Oko! Magazine Edition 9

N°9

July / August 2020

Contents 4

Human Trafficking in the Czech Republic

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Sustainable Art

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Artist in the Spotlight Veronika DrahotovĂĄ

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Keeping the Cameras Rolling

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Photo Reportage: Petr KozlĂ­k

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Digitalised! #urgent

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Live Longer or Die Trying

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CBD Oil

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The Impact of the Global Pandemic on the Czech Real Estate Market

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The Business of Leadership Interview Pepper de Callier

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Olympics Isolation and Hope

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Comic by @da.banjo

From the Editor The word “unprecedented” has been on everybody’s lips in the past few months as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe. Despite the terrible grief and distress the virus has caused to many victims and their families, the situation has galvanised a strong sense of unity among citizens here in the Czech Republic that, arguably, has not been seen for decades.

This togetherness has undoubtedly contributed to the nation’s comparative success in dealing with the crisis, and we now enjoy most of the freedoms we had several months ago, while other countries continue to enforce strict regulations.

During lockdown, the Oko! team has been working hard on creating more interesting, relevant, and in-depth content for our readers. Those who have followed us online will have noticed that the previous two editions prioritised higher-quality articles over quantity, and this is something that our readers can expect to see more of going forward.

With cafes and restaurants here in the Czech Republic back to business as usual, we are delighted to have published the ninth edition of Oko! Magazine in both print and digital. But the most exciting news at Oko! over the past few months has been the opening of our very own bistro! At our new headquarters on Chopinova street in Prague 2, we are absolutely thrilled to offer locals a relaxing space where they can enjoy delicious coffees and freshly prepared dishes, perhaps while reading the latest edition of Oko! Magazine.

In this instalment, we focus heavily on current trends, including the impact of COVID-19 on real estate here in the Czech Republic and an article on the effect of the virus on the country’s Olympic Committee and its athletes. We also have some interesting pieces on biohacking, sustainable art, and digitalisation, as well as a harrowing look into the dark world of human trafficking. Readers can also enjoy our regular Artist in the Spotlight feature, as well as a special on the Barrandov Studio.

As always, if you like what we do, please share our online content with friends and family. We’d also love to hear your thoughts on the magazine, so why not head down to our stunning new bistro and let us know in person?

Until next time, Leigh Woods Editor-in-Chief

Photos by 1) Alejandro Cartagena 2) Flavio Gasperini

Human Trafficking in the Czech Republic Cashing in on Human Despair

By Jules Eisenchteter

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Photo by Nickolas Nikolic

Human trafficking is not an antiquated remnant of a long-lost era, nor is it restricted to far-away countries. In fact, this crime, which entails various forms and degrees of human exploitation, is still very much prevalent across the globe today, and you might unknowingly cross paths with victims of this inhumane practice on a daily basis.

The Czech Republic moves up the “supply chain”

Cashing in on human despair

One of the most lucrative illegal trades in the world along with arms and drugs, human trafficking (forced prostitution and sexual exploitation, forced labour and begging, domestic servitude, child marriages, organ farming, etc.) remains one of the greatest and least talked about scourges in our society.

While the Czech Republic was moving up the European “supply chain,” traffickers themselves, often Czech citizens who know how to navigate the legal and social hurdles, adapted their strategy to remain one step ahead.

The Czech Republic, which is involved in every step of the European human trafficking “supply chain,” is a tragically illustrative case. Due to its geographic location it is a key transit country for persons trafficked within the EU, mostly on an East-to-West route. Up to the early 2000s, the Czech Republic was also an important country of origin, with thousands of Czech women tricked or forced into prostitution and trafficked abroad to countries including Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. “Within the past 10 to 15 years, things have changed”, explained Markéta Hronková, president of La Strada Czech Republic, a local NGO which operates secret shelters and a round-the-clock hotline for victims of human trafficking. “The country became more of a destination country,” with victims trafficked from Eastern European countries like Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, or Russia, and even more remote places such as Mongolia and the Philippines.

This shift had a lot to do with rising living standards, as well as record-low unemployment and skyrocketing labour shortages in key economic sectors (construction, manufacturing, agriculture, etc.). Consequently, the nature and “clientele” of human traffickers evolved: while Czech women being sent abroad for the purpose of sexual exploitation are quite rare today, human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation is on the rise.

Children, however, are still estimated to account for half of all human trafficking cases.

“The huge influx of migrant workers to the Czech Republic attracted the sharks,” explains Petr Karban from the Prague branch of the International Office for Migration (IOM), pointing to the arrival of dubious middlemen and shady employment agencies using deceptive practices to lure people here.

