Sports News
Katerina Holubcova has made history by becoming the first ever Czech to win an individual gold in the biathlon World Championships. Prague is planning to make a bid to host the Olympic Games - in 2020. Footballer Jan Koller may not be playing any more Champions League games this season, but has a goal tally to be proud of and the return of Tomas Rosicky will be good news for Czech fans ahead of two crucial Euro 2004 qualifiers.
Holubcova takes historic gold for Czech Republic in biathlon World Championships
"It's become a tradition that when I feel bad and my body isn't working as it ought to I still feel mentally calm. I said to myself that I'd already fulfilled my ambitions by winning a bronze medal...I don't know what to add, but I'm really happy and I can't believe it myself."
Prague to bid to host 2020 Olympic Games
Prague is to bid to host the Olympic Games in the year 2020, the Czech Olympic Committee announced this week. Committee chairman Milan Jirasek said the Czechs would also bid for the 2016 games but would concentrate on winning the right to host one of the biggest sports events on the planet four years later. As for the chances of a Czech bid succeeding, Jirasek said they were "decent". For his part, Prague mayor Pavel Bem said hosting the Olympics would be a great way for the city to be seen on the international stage. It won't be the first Czech bid: the country was in the running for the 1980 games, but stepped aside to help ensure Moscow won the right to host the Olympics that year.
Valenta wins Czech Olympic award
Staying with the Olympic movement, aerial freestyle skier Ales Valenta - who took gold at last year's Winter Olympics - was given the 2002 Jiri Gut-Jarkovsky award for sporting achievement of the year by the Czech Olympic Committee on Wednesday.
Great Champions League scoring run for Jan Koller comes to an end
Two Czech players - Pavel Nedved of Juventus and Tomas Galasek of Ajax Amsterdam - will be appearing in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. As for Czech striker Jan Koller, he and his Borussia Dortmund teammates may be out of the competition, but the giant forward really has had an excellent run, scoring a very impressive five goals in the biggest club competition in world football.
Rosicky set to return in time for Euro 2004 qualifiers
Meanwhile one of Koller's Borussia teammates, Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky, looks set to return to action this weekend after being sidelined for a couple of weeks with a thigh injury. Rosicky's return will be very good news for Czech national coach Karel Brueckner ahead of the fast-approaching Euro 2004 qualifiers against the Netherlands and Austria.
