Czech ambassador to UK: all is ready for visitors to London Olympics

With just a fortnight to the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London the Czech Olympic Committee as well as the Czech embassy in the British capital is gearing up for the event. The base for Czech sports fans and visitors to the games will be the “Czech House”, located in the borough of Islington, which will open on Friday, July 27. Radio Prague spoke to the Czech ambassador to the UK, Michael Žantovský, and asked him about the preparations.

Czech House in London, visualisation: Ondřej Tomášek – VIZE

“I believe we are ready; we have had two years to prepare. We’ve gone through a number of briefings and conferences and worked closely with the Czech Olympic Committee and the organizing committee of the Olympics. So I think we are ready to provide all the support and assistance to our athletes, visitors from the Czech Republic and top state officials who’ll be coming for the games.”

You said the Czech House in Islington will be the base for fans and visitors. What will people see there, and what can Londoners learn there about the Czech Republic?

Michael Žantovský

“It will be rather a grand event; there will be all kinds of shows, concerts and discos. There will be art exhibitions and stands of big Czech companies. There will of course be samples of Czech culinary art and beer available to both Czech, British and international visitors. We will have a virtual studio in which works of art will be exhibited in digital form, and many other things. And we will of course have top Czech athletes visiting the house every day, especially those who win medals and will want to celebrate with their fans.”

President Václav Klaus will open the Czech House; which other officials do you expect to come to the Olympics?

“We expect the president at the opening of the games, and several government ministers – the minister of education, the minister of industry and trade and I think also the minister of defence.”

Czech House in London, visualisation: Ondřej Tomášek – VIZE

You yourself are more a man of letters but are you planning to see any Olympic sporting events?

“Yes, I will see a few. Part of it will be on official business but a man of letters or not, I’m an avid tennis fan and I like sports in general so I hope I will have a chance to see the tennis tournament and maybe a few other events.”