News

The ceremonial outfits worn by Czech athletes at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo have drawn international praise. The website of fashion magazine Vanity Fair ranked the collection by designer Anežka Berecková among the five best, alongside those from Brazil, Mongolia, the United States and Italy. USA Today described the Czech outfits as the boldest of the Games, while BBC called them among the most eye-catching. Inspired by the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Alpine Pro collection features sweaters and long scarves drawing on motifs by Czech graphic artist Vojtěch Preissig.

Shoppers in Czechia are increasingly choosing premium versions of Valentine’s Day gifts, while the overall mix of presents remains largely unchanged, Czech Press Agency survey shows. Flowers, sweets and erotic items again top the list, but customers are more willing to pay extra for higher quality, design packaging or limited editions. Demand for cut flowers and premium chocolates rises sharply ahead of February 14, according to chains such as Tesco and online grocers Rohlík.cz and Košík.cz. Retailers including Lidl and Kaufland report growing interest in premium meats, cheeses and healthier alternatives. Luxury perfumes are also popular, with Notino seeing fragrances make up about half of pre-Valentine sales. A survey by Alza a half of the people queried plan to spend up to CZK 1,000, though more than a tenth expect to spend over CZK 5,000.

The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo officially got under way on Friday, with the Olympic flame lit simultaneously in two locations for the first time in history. In Milan, the fire was ignited by Italian skiing legends Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, while in Cortina d’Ampezzo the honour went to Sofia Goggia. The Games were formally opened by Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Czechia is represented by a record 114 athletes, the largest team the country has ever sent to the Winter Olympics. President Petr Pavel and his wife Eva attended the opening ceremony in Milan. The Games run until 22 February and feature nearly 3,000 athletes from more than 90 countries competing for a record 116 sets of medals.

A section of rock face collapsed on Friday in Pustý žleb in the Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area onto a road that also serves as a tourist trail. As a result, the route between the Punkevní Caves in the valley and the Macocha Abyss has had to be completely closed. No one was injured in the incident.

According to experts, the rock face poses a risk of further collapse. The rockfall involved a rock mass measuring approximately 10 by 8 metres. The debris has not yet been removed, as the entire rock mass must first be secured. It is not clear when the road may reopen.