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There is no question that Friday's headlines are dominated by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, whose postponement of a visit to Prague is being viewed by many as a political snub: but Lidove noviny asks "Is it any wonder?".

The Czech Republic's returning Olympic champion Ales Valenta makes the front pages of all the dailies today - proudly holding aloft his gold medal for the cameras and - on the front page of Pravo - biting it to prove that it's not made of chocolate. "I'm glad to be home," he tells Lidove noviny.

Campaigning for June's elections absolutely dominates the daily newspapers today. But of course, the Olympics make the main headlines in Czech daily newspapers today. Most front pages carry photos featuring rejoicing Canadian hockey players who have won their first Olympic gold for 50 years. However, the papers write the shining successes of the sportsmen at one of the greatest sporting events of the year were somewhat dimmed by doping scandals involving some cross-country skiers who had to hand back their medals.

A day after the Czech ice-hockey team said farewell at the Olympics, fans had reason to cheer again, after the Czech women's cross-country ski team had an unexpectedly strong finish in the 4x 5 km cross-country skiing relay on Thursday.

All the front pages of the daily newspapers today feature a whooping Ales Valenta, after he made history on Tuesday with his Gold Medal in the Freestyle Skiing Aerial event. What a positive contrast to another dominant figure in the papers for the second straight day: Prime Minister Milos Zeman.