CzechVol II, No. 2/2004 Newsletter of the Embassy of This!the Czech Republic In Singapore MITA 258/05/2003 what’s GOLF IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC – AN UNSTOPPABLE BOOM inside he Czech Republic, renowned as the Central European jewel of historical monuments and stunning natural scenery, is fast reclaiming its standing within Czech Republic – t professional golfing nations. With a string of golf courses mushrooming Top Golf Destination throughout the Czech Republic, the development of golf as a sport has noticeably shifted in Central Europe into high gear over the last 10 years, rising to a height that neighbouring Central and The Czech lands boast over Eastern Europe countries can only envy. 80 golf clubs as of 20041 Under The Czech Golf Federation Embassy in umbrella, there are more than 80 golf Singapore Celebrates clubs and over 17,000 avid golfers EU Accession playing across 50 courses. The rate at Czech Republic ranks among which new courses are being built annually is comparable to that of 10 new EU members 2 countries such as France. First Deputy Minister This golf boom is thanks not only to for Regional our return to the ranks of developed Development in European nations with the accession Singapore of the Czech Republic to the European Ivo Hartmann Meets Minister Union, effective 1 May 2004, but also of State Balakrishnan and to the long Czech golf tradition. At Singapore government agencies present, Czech golfers are eagerly The golf course at Hradek near Nechanice in eastern Bohemia awaiting the year’s key event – the Czechs Excel at 100th anniversary celebration of golf EURO 2004 in Bohemia, which will be held in the spa city of Karlovy Vary in Western Bohemia. It is where the first golf course in the Czech Republic was established in 1904. National team delivers memorable performance in Portugal Only 40 kilometres away, in the second most important spa city of Mariánské Lázne , lies the 3 Czech Republic’s second oldest golf club. In operation since 1930, the golf club has finally Dynamic Czech been awarded a long-deserved honour – the title of Royal Golf Club – by Her Majesty Queen Life Sciences Elizabeth II of Great Britain. CR offers wide educational base Apart from Western Bohemia, there are quality 18-hole and 9-hole golf courses in all India regions of the Czech Republic, particularly in areas where tourists and travel agencies China Malaysia Czech Republic 4 abound. In the neighbouring city of Prague, one can play at the excellent Karls tejn Golf Singapore Czech Republic – Philippines Brazil Canada Resort, which, just like Mariánské Lázne , has hosted a premier golf event – the European Chile Leader in Offshore Poland Hungary PGA Volvo Tour. Prime golf facilities are also being created in Northern and Southern New Zealand Services A.T. Kearney´s 2004 study Bohemia. In fact, in the Eastern part of the Czech Republic (Moravia), there is a completed, top-quality 36-hole golf course not far from Ostrava in ranks CR No. 1 in Europe and 5 the C eladná locale. What this means is that a golfer No. 4 worldwide visiting Bohemia today is assured of easy access to a golf course – and a good game – in a short proximity to Czech Illustrators for where his or her hotel is. What’s more, apart from the Children in Singapore breathtaking natural setting of the golf courses, within Representative exhibition stone’s throw as well are medieval castles, châteaus, and presented by the Embassy and other exquisite monuments that speak of the rich history NAFA from July 16-31,8 2004 and heritage of the Czech Republic. So the next time you’re visiting the real heart of Europe Czech Musical – the Czech Republic or capital Prague – we recommend Heritage you pack your golf clubs! Richness and diversity of musical forms are hallmarks Karlstejn Golf Resort, with the Karlstejn For more information, visit The Czech Golf Federation at of the Czech10 Republic Castle in the background www.cgf.cz. See also page 12. CZECH THIS! 01 CZECH REPUBLIC CELEBRATES ITS EUROPEAN UNION ACCESSION IN SINGAPORE he Embassy of the Czech Republic in Singapore hosted Singapore. The speakers underlined the historic significance of the an official reception on April 29th, 2004 in The Meritus EU expansion, both for the acceding countries and Europe as a t Mandarin Hotel to celebrate the country’s accession to whole. Guests were treated to a special menu of authentic Czech the European Union. The Czech Republic joined the EU officially specialties prepared by six Czech chefs from restaurants and on May 1st 2004 along with nine other European countries. The hotels in Prague, who were in Singapore as participants in the event in Singapore was attended by 250 VIPs, partners and friends Czech Gastronomy Festival held in the Meritus Mandarin. The of the Czech Republic. event was co-organised