“The classic scenario would be a fake au pair advertisement to lure young people, often women, abroad,” Karban said. The widespread belief that the entire scheme has gone digital is however erroneous, and may only reinforce the sense of “unreality” and “elusiveness” for the general public: “Many traffickers are still using face-to-face meetings to make contact with vulnerable people in search of a better life,” an approach that can take one of many different forms: random meetings at a bar, targeted contacts in front of homeless or Salvation Army shelters, etc.

“Human trafficking is based on the exploitation of human despair, and targets people who have what we call an ‘added vulnerability.’ But the phenomenon crosscuts all sections of society and is now based more on individual vulnerabilities than general socio-economic ones,” Hronková stressed. “Traffickers try to make potential victims feel secure and trusting. That is why the first contact is often made in real life, in environments people consider safe, or through supposedly trustworthy people, like a second-degree relative.”

As a result, it becomes increasingly difficult to differentiate between cases of clear coercion and those where the victim unknowingly falls into the net of traffickers through his or her own free will. Not only does this make it harder to identify victims of human trafficking, it also makes the legal prosecution of offenders more complex.

Whether it’s an au pair advertisement that proves to be something else entirely, an underage Roma girl sent to the border regions for the purpose of sexual exploitation, or a foreign worker trying to earn a living on Czech construction sites – dreams of a better future quickly fade away. Debt-ridden and alone in a foreign country with no social or legal support, victims soon find themselves trapped in a vicious circle from which there appears to be no escape.

“What’s worse, people can be trafficked for several purposes at the same time,” explained Hronková, citing cases where victims were not only trafficked for sexual or commercial exploitation, but also forced into sham marriages with non-EU nationals or used in social benefits and banking fraud schemes.

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Addressing the root causes of human trafficking In accordance with EU standards, the Czech Republic adopted an ambitious national strategy, spearheaded by the Interior Ministry’s Crime Prevention Department, in cooperation with a network of local activists and rights organisations. And yet, the situation is not improving.

“We’re losing the fight,” warned Charles Lamento, a former US prosecutor who moved to Prague over ten years ago to promote a comprehensive and holistic approach to the fight against human trafficking at the European level. According to him, “the lack of knowledge and persistent misconceptions among the public, contradicting legislations, high legal costs and risks, as well as lenient and passive social attitudes on sexual matters” share part of the blame for the lack of progress.

In 2018, only 13 trafficking investigations were initiated

by Czech police (down from 22 two years earlier), resulting in the conviction of 16 defendants for sex trafficking. Offenders are more often than not prosecuted on the more lenient grounds of “pimping” (48 convictions in 2018) and labour exploitation is allowed to flourish, unchecked, under the radar (only eight convictions since 2010). Meanwhile, the real extent of the problem amounts to a guessing game due to the lack of reliable and aggregated data. Whatever figures one might stumble upon, “this is only the tip of the tip of the iceberg,” warns Hronková.

Raising awareness among the public, who can either be potential victims or unknowing witnesses, is key toward encouraging people to come forward, either by seeking legal advice, contacting local NGOs (La Strada, Caritas, and others) or taking part in awareness campaigns. But this might be easier said than done.

“There is still a strong taboo regarding prostitution and sex trafficking in the Czech Republic. People don’t like to talk about it,” notes Veronika Čáslavová, a student at Masaryk University in Brno who closely monitored the issue. Although not a taboo per se, labour exploitation doesn’t rank among the population’s most pressing concerns either. “Most people don’t really care about the specifics,” argued Karban. “Their main concern is not whether or not someone is being exploited, but if that person is coming to ‘steal their job’.”

In cooperation with private companies, the IOM promotes ethical recruitment practices, but it faces the influential lobby of some industries who have a lot to gain from loose employment rules and cheap, unsupervised labour. “Strict immigration policies, which push workers to accept illegal and shady job offers, are also to blame,” warned Hronková. “As long as we’ll be looking at the labour market as a way to get the cheapest workforce possible, human trafficking will not go away.”

High-profile human trafficking cases may serve as a timely reminder that the fight is far from over, and that modern slavery can take truly horrific proportions. But this isn’t only happening in corrupt, out-of-touch, rich circles. By many accounts, human trafficking is an everyday phenomenon, even “mundane,” cynics might say. But if cynics have their way, the battle might already be lost.

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Photo from antislavery.org

The world has slowed down during the pandemic.

Unfortunately, human trafficking and exploitation did not.

It remains an everyday reality for millions of people.

For 25 years, we have been offering assistance to trafficked and / or exploited persons and making sure their voices are heard.

MR L.

Worked in the forest for 12-14 hours per day in winter, with no pay, no food, and no heating.

