92 Czech sportsmen and sportswomen are gearing up for the 21st Winter
Olympic
Games which will kick off later on Friday with the official opening
ceremony in Vancouver, Canada. During the opening ceremony the Czech flag
will be carried by star hockey player Jaromír Jágr. Over 17 days of
competition,
the Czechs will be hoping to do as well or to best the last winter games
in
Turin, Italy, where they clinched four medals, including gold in
cross-country skiing. Competitors for whom expectations are high include
figure skater Tomáš Verner, cross-country skier Lukáš Bauer, downhill
skier Šárka Záhrobská and others. Fans will also be paying close
attention to the Czech hockey team, which won gold in the Olympics 12
years
ago at Nagano ‘98.