Spartakiad (Czechoslovakia)
Encyclopedia
The Spartakiads in Czechoslovakia were mass physical exercise events. They were arranged by the Communist government as a replacement of the Sokol
gatherings disapproved by the regime. The Spartakiads took place at the Strahov Stadium
, the same place as the last pre-war Sokol gathering.
The first Spartakiad took place in 1955 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Czechoslovakia's liberation by the Red Army.
After that, the Spartakiads took place every five years until the overthrow of the Communist regime. However, the Spartakiad scheduled for 1970 was canceled because of the government's fear that demonstrations against the regime could begin as a result of the end of the Prague Spring
and the beginning of normalization
. Preparations for the Spartakiad scheduled for 1990 were interrupted by the Velvet revolution
, but the event still took place, albeit on a much smaller scale than the previous ones.
The Spartakiads were used by the regime as a tool of massive propaganda and were thus attended by large numbers of people. At the 1960 Spartakiad, for example, about 750,000 gymnasts from the whole country took part and over 2,000,000 spectators witnessed the event.
Many different people of both genders and all ages practiced their exercising routines for the event. Appearance was also mandatory for soldiers serving their national service.
Sokol
The Sokol movement is a youth sport movement and gymnastics organization first founded in Czech region of Austria-Hungary, Prague, in 1862 by Miroslav Tyrš and Jindřich Fügner...
gatherings disapproved by the regime. The Spartakiads took place at the Strahov Stadium
Strahov Stadium
The Great Strahov Stadium is a stadium in the Strahov district of Prague, Czech Republic. The stadium is the largest in the world, and is the second largest sports facility worldwide after the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, seating around 220,000....
, the same place as the last pre-war Sokol gathering.
The first Spartakiad took place in 1955 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Czechoslovakia's liberation by the Red Army.
After that, the Spartakiads took place every five years until the overthrow of the Communist regime. However, the Spartakiad scheduled for 1970 was canceled because of the government's fear that demonstrations against the regime could begin as a result of the end of the Prague Spring
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
and the beginning of normalization
Normalization (Czechoslovakia)
In the history of Czechoslovakia, normalization is a name commonly given to the period 1969 to about 1987. It was characterized by initial restoration of the conditions prevailing before the reform period led by Alexander Dubček , first of all, the firm rule of the Communist Party of...
. Preparations for the Spartakiad scheduled for 1990 were interrupted by the Velvet revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
, but the event still took place, albeit on a much smaller scale than the previous ones.
The Spartakiads were used by the regime as a tool of massive propaganda and were thus attended by large numbers of people. At the 1960 Spartakiad, for example, about 750,000 gymnasts from the whole country took part and over 2,000,000 spectators witnessed the event.
Many different people of both genders and all ages practiced their exercising routines for the event. Appearance was also mandatory for soldiers serving their national service.