Thank you for not being indifferent. Thank you for supporting La Strada Czech Republic.

478625923/0300

MR P.

moved abroad for the security of his family.

He had to face threats from his employer and only the court helped him to obtain his wage.

MS A.

worked round the clock as a nanny and a housekeeper for a diplomat.

He kept her locked in his mansion for months without paying her.

MS R.

agreed on to work as a waitress in a German bar. They forced her into prostitution in the Czech Republic.

Every job has its value. Theirs as well.

Find the whole stories on our Facebook page. www.strada.cz

pomoc@strada.cz

Facebook La Strada Česká republika, o.p.s

+420 222 71 71 71

Photo by Eve Andree Laramee

Sustainable Art Writing a New Chapter in Art

By Parikrama Rai

Art is a reflection of society and as society changes, so do the depictions on canvases all over the world. The austerity of Neoclassicism echoed the spirit of the French Revolution that took place at the time. Renaissance art reflected a time of great social change during the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity. And the invention of photography helped the shift from realism to more abstract artworks.

Today’s world focuses largely on individual creative expression, leading to unprecedented diversity within the visual arts. Artists have much more creative freedom than ever before. The sheer volume of personal stories being expressed may give the illusion that the world is too fragmented to make a collective statement.

However, art has told and continues to tell us stories of what humanity is experiencing. And one common theme quickly gaining popularity is sustainable art.

Sustainability is an important ongoing conversation in the present day. As we grow more aware of our impact on the earth, we have developed numerous solutions to help slow down its active degradation. Professionals across many fields and sectors are starting to experiment with innovative and more eco-friendly alternatives with negligible switching costs. Whether it be the clothes that you wear or the products with which you clean your house, making eco-friendly choices has never been easier.

Visual art is no exception.

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It is worth noting that sustainable art has been around for longer than one might think. Artists have been actively working in this field since the 1960s under the banner of eco-art. These works have been mostly conceptual, large in scale, and avant garde in nature. A good example is Earth Art (or Land Art), which has been a huge part of this movement. Many artists challenged the traditional white-box gallery model by creating site-specific work incorporating the surrounding natural elements. A very notable artwork that accurately represents this is Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty, an enormous spiral built using 5,000 tonnes of basalt rock in the Utah desert. So, while sustainable artworks have been around for a while, most have been fairly inaccessible to everyday people.

However, as a more eco-minded generation of young artists steps forward, they are finding new and innovative ways to express their sustainability-themed beliefs in more accessible ways. Many artists are creating works portraying relevant subject matter or are doing so using unexpected, environmentally friendly mediums. These artists have scrapped typical mediums like paint for recyclable materials to create new and interesting mixed media pieces from recycled plastic, cloth, paper, and more. Even for those not looking to rock the boat too much, increased access to more environment-friendly alternatives in canvases, paint, and other craft supplies (like recycled plastic canvases) have also contributed to making the art world more sustainable. The final results are not only fitting for activists advocating sustainability, but also for individuals simply looking to elevate their living spaces.

Photo by Jagoda Kalisz

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Photo by Jagoda Kalisz

Eastern and Central European artists are no exception.

Contemporary artists within this region have a unique quality. As the first generation of artists creating without political restrictions, many are using their freedom to draw attention to this important topic.

The Polish abstract painter Jagoda Kalisz has been making her canvases from scratch, using plastic bags that would usually be discarded to create energetic, textured artworks. The Czech abstract expressionist Magdaléna Ševčík also stretches out recycled clear plastic and paints over it to create beautiful translucent pieces. The Slovenian artist Monika Slemc explores the relationship between man and nature in the digital age, often using unorthodox materials like recycled photo paper, textiles, and plastic to create a unique collection of visually compelling artworks. These are just a few examples from a larger body of artists who have challenged themselves creatively and given themselves the license to reuse materials to create works that not only make important statements about art, but can also tie living spaces together.

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Art holds a mirror up to society, enabling us all to think long and hard about the values we hold dear. And right now, it is clear that what we should hold dear is the home in which we live.

We can no longer ignore the devastating impact of our negligence on the planet. As more artists volunteer for the necessary fight against environmental degradation, they provide us with an emblematic reminder, in our living rooms or office spaces, of all that we owe our Earth. Not all reminders need to be heartbreaking images of animals with plastic straws up their noses or burned-down forests. Some can simply be an interesting painting on stretched-out plastic that would have otherwise been discarded; it reminds us of all the beautiful ways we can take back our planet.

Works by the above-mentioned artists can be found at Victory Art – the one-stop shop to discover a diverse range of emerging artists from Eastern and Central Europe.

