Today, 69 Czech athletes and another 70 members of the team flew to Prague for the Winter Olympics in a special way. They all passed coronavirus tests before the trip. He will arrive at the game venue on Friday after noon Chinese time.
The departure of the charter was accompanied by strict anti-coronavirus measures. From the Czech medal hopes, speed skater Martina Sáblíková and biathlete Markéta Davidová are on board. In addition to speed skaters and biathletes, there is also a selection of hockey players, some hockey players, a mixed couple in curling, figure skaters, sledders, short trackers, bobsledders and cross-country skiers.
“Everything went smoothly. Before departure, all three had tests for covid-19. The first on Monday, the second on Tuesday and the third shortly before departure and no positive arrived,” Alexandr Kliment from the Czech Olympic Committee’s press department told an online press conference.
The athletes started arriving at check-in as early as 15:00, and the figure skating siblings Michal and Eliška Březin were among the first to arrive. Almost symbolically, in a short blizzard, two transits arrived with biathletes, and the parking lot in front of the airport was crowded with only white jackets with red-blue motifs and Raškovky caps from the Czech Olympic team.
A few tourists got lost at the back of Terminal 1, which is reserved for Olympians, but they did not reach the athletes because the area was reserved with tape and guarded. Under the respirators, they could see David or the silver medalist in the Pyongyang sprint, Michal Krčmář. Only speed skater Sáblíková and skeletonist Anna Fernstädtová used off-main check-in.
The check-in hall by the windows was filled with bags of skis, boxes of weapons, waxes and other equipment. The bobsledders still decorated boxes with knives and polishing tools. Everyone had to stick the bags and material with specially colored tapes according to the destination. Skis and large luggage were transported by staff to carts, and other bags were carried by belts after check-in at eight windows.
Coach Tomáš Bank brought the Ester Ledecké skis. The two-time Olympic winner is currently training snowboarding in Italy and will fly on Monday with several transfers. Six packages of three pairs of Czech star skis will be transported to China. Petr Kouřil, a former Ledecká serviceman who is currently cooperating with Fernstädt, will look after them in China so that they do not get lost before Ledecká arrives.
They were the first to go to passport control and wait for Březin’s plane, then the hockey players and other athletes gradually fidgeted. The bobbers posed with helmets, the biathletes went together in a group, and as they left they waved to the photographers ‘and cameras’ lenses, saying “Goodbye.”
“When I compare it with the games in Vancouver or Sochi, the atmosphere was different, of course. The athletes were vigilant, trying to follow all precautions, but the atmosphere of enjoyment and expectations remained. At least what could be seen through the veils,” said Kliment.
Seven hockey players and coach Filip Pešán were the last to arrive at Václav Havel Airport. The rest of the team should follow them no later than February 2. Biathlete Adam Václavík and hockey player Natálie Mlýnková, who have been tested positively in recent days, will also leave later.
Other Czech athletes will already fly commercial flights. Currently, 114 athletes have qualified for Beijing, which means the most numerous Czech team in the history of the Winter Games.
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