Daily news summary
Czech Tourism sees 4.5 million foreign tourists in summer
Czech Tourism has estimated that this summer 4.5 million foreign tourists will come to the Czech Republic. That represents an 8 percent rise on last year.
For the whole year the state tourism promotion agency estimates 11 million foreign visitors.
Czech interest in taking domestic holidays is estimated to rise by around 20 percent this year. That interest has been boosted by higher local wages. South Bohemia and South Moravia are among the locations where tourism is expected to increase most, according to the website Hotel.cz.
Prague chosen to host 2020 European judo championships
The Czech capital Prague has been chosen to host the European judo championships in 2020
The announcement was made at the end of this year’s European championships which was hosted by Tel Aviv, Israel. It is the second time the Czech Republic has held the European championships. Serbia and Romania had also been among the contenders to host the 2020 competition.
The 2020 championships are being seen as a warm up for the Olympics taking place later in the year in Tokyo.
Czech judo competitor Lukáš Krpálek is expected to defend his Olympic gold from 2016. He secured first place in the over 100 kilo category in the European championships which have just finished, his third European title so far.
Karolína Plíšková wins Stuttgart tournament
Karolína Plíšková won her first title of the year when she beat American CoCo Vanderweghe in the final of the Stuttgart Open on Sunday. She won in straight sets 7:6, 6:4.
The win takes Plíšková’s overall tally of tournament titles to 10.
It’s Plíšková’s first win on clay since 2015 when she won the Prague tournament. Plíšková’ is seeded one when she takes part in the Prague Open next week.
Social Democrats to stick to resignation condition for coalition government
Social Democrat leader Jan Hamáček has said it will stick with its condition for entering a coalition government with ANO that any minister found guilty by a court on criminal charges should step down from his post.
Hamáček was speaking on Czech Television’s flagship Sunday current affairs programme.
The condition, which apparently targets ANO leader and current prime minister Andrej Babiš who is facing criminal charges over alleged EU subsidy fraud, has been given a cool reception by ANO leaders.
Hamáček also explained why the Social Democrats have preferred the offer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to that of defense.
Hamáček said that the defence ministry is in a catastrophic state after being in the hands of former minister Martin Stropnický. Current minister and fellow ANO minister, Karla Slechtová now described everything he had done as bad, he added. It was not for the Social Democrats to salvage a mess made by ANO, the Social Democrat leader said.
Sparta Prague appoint German ice hockey coach
German coach Uwe Krupp has been appointed coach of the Sparta Prague ice hockey team. As a player, Krupp played in the defence in the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996 and later with Detroit.
Krupp, 52, has signed a two year contract with Sparta. As a coach he led the German national team from 2005 until 2011. He was most recently coach for German club Eisbaren Berlin.
It is exceptional for Czech clubs to engage a foreign coach. Sparta have had a disappointing last season. They last won the domestic title in the 2006-2007 season.
Viktoria Plzeň move closer to league title with Karviná win
In football, Viktoria Plzeň moved nearer winning the league title in the top Czech leage with a 2:0 win against Karviná at home.
The win gives them a 10 point lead against second place Slavia Prague who play on Sunday. That means that Plzeň could secure the title next week when they play Slavia. The two goals came from Tomáš Hořova.
Lukáš Krpálek wins European judo title
Czech judo competitor Lukáš Krpálek has become European champion for the third time. He won in the above 100 kilogramme category for the first time after previous victories below that weight.
Krpálek beat Russian Tamerlan Bashaev, the former world junior champion, in the final taking place in Tel Aviv on Saturday night.
The Czech secured the win in the third minute of the contest.
The 27 year old now expects to take a pause before preparing for competitions which could secure Olympic qualification. Krpálek won the Olympic gold in 2016.
Weather
Monday should be cloudy with sunny intervals. Daytime temperatures will range between 19 and 26 degrees Celsius.
