Sokol celebrations mark centenary of Tyrš House

Celebrations marking the centenary of the opening of Tyrš House, the headquarters of the Czech Sokol Society, a patriotic gymnastics movement founded in Prague in 1862, will culminate on Saturday in Prague's Lesser Town with a special performance by actors from the Cirk La Putyka ensemble. Memebers of the Sokol Society will then unveil a plaque with a message to future generations, embedded in a time capsule. The program will be attended by President Petr Pavel, the chair of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil and other distinguished guests.

The celebrations began on Monday with the christening of a mural on the wall of the Tyrš House by street art artist Michal Škapa and the opening of an exhibition on the buildings history in the Sokol Gallery. The Sokol movement was banned three times in its 163 years of existence, first by the Austrian authorities in 1915, then by the Nazis in 1941, and finally by the Communists in 1952. The organization's bans also affected the use of the Tyrš House. During the Second World War, shelters were built there and part of the building was used as an infirmary. After the abolition of the Sokol movement by the Communists, Tyrš House became the seat of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport of Charles University until 1991.