CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND SPORT

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 89, 10 January 1938, Page 6

CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND SPORT

Soccer And Tennis RAPID DEVELOPMENT The visit of the Czechoslovaknational association football team for a match at Tottenham Hotspur’s ground last month against the pick of England’s professional talent, focussed attention anew on the great progress made by sportsmen in Central Europe during the past few years, said a writer in an overseas journal. Not so long ago, the notion of a Czechoslovak side being able to extend England’s best XI in a really earnest engagement would have seemed fantastic; but now the Czechs are a very formidable soccer force indeed. They were preceded to this country by eight other post-war Continental national teams which have measured their strength against England’s, with the following results: Belgium lost 6-1 in 1923, lost 4-0 in 1924. Spain lost 7-1 in 1931. Austria lost 4-3 in 1932. France lost 4-1 in 1933. Italy lost 3-2 in 1934. Germany lost 3-0 in 1935. Hungary lost 6-2 in 1936. English Defeated Abroad

While touring abroad, at the close of the British season, the English national side has been defeated by Continental opponents on six occasions. By Spain at Madrid, 4 goals to 3, in 1929; by France at Paris, 5 to 2, in 1931; by Czechoslovakia at Prague, 2 to 1, in 1934; by Hungary at Budapest, 2 to 1, in 1934; by Belgium at Brussels, 3 to 2, in 1936; by Austria at Vienna, 2to 1, in 1936. And it has been held to drawn games by Germany at Berlin, 3t03, in 1930; by Austria at Vienna, 0 to 0, in 1930; and by Italy at Rome, 1 to 1, in 1933. But the Englishmen abroad after eight months of gruelling League play and the Englishmen on their own soil, fresh and at the top of their form, are two decidedly different propositions, and it is the closeness of games against Continentals in England that best reveals how greatly the standard of soccer has risen in Europe in, say, the past 10,years. In Czechoslovakia, as in most other countries, association football is easily the most popular diversion for young men and chief entertainment of a multitudinous “watching” public. Generally speaking, however, Czechs rely for their sport upon indigenous, rather than imported, pastimes. Which helps to explain why games’ like baseball and cricket fail to take root and golf makes slow headway. Foreigners find pleasant courses at the popular resorts —King Edward VII of England, by the way, was the first honorary member of the Marienbad club, where T. H. Cotton won the Czechoslovak “open”—but the nationals, generally speaking, are not greatly interested in the Royal and Ancient game. Cotton, already the “open” champion of Britain and Germany, went round the Marienbad links in 70, 72, 69, and 68, thereby furnishing himself with an aggregate of 279 for 72 holes. The run-ner-up, Arthur Lees, returned 284, nad the third man, E. Hooker, 294. Lawn Tennis Popular Lawn tennis, however, is an imported favourite, particularly among the more or less leisured classes, and Czechoslovakia has produced some international famed players ■ Karel and Jan Kozeluh, for example, Roderick Menzel and L. Hetbt. One of the biggest thrills the Czech lawn tennis community ever had was when the incomparable Fred Perrypaid a visit to Prague early in 1936 and won the national singles championship there, defeating Hecht in the final by 6—2, 6—3, 4—6, 6—l. The vogue of volley-ball has increased in Cechoslovakia owing to Y.M.C.A. pioneers, and an original Czech contribution has been made to the world’s repertoire of ball games by the invention of “Hazena” (literally: the throwing game), a graceful team contest, practiced chiefly by girls. It is a hybrid affair, reminiscent somewhat of soccer, Rugby, netballjand water polo without the water. Gymnastics hold a very honoured place in the sporting life of Czechoslovakia. And this is because of the strength of the “Sokol” movement. For years the intense nationalism of the Czechs, denied the possibility of political expression, showed itself in the Sokol. societies which, in reality, were instruments of nationalist propaganda kept within the law as athletic organisations. When the moment arrived to throw off the Hapsburg yoke and proclaim the Czechoslovak Republic, the Czechs had no ostensibly military forces; but their highly trained and disciplined Sokols took"possession of Prague and established a sort of martial law throughout the seceding territory. General physical training, light athletics and gymnastics with or without apparatus, have always played a great part iu the curriculum of bolh the Sokol movement and its Roman Catholic counterpart, the “Orels.” Sokol, I may say, means “hawk,” Orel means “eagle.” Such organisations do not aim to produce individual athletic stars. They pride themselves on rising the physical level among large numbers of men and women and it is their pride to stage festivals in which thousands of men and women, boys and girls, may go through simple drill exercises at one and the same time, it is the symbol of unity that appeals. Sport in the Mountains. Water sports of every description —swimming, water polo, rowing, canoeing, sailing—are popular in summer on the'lovely lakes of South Bohemia, dubbed “the Bohemian Canada,” and in winter Czechoslovakia has some line centres for skiing, skating and sleighing. All along the northern borders are groups of mountains of heights varying from 2500 Io 8000 feet, where snow is usually abundant from December until the end of April, and on these are to be found some of the finest ski-running terrains. Facilities for winter sports have been developed to a very remarkable extent In the past: few years, and whether you choose to operate in the High Tatra, the Ore Mountains, the Bohemian Forest, or the Giant Mountains, you can be sure of finding your needs catered to, from awesome ski-jumps to the gentlest nursery slopes. The scenery in the Tatra—the most imposing section of the Central Carpathians—is very, very beautiful, with pine woods, lakes, ridges, and valleys. And scenic beauty such as surrounds, say Strbske Plcso is a thing appreciated by every winter sports enthusiast, whether he (or she) be a novice or an expert.