Figure 1.-- We notice that gymnastics is very popular in the Czech Republic. Again it seems to be organized primarily through sports clubs.

Sport provided an outlet for Czech nationalism years before Czech nation was created. Two Czechs, Miroslav Tyrs and Jindrich Fugner, founded Sokol in Prague (1862). It was the first physical education organization in the entire Austro–Hungarian Empire. It proved to be both a athletic club and patriotic organization of considerable importance. We have very limited information about sport in Czech Republic or before the creation of the Czech Republic, the former Czechoslovakia. As in most countries, football (soccer) is by large margins the most important sport. We see youth teams playing games with other Czech teams as well as foreign teams, especially Germany. We are not sure how these teams are organized. They appear to sports clubs rather than school teams. We also notice that gymnastics is very popular in the Czech Republic. Again it seems to be organized primarily through sports clubs.

Sokol

Sport provided an outlet for Czech nationalism years before Czech nation was created. Two Czechs, Miroslav Tyrs and Jindrich Fugner, founded Sokol in Prague (1862). It was the first physical education organization in the entire Austro–Hungarian Empire. It proved to be both a athletic club and patriotic organization of considerable importance. It was first called The Prague Gymnastic Associatio, but the named was changed to the Prague Sokol. Sport at the time in central Europe had more of an athletics/gynmastics focus than the team sports evolving in Britain and America. The concept of the Prague athletic club proved veru populasr and eight other units were organized throughout Bohemia and Moravia during 1862. Czech painter Josef Manes created a flag for Sokol with a painting on silk. M. Tyrs created gymnastic exercises and terminology which was influetial in the sport of gynastics and phyical education. Klemena Hanusova, a student of Tyrs played a major role in founding the Gymnastic Society of Czech Women and Girls (1869). Hanusova became an inportant spokes person advocating physical education for girls. I am not sure about the minimum age to join Sokol. It does not appear to be a youth group. Available photographs show a member ship made up of young men. There may have been a youth section as we have seen references to members of all ages. The Czech nationalist aspect of Sokol could be seen from the begining when the members would appear in national dress for ceremonies and public exhibitions. The Sokol organization grew in size and prestige . Sokol members volunteeres in World War I for Czechoslovak legions that fought with the Austro-Hungarian Army. After the War when revolution brroke out against the Austrians to form an independent Chesolovakia, Sokols organized para-military grouops to keep order. Sokol members played an important role in organizing the Czech National Army. Sokol members Schneider and Vanicek played an important role in organizing the army as the country was establishing its independence. With independemce, Sokol grew to be one of the largest mass organizations in the country with over 1 million members, an impressive number give Czechoslovakia's relatively small population. The membership included the country's leading political figures, T. Masaryk and E. Benes. While the first Sokol units were organized in Prague and the larger cities, by tge 1930s there were Sokol gymnasiums throughout the Check areas of the country. The gyms became both local sport and cultural centers. Many Check aththletes participating in the Olymoics and other international events (like Supcik, Vacha, Hudec, Gajdos, Dekanova and others) were Sokol members. While sport was the primary focus, Sokol also organized cultural events (drama, literature and music). Sokol also set up youth camps during the Summer. The most important events organized by Sokol were festivals. As a result of the nationalis characher of Sokol, it was banned by authorities at different periods. Austrian officials banned Sokol during World War I (1915). The NAZIS after the Munich Conference seized control of the Sudetenland (1938) and the the rest of Czesoslovakia (1939). They then banned Sokol. After being briefly revied after the War, the Comminists again banned Sokol (1948). Sokol attempted to reorganize during the Prague Spring, but the Soviet occupation ended any possibility of this (1968). Only when the fall of Communism and restoration of democracy was it possible to reorganize Sokol (1990). Sokol is now trying to recover the gymnasiums, sports fields, and other properties that were appropriated after the organization was banned by the NAZIs and Communists. There are in the Czech Reublic now nearly 1,100 units and 0,2 million members. Many are youths. Sokol has organized new events. Popular events are "Us Today" and the Terry Fox Run. Other events are more traditional like gymnastic exhibitions and various competitions with other European clubs.

Specific Sports

We have very limited information about sport in Czech Republic or before the creation of the Czech Republic, the former Czechoslovakia. As in most countries, football (soccer) is by large margins the most important sport. We see youth teams playing games with other Czech teams as well as foreign teams, especially Germany. We are not sure how these teams are organized. They appear to sports clubs rather than school teams. We also notice that gymnastics is very popular in the Czech Republic. Again it seems to be organized primarily through sports clubs. Here we see a boy working on the rings (figure 1). We do not know what kind of gym program Czech schools offer.

Created: 11:17 PM 4/27/2005
Last updated: 11:17 PM 4/27/2005