photo: vlada.cz
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala opened the Czech House before the opening of the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games on Friday, 26 July 2024. It will offer indoor and outdoor space not only for sports fans. It is a unique informal meeting place for spectators and athletes.
"Sport always brings us national pride, we saw it recently at the World Cup and also a few days ago when Barbora Krejcikova won Wimbledon," said the Prime Minister, adding that the Czech Republic will surely experience similar situations now at the Olympics.
According to the Prime Minister, it is the Olympic idea of peace and competition according to the rules - which is currently not respected by Russia towards Ukraine - that is very important. That is why the Czech Republic, the Czech Olympic Committee and the National Sports Agency have from the beginning taken a negative attitude towards the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Fiala recalled how closely sport is linked to the life of society and historical events. According to the Prime Minister, sport has always had a social function, which has changed over the years. He also stressed the role and importance of sport in the lives of children and young people: "Sport teaches young people to win but also to lose, to play by the rules. It teaches that success can't come without putting in some effort, and also how important physical movement is."
During his visit to the Czech House, the Prime Minister thanked the Czech Olympic Committee's implementation team and the volunteers involved in the preparations for their excellent organisation.
He then wished the Czech team good luck. "I wish you a very happy Olympic Games here in Paris. I wish our athletes many medals and, together with millions of Czech citizens, I will keep my fingers crossed for you." Fiala said in conclusion.
The Czech Olympic Houses have historically had a very good reputation. Visitors will again experience Czech culture and gastronomy. The dominant feature of the area in front of the Czech House is David Černý's statue "Věra", which is a tribute to the gymnast and seven-time Olympic champion Věra Čáslavská.
In the afternoon, Prime Minister Petr Fiala and his wife Jana will attend a reception at the Elysée Palace at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, and in the evening they will attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
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