice hockey team of the Czech Republic. It is one of the most successful national ice hockey teams in the world, currently ranked fifth by the IIHF, behind Finland. It is controlled by the Czech Ice Hockey Association...
or football national team draws attention, especially when played against a traditional rival: Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in football; Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in ice hockey; and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
in both.
Both summer and winter Olympic games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
are also very popular.
The Czech national team
The Czech national team is one of the top teams in the world, regularly competing in the World Championship, the Winter Olympic GamesWinter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
and the Euro Hockey Tour
Euro Hockey Tour
The Euro Hockey Tour is an annual ice hockey tournament only open to the national men's teams of the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, and Sweden. Most of the teams use the competition as a preparation for the upcoming World Championships or Olympics, allowing less experienced players to collect...
. The national team captured their first Olympic Gold at the 1998 Games in Nagano. Prominent Czech players include Dominik Hašek
Dominik Hašek
Dominik Hašek is a Czech ice hockey goaltender who is currently with HC Spartak Moscow of the KHL.In his 16-season National Hockey League career, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, and the Ottawa Senators. During his years in Buffalo, he became one of the...
, Patrik Eliáš
Patrik Elias
Patrik Eliáš is a Czech professional hockey left winger and alternate captain for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League . A long-time Devil and currently the team's longest-tenured skater, Eliáš is the franchise's all-time leading scorer, while also holding franchise records for most...
, Jaromír Jágr
Jaromir Jagr
Jaromír Jágr is a Czech professional ice hockey right winger who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . Jágr formerly played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers, serving as captain of the Penguins and the Rangers...
, Aleš Hemský
Ales Hemsky
Aleš Hemský is a Czech professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League .-HC Pardubice:...
, Tomáš Kaberle
Tomas Kaberle
Tomáš Kaberle is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman, currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. He previously played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins....
, Milan Michálek
Milan Michálek
Milan Michálek is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing left wing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League . He was drafted sixth overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft...
and Robert Lang, who captained the 2006 Olympic team to a bronze medal.
Extraliga
The Extraliga is the highest ranking ice hockey competition in the Czech Republic.Football
football has been a popular sport amongst the locals. Previously the old Czechoslovakia teamCzechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
were a force to be reckoned with, finishing runners-up twice in the World Cup and winning UEFA Euro 1976. The sport gained even more support when the national team qualified for their first World Cup since the break-up of Czechoslovokia. More recently players such as Petr Čech
Petr Cech
Petr Čech is a Czech footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Czech Republic as a goalkeeper. Čech previously played for Viktoria Plzeň, Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, and Rennes. He was voted into the all-star team of Euro 2004 after helping his country reach the semi-finals...
, Tomáš Rosický
Tomáš Rosický
Tomáš Rosický is a Czech footballer who plays for Arsenal and captains the Czech national team. He has a brother named Jiří who is also a footballer...
& Pavel Nedvěd
Pavel Nedved
Pavel Nedvěd is a retired Czech football midfielder. He is one of the most successful Czech players to emerge from the newly formed Czech Republic, winning numerous accolades with Lazio and Juventus, including the last ever Cup Winners' Cup...
have gone on to achieve great success at top European clubs and have become national icons.
In domestic football, the Gambrinus liga
Gambrinus Liga
The Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,...
is the top-level in the Czech football league system. The most successful clubs are the two capital-based sides Sparta Prague and Slavia Prague. For a long time, Sparta Praha has supplied the national team with players such as Libor Sionko
Libor Sionko
Libor Sionko is a Czech footballer currently playing for Sparta Prague.- Early career :He previously played for Austria Vienna, Grazer AK, Sparta Prague, Banik Ostrava and Rangers. Playing successfully for Sparta in the Czech League and UEFA Champions League, where Sparta in two occasions , got...
, Jaromír Blažek
Jaromír Blažek
Jaromír Blažek is a Czech football goalkeeper who currently plays for Sparta Prague in the Gambrinus liga. He is married with two children - Jakub and Aneta.- Club career :...
, Zdeněk Grygera
Zdenek Grygera
Zdeněk Grygera is a Czech football player who is currently playing for English club Fulham. He is usually a right back or centre back but can play anywhere in defence.-Early career:...
, and Tomáš Rosický
Tomáš Rosický
Tomáš Rosický is a Czech footballer who plays for Arsenal and captains the Czech national team. He has a brother named Jiří who is also a footballer...
.
Rugby union
Josef Rössler-Ořovský, who introduced a number of sports in the then CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, among others skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, was originally credited with starting rugby as well back in 1895. He went to England and brought back a rugby ball with him. Efforts were made to play the game at the Czech Yacht Club, but a public struggle ensued, and rugby subsequently never really caught on.
Czechoslovakia was a founder member of FIRA
FIRA
FIRA is a four-letter acronym used for:* FIRA - Association of European Rugby* Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations* Foreign Investment Review Agency * Federation of International Robot-soccer Association...
in 1934, and joined the IRB in 1988.
Currently, Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
in Moravia, and the capital Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
are considered to be the centres for rugby in the country.
