(Velká pardubická České pojišťovny)

Prague, April 2007 Summer is almost upon us and with it comes warm weather which makes us feel like getting out and doing some sport. Are you one of those people who isn’t exactly addicted to extreme sports, but does like to watch great sporting performances where winner takes all? In the Czech Republic there are many such sports events to choose from where you can witness gripping races and contests at motor racing tracks and athletics stadiums. Who knows, these professional sporting feats may inspire you to buy a new bicycle or a new pair of roller skates, or to even join dance classes…

• The triumph of modern technology and driving skill

For 120 years racing cars have been shooting round the Ecce Homo track in Šternberk (www.eccehomo.cz). June 2 and 3, 2007 will see top names compete in the European Championships in Uphill Driving. Experienced drivers as well as absolute beginners will demonstrate their skills (in previous years drivers such as Ander Vilariňo, Otakar Krámský and László Szász have taken part). There will also be a programme of accompanying events for spectators and competitors alike, as well as other races. Ecce Homo Historic (Sept. 8 – 9 2007) will also take spectators back into the history of motoring with vintage and veteran cars and motorcycles gathering at the starting line. Visitors can look forward to rallyes, an exhibition of historical vehicles and an international competition with vintage vehicles racing uphill.

• The Brno leg of the Moto Grand Prix World Championships

is the most prestigious motor sports event in the Czech Republic. Illustrious names from the world of Moto GP such as Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa, Loris Capirossi and many others will once again draw tens of thousands of fans to Brno Aug. 17 – 19, 2007. The home crowd will be watching the performances of Czech riders Lukáš Pešek (125cc), Karel Abraham (250cc) and several other younger representatives with wildcard entries into the Brno race with particular interest. Once again there will be discounts for the elderly and children, and a new feature at this year’s Grand Prix 2007 is the so-called VIP ticket, which includes a two-day pass for the VIP tent and all-day refreshments.

Up to 200,000 motor sports fans are expected at the Barum Rally Zlín (www.Barum.Rally.cz) Aug. 24 – 26, 2007. Since 1983 the rallye has been part of the European Championships, and this year for the first time it will also be a part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) heavily promoted by the Eurosport channel. The Barum Rally Zlín will be preceded by a test run (or so-called shakedown) which will take place Aug. 23 in the afternoon and a drivers’ show that same evening. The rallye itself will take place Aug 24 - 26 in two stages. These include 260km of time trials on tarmac road surfaces of varying quality, with the cars never further than 50km from the city centre. The rallye will once again feature the Super Time Trial in the streets of Zlín, always a favourite with the fans, and the city centre will also serve as the start and finish for all the other trials.

• Some world famous events in Pardubice

The Golden Helmet Race (www.zlataprilba.cz), which will take place this year Oct. 6 & 7 at the speedway track in Pardubice, is the oldest speedway race in the world and, it is claimed, one of the fairest. Riders are divided into groups, in which they race three times with only the best two races counting. In subsequent rounds everything starts from the beginning again, and only the final is an all or nothing affair. As in previous years the event will include the 33rd Junior Golden Ribbon race (even this event is the oldest on the continent in its category). Races start at midday on both days and end under floodlights.

For 116 years the Česká pojišťovna Velká pardubická (www.vpcp.cz) has been one of the most demanding steeplechases on the continent. In the long and illustrious history of the Velká pardubická race you will discover many records. Be there on Oct. 14 to see if any of these records fall – the course record, for example, set in 2005 by Maskul (9:11.26)

• Watery excitement

Are you one of those who love white water adventure? Well, be sure not to miss the Kanoe Mattoni 2007 (www.kanoemattoni.cz), the canoeing world cup set to take place in Carlsbad June 11 – 17. Experienced and novice canoeists can have a go at the Open Race, and the more romantically inclined will enjoy the torch-lit night time canoeing event. Those with a well developed sense of humour will be up for the Water Carnival featuring races for unusual craft. The Kanoe Mattoni Fest also invites spectators to watch other sports events and concerts in front of the hotel Thermal.

An unusual sport for the Czech Republic, so-called dragon boat racing (www.dragonboat.cz), is fast growing in popularity. The Czech dragon boat championships will be hosted this year by Ostrožská Nová Ves (Aug. 11 & 12), but you can also see these odd craft in action in Nymburk (Sept 1 & 2), Beroun (Sept. 8) and Jindřichův Hradec (Sept 15).

• Athletics – the queen of all sports

Be sure to mark June 27 in your calendar if you are an athletics fan. Some big stars will be taking part in the prestigious Zlatá tretra (www.zlatatretra.cz) in Ostrava, part of the World Athletics Tour – Olympic high jump champion Stefan Holm, world shot-put number one Christian Cantwell (USA) and the Kenyan Paul Kipsiele Koech. The brightest star, however, will be today’s best paid athlete, Russian pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva. This athletics meeting has been taking place in Ostrava-Vítkovice on a regular basis since 1961. In previous years spectators have enjoyed performances by world famous athletes such as Alberto Juantorena, Sebastian Coe, Marita Koch as well as home-grown stars such as Jarmila Kratochvílová and Helena Fibingerová.

The highlight of the athletics season and a celebration of the 110th anniversary of Czech athletics will be the World Under-17s Athletics Championships set to take place July 11 – 15, 2007 in Ostrava (www.atletika.cz). The highly professional approach of the organisers and easy access to Ostrava guarantee a large field of competitors (up to 2,200 young sportspeople are expected to take part). These will include the incredible Russian pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and some indomitable Kenyan runners. Czech representatives will include the long-distance runner Denisa Ščerbová, steeplechase runner Zuzana Hejnová, pole-vaulter Jan Kudlička and many others. Ambassadors for the 2007 event are the celebrated Czech athletes Šárka Kašpárková, Jan Železný and Tomáš Dvořák.



Other sports events
The Nestlé LifeInline Tour (www.lifeinline.cz) is the biggest skating festival in central Europe. This year, in-line enthusiasts can look forward to 7 races in the Czech Republic and can take part themselves June 24 in Ostrava, Sept. 9 in Brno, Sept. 16 in Pilsen and Sept. 23 in Pardubice.

Dancing contests give audiences an opportunity to admire beautiful costumes and great choreography. One such contest is the Třinecký benjamínek International Dance Festival 2007, which will take place Sept. 22 in Třinec.