Sports News
Floods are also affecting sports fixtures in the Czech Republic, where several leading sports stars are doing their bit to help their flood-hit countrymen. In sports events which have taken place this week, Liberec and Sparta Prague have lost the first legs of their Champions League play-offs. That's all in the Sports News.
Football fixtures cancelled this weekend due to flooding
Like other areas of life here in the Czech Republic, the devastating floods have severely affected the world of sport. All of this weekend's football games have been postponed. The Czech football league took the decision after consulting club representatives. "It wouldn't be right playing football in a situation like this," said Ivo Lubas of the Czech FA. In many cases it wouldn't be possible either - Pribram's pitch has been flooded, as has that of Ceske Budejovice, one of the worst hit places in the country. Blsany have kindly offered Budejovice the use of their stadium free of charge.
All the postponed games have been rescheduled for November 24, which means the league's winter break will begin one week later than originally planned.
Hasek and co. to use Stanley Cup visit to raise money for flood victims
Four Czech ice hockey players were in the Detroit Red Wings side which won the NHL's Stanley Cup this year. The cup itself arrived in the Czech Republic on Wednesday, and the players - Dominik Hasek, Jiri Fischer, Ladislav Kohn and Jiri Slegr - said they would use already planned celebrations in their home towns to try and raise money for the victims of the devastating floods. Dominik Hasek said the players were only too glad to turn the homecomings into fundraising events. Kohn said he himself had once been the victim of flooding and could imagine how people were now suffering.
Munich medal duo pledge part of winnings to victims of floods
The two Czech athletes who at the European Championships last week won gold and silver medals respectively, Jan Sebrle and Jiri Muzik, have said they will give part of their winnings from Munich to help flood victims at home.
Liberec and Sparta lose in Champions League play-offs first legs
On Tuesday, Sparta Prague travelled to Genk in Belgium for their Champions League play-off. The Czech Republic's leading club struggled against the Belgians, and went down 2:0. Sparta will now have to win by three goals in the home leg in two weeks time to make it through to the big league, and the big bucks - a place in the Champions League would earn the club millions of crowns.
Chovanec joins Pribram, while his successor gives Simak first call-up
Former Czech national football coach Josef Chovanec has been appointed boss at Pribram, and current Czech manager Karel Brueckner has named newcomer Jan Simak of Leverkusen in his squad to face Slovakia in a friendly next Wednesday.