Shooting sports
Sport shootingShooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
is the third most widespread sport in the Czech Republic. Among notable shooters is Kateřina Emmons
Katerina Emmons
Kateřina Emmons, née Kůrková is a female Czech sport shooter who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics, where she won a bronze medal, and the 2008 Summer Olympics, where she won her first gold medal in the women's 10 metre air rifle competition, and the very first gold medal of that particular...
.
Baseball
Baseball is growing with popularity but is considered a minor sport. The Czech Republic hosted the 2009 Baseball World Cup2009 Baseball World Cup
The 2009 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament that started on 9 September 2009. The final was held in Nettuno, Italy on 27 September 2009. It was the 38th time the World Cup took place, and the first time that it was hosted by a continent rather than a single country...
. A few Czech have signed contracts and are now playing in Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. The Czech Republic has been invited to compete in the qualifying round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic
2013 World Baseball Classic
The 2013 World Baseball Classic will be an international baseball competition. The Classic was expanded to 28 teams, from 16.Japan won the first two World Baseball Classics, in 2006 and 2009.- Qualification:...
.
Cricket
Cricket has been played in the Czech Republic since 1997, however, as a sports body, joined the ICC International Cricket CouncilInternational Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
in 2000.
The Czech Cricket Union is the official governing body of the sport of cricket in Czech Republic. Its current headquarters is in Prague, Czech Republic. The Czech Cricket Union is the Czech Republic's representative at the International Cricket Council and is an affiliate member. It is also a member of the European Cricket Council.
The teams that participate in the CCU Cup are:
Prague Cricket Club,
Vinohrady Cricket Club,
Prague Bohemians Cricket Club,
Prague Barbarians Cricket Club,
Brno Cricket Club .
Rugby league
Rugby LeagueRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
is gaining in popularity, with the Czech Republic national rugby league team
Czech Republic national rugby league team
-National team:The following is a summary of tournaments and results for the Czech Republic National Rugby League Team.-2006:The year 2006 saw the inaugural entrance of the Czech Rugby League team. Playing two games against the Dutch team Netherlands Tasman . This was a close and competitive match...
representing the Czech Republic in international tournaments. In 2009 they were the runner up in the Rugby League European Shield.
Individual sports
LiberecLiberec
Liberec is a city in the Czech Republic. Located on the Lusatian Neisse and surrounded by the Jizera Mountains and Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, it is the fifth-largest city in the Czech Republic....
(when it was Reichenberg
Reichenberg
Reichenberg may refer to the following places:*Reichenberg, the German name for Liberec, a town in the Czech Republic*Reichenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany*Reichenberg, Bavaria, a municipality in Bavaria, Germany...
) hosted the FIL European Luge Championships in 1914
FIL European Luge Championships 1914
The FIL European Luge Championships 1914 took place in Reichenberg, Bohemia under the auspices of the Internatioanler Schlittensportsverband , a forerunner to the International Luge Federation.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:Only the gold medalist was listed in the bsd.de...
and 1939
FIL European Luge Championships 1939
The FIL European Luge Championships 1939 took place in Reichenberg, Czechoslovakia for the second time under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing under their "Section de Luge", a trend that would continue until the...
. The city hosted the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009. Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
hosted the 1958 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in 1958.
Tennis
See Unicredit Czech OpenUniCredit Czech Open
The UniCredit Czech Open is a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor red clay courts. It is currently part of the Association of Tennis Professionals Challenger Tour. It is held annually at the Prostějov Tennis Complex in Prostějov, Czech Republic, since 1994.-Singles:-Doubles:-External...
, Czech Republic Davis Cup team
Czech Republic Davis Cup team
The Czech Republic Davis Cup team represents the Czech Republic in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Czech Tennis Federation. The Czech team was started in 1993, following the Czechoslovakian break-up....
, Czech Republic Fed Cup team
Czech Republic Fed Cup team
The Czech Republic Fed Cup team is the representative national team of Czech Republic in Fed Cup competition. The Czech Republic team in its current incarnation only began competing in 1993...
, I. Czech Lawn Tennis Club
I. Czech Lawn Tennis Club
The I. Česky Lawn Tennis Klub Praha is a tennis club located on Štvanice Island in the center of Prague, Czech Republic. The club was founded in 1893. The current stadium seats 8,000 spectators, and was built to host the 1986 Federation Cup. The club is the home of the Strabag Prague Open, an...
Arenas and stadiums
Important Czech arenas and stadiums:Synot Tip Arena
Located in Prague's district of Vršovice, Synot Tip Arena has a seated capacity of 21,000. It is the home stadium of football team SK Slavia Praha and opened on 7 April 2008.
O2 Arena
Located in Prague Vysočany
Vysocany
Vysočany may refer to several places in Czech Republic and Slovakia and has several alternate spellings in non-native languages: Wysocan, Wysočan, Vysočan and Vysocan.*Vysočany in Blansko District, Czech Republic*Vysočany in Znojmo District, Czech Republic...
, the O2 Arena is the largest Czech multi-functional hall. Its capacity is 18,000 seats. HC Slavia Praha play their games there.