Prague - French President Francois Hollande, German President Joachim Gauck and European Commission (EC) deputy head Viviane Reding have announced in the past days that they will not go to Russia's Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Gauck and Reding have also openly stated that their decision is meant as a protest against Russia's human right abuses.
Hollande did not give his reasons, but said that no top French official would go.
Meanwhile, Czech President Milos Zeman decided to extend his planned stay in Sochi from one to four days.
"Originally, he intended to go there only for the opening ceremony," said Czech Olympic Committee (COV) chairman Jiri Kejval in an interview with Aktualne.cz.
"On the third day of the Olympic Games, Martina Sablikova will compete in a three-kilometer speed-skating race, so Mr President promised us that he would definitely stay in Sochi to see it. This is very nice, we are glad for it... He is, after all, our president and the sportspeople will represent the Czech Republic. Regardless of their own political opinions, it is important to them that the event is attended by the head of state, prime minister or defense minister, because many of these sportspeople are soldiers," said Kejval.
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The chairman also said that many Czech businessmen are interested in visiting the event too. "Given the fact that it takes place in Russia and there are wide opportunities to connect the prestigious event with business, we have registered enormous interest from businessmen. And these people will of course pay their trip from their own sources... And to us it is extremely important that politicians come, even though the media criticize it," said Kejval, adding that he wants to invite also billionaire and ANO 2011 leader Andrej Babis or possible next prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka.
The committee will award the athletes CZK 1.5 million (EUR 54,000) for each gold medal, CZK 750,000 for each silver medal and CZK 500,000 for each bronze medal they win, as it did during the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, said Kejval.
