News

Czechia is represented at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo by 114 athletes - its largest team in history . The line-up includes stars such as Ester Ledecká (alpine skiing and snowboarding), Martina Sáblíková (speed skating), Eva Adamczyková (snowboard cross) Michal Krčmář (biathlon) and the national hockey team.

The Czech flag bearers at Friday’s opening ceremony are ice hockey player David Pastrňák and biathlete Lucie Charvátová.

President Petr Pavel and his wife Eva are in Milan for the opening ceremony and the first few games.

The Ministry of Labour will prepare a proposal to change the rules for early retirement for demanding professions, Labour Minister Aleš Juchelka (ANO) said after a meeting with trade union leaders in Ostrava. Trade unions are calling for the option of early retirement for more workers in hazardous occupations. Under the present system, introduced by the former government, only workers in the highest-risk fourth category and a limited number of selected professions can retire earlier without a reduction in benefits. This applies to around 12,000 people. A further 108,000 workers in the third category, were excluded from the reform amendment due to the slower increase in the retirement age. Trade unions are pushing to make them eligible for early retirement.

An Olympic Festival  - Milano Cortina 2026 - opened on Friday at the České Budějovice exhibition grounds. In the coming days the festival will offer sports activities, public screenings and meetings with athletes, providing a hub where fans can root for the Czech Olympic team. Visitors will also be able to test their skills in 24 sports, including 16 Olympic disciplines. This year the festival boasts the largest frozen ice surface in its history, a downhill slope, curling lanes, a bobsleigh simulator, a cross-country skiing circuit, and a biathlon shooting range.

Josef Turek, a Czech veteran of the Second World War battles at Dunkirk, has received France’s highest state decoration, the Legion of Honour. The award was presented on Wednesday in Olomouc by French Ambassador Stéphane Crouzat, the Czech Defence Ministry said.

Now 99 years old, Turek is believed to be the last surviving Czech participant in the Battle of Dunkirk. He received the decoration in the rank of knight.

Conscripted into the German army at the age of 18 in 1944, Turek was sent to the Western Front in France. After being captured by American forces, he joined the Czechoslovak army abroad and later served as a tank crew member of the Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade during the Allied siege of the port of Dunkirk in the final months of the war, continuing the fight against Nazi Germany.