Czech athletes ready to go for gold to Athens

The Czech Republic will send a larger team to the Olympic Games in Athens than ever before. Last week the Czech National Olympic Committee nominated a total of 136 athletes in 19 sports for the games. Eleven members of the team have already won an Olympic medal in the past. For the three-time Olympic winner, javelin thrower Jan Zelezny, this will be no less than his fifth games. The president of the Czech Olympic Committee Milan Jirasek names the sport disciplines at which the Czech Republic is particularly strong:

Czech athletes ready to go for gold to Athens

Milan Jirasek, photo: CTK

"Athletics has been the largest team with 33 athletes, than follows rowing with 16 athletes, women's basketball team and cycling with 12 athletes."

Which of the Czech athletes, do you believe, have the best chance to succeed?

"There are athletes in our team, who have high ambitions and who will be among the world elite for a long period. We rely mostly on Roman Sebrle in the decathlon of athletics, then Stepanka Hilgertova in wild water slalom and on kayak and Martin Tenk in shooting."

Do you believe that the Czech Republic has a stronger team compared to some previous Olympic Games? And can you compare it to the teams of other countries?

Stepanka Hilgertova

"Yes. We have many other athletes who are heading for the world elite and who may win recognition at the Athens Games. I am convinced that the level of performance of our athletes has a growing tendency and that our team will be even stronger than it was in Sydney."

You are saying that the Czech team has a growing tendency, but probably so have the teams from other countries. So do you believe that the Czech team has still a good chance to succeed in spite of this strong competition?

"I think that the chance is here. I know that everybody would like to win in Athens. So do our athletes".

What kind of conditions do you expect in Athens as for the weather and as for the facilities? Do you think that, for example, the hot weather could affect the performance of the Czech athletes?

Roman Sebrle, photo: CTK

"We are really expecting an extremely hot weather in Athens. Our athletes are making an allowance for that. They have been to Athens; they have been training there or even have competed there, so they have to put up with this reality just like all others."

How much is the Czech public interested in the Olympics?

"Our general public is sports minded. Czech people always follow Olympic Games with enthusiasm. Many of our supporters are preparing to go to Athens directly; others will follow the Olympiad on the TV at home with close attention. The Czech Television will bring transmissions practically 24 hours a day."