Czechs, especially young people, love the sports of the Czech Republic. The favourite ones are outdoors oriented and take advantage of the beautiful Czech scenery. It is easy to find somebody to take a bike ride with out of the city into the beautiful Czech countryside or to hike up the mountains during the warmer months. In fact, Czechs tend to spend their entire weekends outside the cities. Czechs love watching football, hockey, tennis, and other major sporting events.
Sokol Organization
Sports in the Czech Republic do not just include professional games but also local sporting groups. The most popular Czech sports grouping is the mass participation in the Sokol organisation. The main goal of Sokol organization is to promote national health and sports in the Czech Republic. It has also played a key role in the national resistance to the Austrian Empire, the Nazi occupation, and even the Communist regime. Who knew that sporting group could change the country?
Football
Football is by far one of the most popular sports in the Czech Republic. The Czech Football Association (CFA) has run the country’s top league which is also the Czech’s first league. There are over 3,900 football clubs and over 625,000 registered players in the Czech Republic. The most famous clubs to watch include Sparta, Slavia a Dukla Praha, Banik, Ostrava, Zbrojovka Brno, and FK Teplice. The largest football stadium in the Czech Republic is in Brnoo and can seat 50,000 spectators.
Ice Hockey
Ice Hockey is another widely watched and played sport in the Czech Republic. There are many clubs, teams, and opportunities for people to play. Currently under construction, the Arena Chomutov is a multi-use indoor arena in Chomutov. Once it is completed in mid 2008, the arena will mostly be used for ice hockey and basketball matches. The arena will have a capacity of 10,000 people. There are many other hockey arenas that can be found in many of the major cities in the Czech Republic. Popular ice hockey teams include HC Zlín, HC České Budějovice, HC JME Znojemští Orli, and HC Sparta Praha.
Golf
Throughout the Czech Republic, there are many wonderful golf courses where tourists can tee off. Some of the most famous golfing spots in the country include the historic Marianske Lazne Golf Club near the German border, the Golf Club Karlstejn, Golf Resort Konopiste, Golf Club Podebrady near Prague, Golf Club Praha, and Golf & Country Club Praha located in Prague.
Tennis
Czech tennis players are noteworthy successful in the international arena, and have been remarkably successful in international competitions. Martina Navrtilov is arguably one of the best female tennis players in the history of the sport. Many other Czechs tennis players are ranked in the top 100 in international tennis.