Czechs Today | All stories

Czech football has gained worldwide recognition and respect, especially since 1996, when nothing but Oliver Bierhoff's golden goal separated the Czech national squad from becoming European champions in England. Subsequent brilliant performances both at home and abroad by Czech players and trainers have proven that this country has earned a place among the world's finest football nations. This edition of Czechs Today is devoted to one such Czech sportsman. Jiri Plisek left Prague and moved to the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, to coach one of the

At first sight Lucie Schwarzova looks like a normal young woman. But as she admits herself, her hobby - historical fencing - makes her a kind of schizophrenic. A female in everyday matters becomes a male, a fighting nobleman to be precise, in her free time.

The New York Times has called his work "magnificent", Publisher's weekly "stunning": he's Peter Sis the Czech-born children's book illustrator and author of such titles as The Starry Messenger, A Small Tall Tale from the Far, Far North, and The Three Golden Keys. In this edition of Czechs Today we look at Peter Sis' career including his very latest book and talk with the author himself.

One of the symbols of the success of Czech cinema in the sixties is the film director Vojtech Jasny. His best known work from that time is called "All My Good Countrymen" - "Vsichni dobri rodaci" in Czech. The film tells the story of a few friends living in a Moravian village in the 1950's.

Greece, like many poorer countries, has a huge diaspora of emigrants living and working abroad. It's estimated that over five and a half million people of Greek origin live in other countries around the world. The Czech Republic also has a sizeable Greek community. But while Greeks living in places like the United States and Australia primarily left their homeland in search of work and a better standard of living, most of the Hellenic community here first came to the Czech lands for a very different reason.

I'm now in a quiet residential area in the south of Prague, in fact just a few hundred metres away from the busy north-south thoroughfare that cuts through the city, symbolising the rat race - sometimes too hard to keep up with. Hidden in the greenery lies an inconspicuous white building. A few people are sitting outside it in the garden, chatting. As there is no reception desk, it took me a while to find the way to the director's office.

Last year a team of eight young Czechs became the first to conquer the upper part of the Ganges River in India rapid white water, full of unexpected turns, and sheer, sudden drops. All eight took to the river in white water kayaks designed to take an absolute beating. Boats that allow for fast turns and magnificent tricks in waves of surging and unforgiving water, with nowhere else to go but down. Ready for whatever lies ahead.

Forget about the picture postcards you've seen of Prague the city of the Renaissance and Baroque, palaces, and churches and a hundred golden spires: there is a whole different city out there to be explored among the pre-fabricated apartment blocks, edge of the town discos, concrete passageways and concrete bridges. A city of night with a constant stream of cars leaving for elsewhere: all form the backdrop for Benjamin Tucek's 2002 underground hit "Girlie" ("Devcatko" in Czech).

When visiting the Czech Republic it's hard if not impossible, to not reflect on Bohemia's rich and extensive history. By touring the country's many castles in the summertime visitors will also know that there are a great number of professionals dedicated to bringing the medieval ages back to life. Professionals trained in the way of the sword, the crossbow, the staff, and the pike. At places like Hradec Kralove, Liberec and especially Cesky Krumlov. Been to Cesky Krumlov you say? Well it may just be you've seen a certain dark knight conquered during

There are only a very few European film directors who were ever able to make the transition to Hollywood cinema - and arguably none who made an impact like Milos Forman - the Czech-born filmmaker whose One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest became the first film since 1934 to win all five major Academy Awards. Forman, whose Amadeus introduced millions of Americans to Mozart as genius but also as an impetuous young man, whose high-pitched laughter - the laughter of a child - erased the stodgy portrait of the composer we all learned about in school. It