Sports News

In Sports News: UEFA reject an official protest from Slavia Prague over Liverpool receiving their seeding; Czech goalkeeper Martin Vaniak leaves for the Greek league, while striker Tomas Jun may be going to English Premier League side Fulham; Tomas Dvorak qualifies for the world athletics championships; and the leading Czech pole vaulter is out of action after an airlines loses all his poles.

UEFA reject Slavia protest over Liverpool seeding

Slavia Prague's protest against Liverpool's special dispensation to enter the qualifying rounds of the Champions League has been rejected by European football's governing body, UEFA. Liverpool have been given Slavia's seeding, meaning the Prague club could now face much tougher opposition in their bid to reach the prestigious competition.

Vaniak begins first foreign stint at 34, Jun in talks with Fulham

One of the best goalkeepers in Czech football Martin Vaniak has left Sigma Olomouc for Panionios of Greece, the keeper getting his first shot at a foreign league just a few months before his 35th birthday. Panionios recently recruited former Slavia boss Josef Csaplar as their manager.

Tomas Jun of Sparta Prague - the top scorer in the Czech league last year - is said to be in talks with English Premier League club Fulham over a possible transfer. Meanwhile, Sparta have bought a new striker, signing Miroslav Slepicka from Liberec.

Dvorak qualifies for Helsinki

Tomas Dvorak, photo: Finneye, CC BY-SA 2.0

Decathlete Tomas Dvorak has qualified for this year's athletics world championships in Helsinki: the three-time world champion notched up 8105 points at a meeting in Finland, 55 points more than he needed. Dvorak, who is 33, has been dogged by injuries in recent years. The other great Czech decathlete, Olympic champion Roman Sebrle, has just begun training for Helsinki after overcoming problems with his digestive system.

Welsch joins fifth NBA team in three years

The only Czech in basketball's NBA, Jiri Welsch, has changed club, leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Milwaukee Bucks. Welsch said he was surprised by the trade. Milwaukee, who finished near the bottom of the NBA last season, is his fifth club since he went to the US in 2002.

Frenchman appointed Czech volleyball coach

The Czech national volleyball team has a new trainer, with Frenchman Laurent Tillie taking over from Pavel Rerabek was sacked. Most members of the Czech team play in the French volleyball league.

Pole vaulter Ptacek loses poles

The Czech pole vault record holder Adam Ptacek is currently out of action, after an airline lost a bag containing all eight of his poles. Ptacek says airline Alitalia have offered him 500 dollars in compensation, which is half the cost of one pole.

Czech aiming to complete Tour de France on penny farthing

Josef Zimovcak, photo: CTK

The biggest event in world cycling, the Tour de France, this year includes the highest bicycle - Czech Josef Zimovcak is aiming to be the first man to complete the 3,600 km race on a penny farthing bike. Zimovcak, who is 49 and a postman, says he sees the Tour de France as a challenge more than a race, and seven hours a day on a penny farthing saddle indeed does sound like quite a challenge!