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Cross-country skier and Olympic gold medal winner Katerina Neumannova was named sportsperson of the year on Sunday evening at a special awards ceremony in Prague. Ms Neumannova was top choice by Czech journalists in the prestigious poll, earning more than 1800 points. Ice hockey star Jaromir Jagr came second in the poll, more than 400 points behind, while cross-country skier and Olympic silver medalist Lukas Bauer was third. In 2006 Neumannova triumphed in the 30 kilometre cross-country race at the Turin Olympics.

Pavla Topolankova, the estranged wife of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, has claimed that the office of the government recommended that she keep a low-profile and not take part in official events. Mrs Topolankova made the comments while appearing on a well-known TV discussion programme on Sunday. Afterwards, a government spokesman declined to comment. Mrs Topolankova did not say whether she would take the alleged recommendation seriously. Two days earlier, she stated publicly that she intended to continue on in her official role. Her husband, Mirek Topolanek, admitted last week that he had separated from his wife and was living with Lucie Talmanova, his girlfriend and fellow Civic Democrat. Pavla Topolankova has said she is not planning to file for divorce.

At 19, Martina Sablikova has become the youngest competitor to ever win the European Speed Skating Championship combined events title. On Sunday the nineteen-year old skater set a new world record in the 5,000 metres, earning a time of 6:58:45 which helped her cut a lead by the Netherlands' Ireen Wust. Sablikova has proven to be a specialist in longer formats: in the 500 metre event earlier on she finished ninth; on Saturday she also won the 3,000 metre event in which she also set a new world record.

Social Democrat MP Milos Melcak has indicated he may allow the country's newly-appointed government a chance to win a majority in an upcoming confidence vote. In an interview for the Czech newspaper Mlada Fronta Dnes on Saturday, Mr Melcak indicated he was ultimately still undecided but he said it was possible he may leave the chamber during next Friday's confidence vote. That would allow the centre-right government, led by Mirek Topolanek, a chance of earning a majority. In the interview Mr Melcak suggested there were a number of reasons why it would be preferable for his party to go into the opposition, echoing recent statements made by the party's former leader Milos Zeman. MP Melcak told Mlada Fronta Dnes he would prefer negotiations between the three-party coalition and the Social Democrats to continue.