Feb 19 • 10:27 UTC 🇸🇰 Slovakia Denník N

Only Mečiar did not want the Olympics in the Tatras. Fico also rallied against being small

Czech Sports Minister Boris Šťastný is advocating for a joint bid to host the Winter Olympics in the High Tatras with Slovakia, calling for public and political debate on the idea.

Czech Sports Minister Boris Šťastný has expressed his vision of organizing the Winter Olympics in collaboration with Slovakia, emphasizing the historical pursuit of hosting the games in the High Tatras. He plans to discuss this ambitious proposal with his Slovak counterpart, Rudolf Huliak, aiming to stimulate both public and political discourse around it. The notion of hosting the Olympics is rooted in Slovakia's past attempts, particularly during the communist era, where such events were seen as opportunities for international prestige.

Historically, Slovakia had aspirations to host the Winter Olympics dating back to the communist regime, which viewed large sporting events as a means of showcasing national strength and success. The first talks about an Olympic bid emerged in a time when sporting achievements were leveraged for political propaganda. In the backdrop, the 1970 World Ski Championships in Štrbské Pleso serve as an example of Slovakia's capability to host significant international events.

Šťastný's remarks reflect not just a nostalgic look back at the past but also a challenge for future collaboration between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The idea is to foster a sense of unity and ambition, moving beyond modest aspirations, and pursuing a significant sporting event that could have wide-ranging positive implications for both nations, including boosts to tourism and international recognition.

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