by the hotel and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in April/May 2004. Entertainment for the night The guests were addressed by Chargé d’Affaires of the Czech was a performance by a Czech harpist, Jana Friesova, who Republic, Rudolf Hykl and Ambassadors Hugh Swift of Ireland, presented among others, works by Bedrich Smetana, G. F. Handel, whose country held the EU presidency, and Mr Vassilis J. S. Bach and Michail Glinka. Bontosoglou, the Head of the European Commission Delegation in Czech Chefs from the leading Prague restaurants and hotels treated guests to Czech culinary delicacies. They were participants in the Czech Gastronomy Festival in the Meritus Mandarin from April 26th to May 4th, 2004. Czech harpist, Ms Jana Friesova, Mr Rudolf Hykl, Chargé d´Affaires of the Czech Republic, addressing the guests. entertained the audience Ambassador Hugh Swift of Ireland (left) and Ambassador Vassilis Bontosoglou, with a selection of classical Head of Delegation of the European Commission in Singapore (right). and modern musical compositions. CZECH FIRST DEPUTY MINISTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT VISITS SINGAPORE he First Deputy Minister for Regional Development of the Czech Republic, Ivo Hartmann, paid a visit to Singapore t in the third week of May 2004. During his visit, which also included his participation in the World Congress 2004 of the International Tunneling Association, where he lobbied for the Czech Republic‘s candidacy in hosting the event in 2007, he called on his Singapore counterpart Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of State, for National Development and Trade and Industry. At their meeting, the two ministers discussed the prospects for advancement of bilateral relations in areas such as tourism and trade. Special attention was given to the implications on the economic development and bilateral cooperation between Singapore and the Czech Republic following the Czech Republic’s accession to the EU. The First Deputy Minister also visited several Singapore statutory boards, namely the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Mr Ivo Hartmann, First Deputy Minister for Regional Development of the Czech Republic (centre) called on Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of State, for National Singapore Tourism Board, whose agenda coincides with the Development and Trade and Industry (right). Mr Rudolf Hykl, Chargé d´Affaires of CR portfolio of the Ministry for Regional Development of the Czech is on the left. Republic. Ivo Hartmann also met with representatives of the Singapore tourism industry. 02 CZECH THIS! CZECH REPUBLIC EXCELS AT EURO 2004 he Czech National Soccer Team delivered an outstanding Karel Brückner, the coach of the Czech National Soccer team, and admirable performance at the European Soccer before the squad’s return to Prague from Portugal: t Championship 2004 in Portugal. Highly regarded as the They say that only results count in football, but I am convinced that top contender for the title and praised for its likeable and no bronze medal could override the memory of our attractive play… offensive style of play, it won all the consecutive matches of the This is the right way and we showed we were ready to go in this tournament until it was eliminated in the semifinals in added time direction… The Czech squad won wide admiration, the experts talked by Greece. A Czech forward Milan Baros became with five goals about a compact team and we have a firm foundation for the future. the top scorer of the tournament. Milan Baros, Pavel Nedved, the “ Czech captain (the Best European Footballer of 2003) and Petr Cech, the goalkeeper of the Czechs, were named the members of the All-Stars Squad of the Championship. ” Czech forward Milan Baros was the top scorer of Euro 2004 Group D 15.6.2004 Czech Republic v Latvia 2-1 19.6.2004 Czech Republic v Netherlands 3-2 23.6.2004 Czech Republic v Germany 2-1 Play-Offs Quarterfinals, 27.6.2004 Czech Republic v Denmark 3-0 Semi-finals, 1.7.2004 Czech Republic v Greece 0-1(aet*) Czech National Soccer Team at Euro 2004 * match decided via “Silver Goal” Karel BRÜCKNER 1 Petr CECH 2 Zdenek GRYGERA 3 Pavel MARES 4 Tomas GALASEK 5 Rene BOLF Date of birth: 13.11.1939 Date of birth: 20.05.1982 Date of birth: 14.05.1980 Date of birth: 18.01.1976 Date of birth: 15.01.1973 Date of birth: 25.02.1974 Position: Coach Current Club: Stade Current Club: AFC Ajax Current Club: FC Zenit St. Current Club: AFC Ajax Current Club: FC Banik Rennais FC (France) (Netherlands) Petersburg (Russia) (Netherlands) Ostrava (Czech Republic) Position: Goalkeeper Position: Right-back, Position: Left-back Position: Central defender, Position: Central defender Central defender Central midfielder 6 Marek 7 Vladimir SMICER 8 Karel POBORSKY 9 Jan KOLLER 10 Tomas ROSICKY 11 Pavel NEDVED