Copyright (c) 2010 Radio Prague (Cesky Rozhlas 7 - Radio Praha)
News Saturday, February 27th, 2010
By: Jan Velinger
* An anonymous investor could finance the construction of a new speed
skating stadium in the Czech Republic, a Czech news site has reported.
* Czech alpine skier Sarka Zahrobska has won the bronze medal in the
women's slalom at the Winter Olympics.
* Czech cycling phenomenon Roman Kreuziger has won the Giro di Sardegna.
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News site: unnamed investor could build new speed skating stadium
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The Czech internet news site iDnes has reported that an anonymous
private investor may consider building a new speed skating track 50
kilometres outside of Prague, to be used by Czech speed skaters
including the sport's biggest star, Martina Sablikova. She made history
over the last fortnight by winning three medals (two gold and one
bronze) at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Domestically, her success has
drawn attention to the fact there is no speed skating stadium in the
Czech Republic. Building such a facility, however, has been estimated
to cost around 1.5 billion crowns (the equivalent of almost 80 million
US dollars). idnes reported that both the skater's coach and a local
mayor were in contact with the interested party, with Sablikova's coach
saying he would be meeting with the potential investor upon his return
from Vancouver.
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Zahrobska takes bronze in women's slalom
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Czech alpine skier Sarka Zahrobska has won the bronze medal in the
women's slalom in Vancouver - the Czech Republic's sixth medal at this
year's Winter Olympic Games. On Friday, the 25-year-old skier got in a
successful first run at Whistler and again skied well during her second
to finish behind Germany's Maria Reisch (who took gold) and Marlies
Schild of Austria (who took silver). It is the first time Zahrobska has
won an Olympic medal and is also the first time a Czech alpine skier
has finished on the podium for the Czech Republic. Before that Olga
Charvatova won a bronze medal in the downhill for the former
Czechoslovakia at the Winter Olympics in 1984.
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Daily: firm interested in exhibiting Slav Epic in Japan
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The Czech daily Pravo has reported that a Japanese firm specialising in
large scale cultural productions including major exhibitions has
expressed an interest in exhibiting in Japan the famous Slav Epic by
Art Nouveau painter Alfons Mucha. The epic, a series of enormous
canvases telling the story of the Slavic people, has been housed for
the last 45 years in Moravia's Moravsky Krumlov - although the city of
Prague is to decide soon on a permanent space for the series in the
Czech capital. According to Pravo, if the city gives the go-ahead,
Mucha's famous cycle could be seen in Tokyo, Japan for more than two
months. Necessary restoration work by Czech specialists, along with
transportation costs, would be covered by the Japanese firm, the daily
writes. City Hall is expected to discuss the issue next month.
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Social Democrats may add economist Jan Svejnar to candidates' list for
upcoming election
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The Czech-born US-based economist Jan Svejnar, who ran for president
against incumbent Vaclav Klaus in 2008, may be added to the list of
candidates in May's election to the lower house, the press has
reported. Pravo has said that the economist could be added to the list
of candidates for the Social Democratic Party, citing two anonymous
sources. The Social Democrats supported Mr Svejnar's bid for president
two years ago although the economist, who is 57, is not affiliated with
any particular political party.
In related news, Pravo writes that other candidates who could be
fielded by the Social Democrats include current Interior Minister
Martin Pecina, a Social Democrat nominee in the caretaker cabinet and
Foreign Minister Jan Kohout. Both men say they have not received any
official offer, but suggested they would probably accept if asked,
Pravo writes.
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Low-level flood alerts in places
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Melting snows across the country have raised water levels on rivers in
14 areas leading meteorologists to issue flood warnings. A 2nd degree
warning (a mid-level alert) is in place on the Novohradka - a river
near Chrudim. 1st degree alerts are also in place in other parts of
eastern Bohemia, as well as the west of the country. This winter saw
snowfall within norms, specialists have said, but a higher
concentration in cities like the Czech capital, where snow only began
disappearing with coming spring conditions over the last several days.
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Lanskroun market destroyed by blaze
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A market in to the town of Lanskroun in East Bohemia succumbed to
flames on Friday evening. Fire fighters arrived at the scene shortly
after nine pm but were unable to save most of the market's wooden
structures; they put out the blaze at a little after 12 am and no one
was hurt in the incident. The main frame of the market did survive but
will need to be tested by safety specialists. Otherwise, damages have
been estimated at around 5 million crowns. Police are looking at a
number of scenarios - including the possibility of arson.
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Cameraman Juraj Sajmovic to receive lifetime achievement award
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Cameraman Juraj Sajmovic, born in Czechoslovakia in 1932, will receive
a lifetime achievement award on Saturday recognising his contribution
to Czech cinema and television production. The cameraman worked on such
projects as Return to Paradise Lost by director Vojtech Jasny, the film
Golet v Udoli (for which he received a Czech Lion), and the TV series
l13 komnata (13th chamber). The Association of Czech Cinematographers
is made up of around 190 members; members of the jury deciding this
year's lifetime achievement honour included film critic Vera Miskova
and director David Ondricek.
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Cycling: Kreuziger wins Giro di Sardegna
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Young Czech cycling phenomenon Roman Kreuziger has won his first race
in the new season, the Giro di Sardegna in Sardinia. The 23-year-old,
who rides for Liquigas and finished ninth last year in the Tour de
France, took command of the tour on Wednesday in the race's second
stage. He held onto the leader's jersey after that; the tour is raced
over five separate stages. Chris Horner of the USA finished second,
four seconds behind the leader.
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Football: Cech out with injury for three to four weeks
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In football, star Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech, who plays for Chelsea in
the English Premier League, will miss the next three to four weeks due
to a calf injury. Cech suffered the injury during his side's Champion
League first-leg loss on Wednesday against Inter Milan. Chelsea were
defeated 2:1. Besides missing games for Chelsea, Cech will also not be
able to take part in the upcoming friendly between the Czech Republic
and Scotland.
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Weather
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Mostly cloudy conditions are expected into Sunday; daytime temperatures
should reach highs of around 7 degrees Celsius.
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Articles posted on www.radio.cz today
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SoundCzech
I am fed up
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Welcome to another edition of SoundCzech - Radio Prague's Czech
language course in which you can learn new phrases with the help of
song lyrics. Today's song is by the group Alkehol and it is called
Guardian Angel. The phrase to listen out for is "on uz me ma plny zuby".
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/125465
Magazine
Magazine 2.27.2010
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A Czech invents the tea-lock. What's it for and, do you need one?
Czechs are crowding to see a castle that will not be around for long.
And what will Czech firms bring to April's Slow Food fair in Stuttgart?
Find out more in this edition of Magazine.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/125464
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