Martina Sablikova won Olympic golds because of practises on a pond

The Czech speed-skater Martina Sablikova dominated Olympic competitions in speed-skating during the Olympics in Vancouver 2010. This 23-year-old sportswoman won 3000 m and 5000 m races, and she added a bronze medal from 1500 m race. She became one of the heroines of the Olympics and one of the most successful Olympians in the Czech history.
However, the most fascinating thing is how she reached it. In the Czech Republic, there isn't even one rink for speed-skating. She trained with her coach Petr Novak in winter when a pond froze over. She also had a board in her small flat where she trained skating technique. In summer, she did cycling and skating on roller skates. At first many people laughed at them. However, the first successes came. She won many prestige competitions such as World Championship or European Championship, and that's why some sponsors began to support her. In the Olympics in Turin, she placed at the 4 position just about few seconds. Then, Vancouver 2010 came. After that, she has won the competition "Czech Athlete of the year" the second time.
In spring 2010, she won the Czech Championship in cycling, and she considers about participation in the Olympic Games in London 2012, too.
Because of years of hard work and self-denial, she became one of the most respected people in the Czech Republic. She shown to the Czechs that nothing is impossible and she gave them hope.

Czech sport in financial crisis

Czech sport hasn't been in a good economic situation for many years. The Czech Government is giving the least money to this department from all countries of European Union, except Malta and Bulgaria. But the Czech sport has had a long tradition and many successes, especially in ice hockey, athletics, shooting, soccer, or skiing.
Those are the reasons why in May, there was a huge two-date debate on sport, where many politicians and chairmen of the most popular sports and sport associations had speeches. They agreed that the sport needs more money and the politicians promised they'll give them.
However, in June, a new Government was elected. Last week, Finance Minister released a message, where  he said the sport will get 160 million Czech Crowns less [about $8 million]. So the Czech Association of Physical education and Sports [CAPS] has to find the money somewhere else. But it isn't an easy task during the Global Economic Crisis. Many of small associations has already had existential problems, and bigger ones aren't in much better situation.
A chairman of the CAPS released a message that they will have to sell a big stadium in the center of Prague, or even tear down for place for new flats because these lucrative grounds has a value 7 billion Czech Crowns.

Czech speed skater Martina Sablikova in the Olympics in Vancouver 2010 [2 golds and 1 bronz]

A famous Czech victory in the Olympic ice hockey tournament in Nagano 1998

Devasting floods in North Bohemia

Last weekend, terrible floods struck the north part of the Czech Republic. Four people have already died, and it won't be the final number because two other people are missing. The body of last sacrifice, a 73-year-old woman, was found in Poland. Many people lost their homes "from day to day". The Czech Government gave 40 million Czech Crowns, which is about $ 2 million, for damages suffered. However, the cost of total damages is much bigger, about 4 billion Czech Crowns.
This year, it has been the second big floods in the Czech Republic. The first, and probably a little bit worse "great water" came to Moravia in spring.
Now, the people need help. Some of them don't have adequate house insurances, and some of them still have to pay mortgages. So psychologists will have much work. It isn't easy situation for the new Czech Government, which is trying to save more money than the years before because of high deficit, which is growing quickly every year.