(Barum Rally Zlín 2009)

All athletics supporters have marked 17 June 2009 distinctly in their calendars. True stars such as Olympic champions Pamela Jelimo from Kenya and Kubánec Dayron Robles, who last year clocked a world record in the 110-meter hurdles, are preparing for the prestigious 48th Golden SpikeOstravaIAAF GRAND PRIX. World high-jump champion Blanka Vlašić and Barbora Špotáková, the biggest star of modern Czech athletics and holder of the world record in the javelin throw, also will be present in Ostrava. The traditional athletics meet in Ostrava-Vítkovice has taken place since 1961 and already for the 6th year is a part of the prestigious IAAF GRAND PRIX series as the only such event in the Czech Republic and surrounding countries. Television coverage will transmit the athletes' exploits to over 120 countries worldwide.

The Cardion ab Grand Prix of the Czech Republicat the Brno Circuit is one of the most attended enterprises of the World Motorcycle Championship. Such well-known names in the MotoGP category as Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo, and many more will attract tens of thousands of fans to Brno during 14-16 August 2009. The home crowd will closely follow the performances of Czech riders Lukáš Pešek (250 cc), Karel Abraham (250 cc), Lukáš Šembera (125 cc) and other youngsters competing in the Brno race as wild cards. An additional race is the Red Bull Rookies Cup, in which the sport's young prospects will showcase their riding talent. Weekend ticket holders now have the possibility to visit the pit lane and take a behind-the-scenes look at motorcycle racing or even obtain the autographs of some riders.

Up to 200,000 motoring enthusiasts are expected at the track of the celebrated automotive competition Barum Czech Rally Zlín on 21-23 August 2009. This auto rally has been part of the European Rally Championship since 1983 and once again will count as part of the prestigious world series Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC). A trial run (the so-called shakedown) is on the programme for the morning of Friday, 21 August, and the ceremonial start of the competition will take place later that day at 5 p.m. The competition comprises 270 km of speed trials on an asphalt surface of varying quality, and the most distant location is a mere 50 km from the competition centre. The race itinerary for 2009 again will feature the fan favourite Super Speed Trial through the streets of Zlín, both the starting location and final destination of the competition.

The Velká pardubickáhorse race is both the hardest race on the continent as well as the oldest sporting and society event in the Czech Republic. On 11 October 2009 at the Pardubice racecourse, the already 119th successive winner will be crowned. Before reaching the home stretch, the winner will have to negotiate 31 hurdles including the dreaded Taxis jump, said to be one of the most difficult jumps ever...

Sport is about more than sweat and records, it's also about entertainment. In the north Bohemian village of Druzcov on 11-12 July 2009, owners of tractors, cultivators and mowers will get together and put their familiarity with their machines to the test in a series of skill races. On 25 July 2009, the east Moravian village Vlčkov once again will cheer on daredevils as they attempt to cross an unfortunately narrow and unstable foot bridge across the local fish pond. Should some fortunate soul manage to cross the bridge, he still will not avoid a soaking: the event's official concluding activity is the collective jump of participants and organisers into the water. Participants in the ride of historic bikes in the south Moravian town Ždánice (22-23 August 2009), on the other hand, will pursue refinement and elegance. A panel will judge the riders for their debonair bicycle manoeuvring as well as original historic costume.

Markéta Chaloupková

Czech Tourist Authority - CzechTourism

chaloupkova@czechtourism.cz