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Football clubs Dynamo České Budějovice and FC Hradec Králové have bounced back into the top tier of Czech football after a year in division one. The south Bohemian club ensured its promotion with a 6:0 thrashing of Tábor on Wednesday night. Hradec Králové had a more modest 1:0 victory against Pardubice. Dynamo České Budějovice’s general manager is former Czech international and club player Karel Poborský.

A representative of Tibet’s spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has described it as very sad that the Czech government has switched its stand with regard to the country occupied by China and support for human rights and freedom. On a visit to Prague, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, who is is second placed in the exiled parliament, said the Czech government should have continued its former support for Tibet. He added though that what counted was the support of people not governments. Tenphel, who was invited to the Czech Republic by the Václav Havel Library, said that pressure should be maintained on Chinese leaders to try and safeguard some remnants of Tibetan culture and freedom which were under continuous attack. Former Czech president Havel was a vocal supporter of Tibet. The current Czech government has dropped its former criticism of China over the occupation of Tibet and the ongoing situation there.

President Zeman has weighed into the debate about Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka’s comments that he saw no need for more NATO troops in Europe. The head of state said he regarded Sobotka’s comments as a ‘mistake’ and any increase of US troops in Europe would be symbolic and would not bother him. The head of state pointed out that Sobotka did not have much experience of foreign affairs and would have to learn from his mistakes. The Czech prime minister’s comments followed US president Barack Obama’s pledge in Warsaw on Tuesday to commit more troops to Central and Eastern Europe in response to tensions in Ukraine and the Russian annexation of Crimea. President Zeman is also in Warsaw to mark the 25 anniversary of free elections which presaged the fall of the Communist regime.

Staying with tennis, Czech-born legend Martina Navratilová says she wants to work as a trainer but has not received the right offer. The 57-year old winner of 18 Grand Slam events admitted in a newspaper interview on Wednesday that her other engagement might mean that she might only be available as an advisor for some of the big events. Navratilová, who took US citizenship after leaving communist era Czechoslovakia, said she was open to training men or women players.