At the Czech House in Gangneung, Czech beer, Czech bread, the beauty of the Czech Republic along with its history and sporting successes will be on show to visitors to the Olympic Games and the local Koreans. The Czech House was officially opened by Milan Štěch, President of the Czech Senate, Slovak President, Andrej Kiska, Czech ambassador to Korea, Tomáš Husák, and President of the Czech Olympic Committee, Jiří Kejval, together with junior figure skating World Champions Anna Dušková and Martin Bidař.

“We wanted the house to be as close as possible to the athletes and we want them to enjoy coming here. For the public we have prepared a couple of treats – Czech beer and Czech bread,“ said Jiří Kejval, Czech NOC President.

It certainly is close to the athletes, and many of them can see the illuminated Czech House logo and Czech flag on the LED screen from their apartments in the Ice Sports Olympic Village. Present at the official opening was the entire figure skating team, and bobsleigh competitors Dominik Dvořák, David Egydy, Jaroslav Kopřiva and Jan Šindelář.

“I believe that in this beautiful environment you have everything necessary to attract lots of visitors and I’m confident that the Czech House will promote the Czech Republic as well as it has in the past. Of course I also hope there will be reasons to celebrate here!” said Milan Štěch, President of the Senate. Ambassador Tomáš Husák added: “I hope that the Czech House will also welcome many Koreans and show them what a nation of sports enthusiasts we are.“

Visitors to the Czech House, which as in previous years has been designed with the assistance of architect Petr Kolář, will be able to quaff draft Pilsner Urquell beer, and enjoy the taste of freshly baked Olympic Bread Karel along with other Czech delicacies prepared by head chef Mikhael Ashminov, well-known from the Korean TV show Please Take Care of My Refrigerator.

With the aid of virtual reality visitors can take a tour of the Pilsen Brewery, and Czech Tourism presents a century of Czech history using the same method. TV coverage will also be screened. Visitors can admire the imposing glass sculptures provided by Lasvit. The Czech House is also organising celebrations to mark the unforgettable Ice Hockey triumph at Nagano 1998 and the fiftieth anniversary of the first Czechoslovak Winter Olympic gold medal, won by Jiří Raška.

“I don’t know of any other two countries that share as much in common as the Czech and Slovak Republics. This year we also celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia, which today represents two countries. It is obvious that we will support our own athletes, but at the same time we also wish success for the other country,” said the Slovak President, who came to the Czech House after the opening of the Slovak House.

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