Sport in the Czech Republic

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 attention 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.

Ice hockey

The Czech national team

Main article: Czech Republic men's national ice hockey team

The Czech national team is one of the top teams in the world, regularly competing in the World Championship, the Winter Olympic Games 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.

Extraliga

Main article: Czech Extraliga

The Extraliga is the highest ranking ice hockey competition in the Czech Republic.

Football

Main article: Czech Republic national football team

Football has been a popular sport amongst the locals. This sport is better known as soccer in America. Previously the old Czechoslovakia team 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 Prague has supplied the national team with players such as Libor Sionko, Jaromír Blažek, Zdeněk Grygera, and Tomáš Rosický.

Rugby union

Main articles: rugby union in the Czech Republic and Rugby union in Czechoslovakia

Josef Rössler-Ořovský, who introduced a number of sports in the then Czechoslovakia, 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.

Shooting sports

For more details on this topic, see Gun politics in the Czech Republic.

Sport shooting is the third most widespread sport in the Czech Republic. Among notable shooters is Kateřina Emmons.

Baseball

Baseball is growing with popularity but is considered a minor sport. The Czech Republic hosted the 2009 Baseball World Cup. 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.

Cricket

Cricket has been played in the Czech Republic since 1997, however, as a sports body, joined the ICC International Cricket Council 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 League 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.

Individual sports

Liberec (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.

Tennis

The Czech Republic hosts a number of tennis events each year, including the UniCredit Czech Open in Prostějov and Prosperita Open in Ostrava on the men's tour, the Sparta Prague Open in Prague on the women's tour, and the Strabag Prague Open for both men and women. The Czech Republic Davis Cup team and Czech Republic Fed Cup team sometimes play matches within the Czech Republic, too.

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, the O2 Arena is the largest Czech multi-functional hall. Its capacity is 18,000 seats. HC Slavia Praha play their games there.