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Sport
The Czech Republic's greatest sporting success has come from tennis, with Ivan Lendl, Martina Navratilva and Jana Novotna being regarded as national sporting heroes. The Czech national football team can be something of a dark horse, reaching the finals of Euro 96. In the domestic league, the First Division rivalry between Sparta Praha and Slavia Praha is very strong. Prague's other First Division team is FK Victoria Zizkov. The Czech ice hockey team was Olympic champions in 1998. Prague has not yet developed a comprehensive network of sports facilities catering to visitors.
Golf: The Czech Republic is poorly served for golf courses and Prague's only 18 hole course is members only (although top hotels may be able to arrange access if given enough advance warning). Golf club Prague, Plzenska, Prague 5, is a 9 hole course and driving range, with fees of about Kc800 per round.
Ice skating: Skating is an extremely popular sport; however, rinks, open only for one or two-hour periods, usually at weekends. Sportovní hala (HC Sparta), Za elektrarmou 419, Prague 7 (tel: (02) 372 204) and Vokovice, Za lány 1, Prague 6 (tel: (02) 362 759), are good choices. From December, outdoor skating is popular at the reservoirs at Divoka Sarka and Hostivar; the picturesque scenery and the many grog sellers make this an attractive activity, but hire of skates is problematic.
Leisure centres: As is the case throughout Eastern Europe, fitness centres are appearing everywhere; most are members only and many have questionable levels of supervision. Luxury hotels catering to the business community often are the best option: Fitness Club Intercontinental (tel: (02) 2488 1525) and Fitness Centre Hilton (tel: (02) 2484 2913) offer a good range of workout machines and are open to non-residents. Clubs include Body and Fitness Club, Bolzanova 7, Prague 1 (tel: 2422 7396), Kc60 per day, Fit Club Classic, Vladivostocka 1460/2, Prague 10 (tel: 6731 0484; reserve aerobics a day in advance), and Sport Centrum, YMCA, Na Porici 12 (tel: 2487 5811).
Riding: TJ Zizkov Prague, Cisarsky ostrov 76, Prague 6 (tel: (02) 878 476), offer accompanied riding at Kc300 per hour; an additional Kc200 allows use of the attractive trails in Stromovka Park. Advanced booking is advisable.
Shooting: With the high standards of Czech firearms, there are any number of indoor and outdoor ranges. Better than its name may suggest the Rambo Shooting Range, Za poricskou branou 7, Prague 8 (tel: (02) 231 3712), can provide an amusing interlude.
Squash: Now growing in popularity, new squash courts appear regularly in Prague; however, demand still outstrips supply and courts are often booked months in advance. Squashove centrum, 15 Wenceslas Square, (tel: (02) 2400 9232), offers an unbeatable central location; the three courts are open daily until 2300, equipment can be hired.
Swimming: With crowds of children and high chlorine levels at the municipal pools, the smaller pools in luxury hotels are often a better option. The indoor pool at Areal Strahov Stadion, Olympijska, Prague 6, (tel: (02) 355 226), is used by competitive swimmers, and also offers sauna facilities; the pool is closed during July and August. The YMCA, Na Porici 12, (tel: (02) 2487 2220), also caters for serious swimmers and is open until 2200; the fee is Kc1 per minute. Swimming in the reservoirs outside Prague is extremely popular, but sites can be dirty and crowded.
Tennis: Outdoor courts, generally clay, cost about Kc120-200 per hour; indoor courts can run to Kc350-500 Most courts are floodlit and open in the evening, some until 2300. Advance booking is essential. Tenisový klub Slávia Prague, Letná Park, Prague 7, (tel: (02) 3338 4033), has eight excellent floodlit clay courts as well as fast surface indoor courts. Tenis Club, Strelecky Island (ostrov), hires courts to the public and Fit Studio Pohcelec, (see Leisure centres above), has three outdoor courts.
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General