We are seeking a balance between human civilization and nature through the active preservation of the environment and critically endangered animal species.

We focus on anti-poaching activities, preservation of rare ecosystems and education.

You can support us by donating, volunteering and company partnerships.

Be an example for your community!

- TAKE RESPONSIBILITY - BE ACTIVE - TAKE PART JUSTICEFORNATURE.ORG

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@PralesDetem @GreenLifeReserve pralesdetemcz forestforchildren

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Photos by Michal UreĹĄ

Veronika Drahotová, Concepts on Canvas Memory Does Not Persist, It Exists

By Jacklyn Janeksela

One of the youngest students ever to matriculate at the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, Veronika Drahotová has been artistically inclined from an early age. At the age of nine, Drahotová was not your typical young girl. While other girls her age might have played with dolls or had tea parties, she had already proven herself to be an extraordinary child. “I painted a rather large mural on the back of our building, which made me feel quite satisfied,” she says. Whether her mural was intentionally rebellious or not, it’s pretty obvious that Drahotová was destined to be an artist of epic proportions.

The creator of the term Architectonic (two or more canvases in a single painting that can be arranged in several predetermined ways to reveal different compositions), Drahotová explores more than paint on canvas.

She delves into perception as its own medium in the art world, explaining that “by rotating them and interchanging I can change the narrative of the painting.” The foundation of her Architectonic theory revolves around painting in motion rather than being static and fixed. How many shapes or interpretations does paint on canvas have? The answer may not be clear, but one thing is obvious – Drahotová dwells in the centre of this question.

Her willingness to shake things up hasn’t stopped. A visual artist who incorporates photography, video, and installation into her work, she primarily calls herself a painter. While she prefers that title, she knows in painting there are impediments. She explains, “The one thing that has always bothered me about painting, though, is that it has formal limits; a square or rectangle, the format is a limitation in itself.” A way to bring about change is to be the change. And that’s exactly what Drahotová did.

“I have been developing a new system that seeks to get around these limits and push past classical definitions.”

Turning the world upside down by disrupting both painting and viewer, Drahotová proffers a novel art experience, one that allows the artist to play with perception and position. And in doing so, the art experience expands. Now, one painting can be viewed in a plethora of ways which also alters the way viewers experience art. Much like the world around us, constantly shifting, Drahotová speaks to a larger issue where flux is a part of our existence. Knowing that nothing is as it seems, we are faced with another truth, by evolving perceptions.

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When asked about her early memories as an artist, Drahotová responds, “Aren't they wicked and playful!”

Her question on whether we can actually trust them is valid. She continues, “Science says that they might not be as reliable as we think, but from what I remember from a very early age, I am coming from an artistic background.” Memories dwell in a sphere of darkness, much like the Czech underground where Drahotová spent much of her youth.

Travelling into spaces of imaginative conscious and subconscious existence to collect the inspiration for her work, Drahotová has been asked how she does it, “Many times people ask me and many times I really tried hard to think about it in order to give some satisfying answer.

It keeps pouring from all directions, observations, associations, smells, emotions, fears, happiness, beauty, music, my kids, my dog, my friends, my love, my beliefs, my lies, my pains. Everything is a source.”

Drahotová’s “Mass Memory” is fascinating, a vision of conscious and subconscious exploration on canvas.

What surfaces in the darkness of memory is an entanglement of shapes and colours left to interpretation, as if Kandinsky’s thought forms have slipped into a memory not yet recognised. How does one view memory in the present moment and not bring some version of the past that may or may not distort and alter the present moment, the paintbrush in hand, the execution of shapes on canvas? Drahotová may have the answer as she layers themes and motifs that coexist in realms of psychology, spirituality, and science.

The artist does not only paint, the artist ponders.

Drahotová provides her thoughts on the interconnectedness between memory and time, one of her favourite “evergreen” topics, “They are deceiving us, they are protecting us, they are warning us. We spend a lot of time drifting through the past, through ‘our’ memories.”

Rather versatile as human being and artist, Drahotová says that she could picture herself being “almost anything” and in the process of imagining lists the following as potential life pursuits, “I could be a cook, archeologist, I could be in production, I could work with animals or in a library. I easily see myself joining the circus.” With the heart of an explorer, she is confident and fearless in the various versions of herself.

So from memory she moves into time, “Choices are different according to what point in life we are making them, we make different choices when we are 15, different when 40, and so on. So my next task was ‘time’.” Time raises the issue of mortality, which is the crux of Drahotová’s series Until the End of Time.

Embedded throughout her work, choice makes its debut in her series Sugar Choice. She posits the question, “Do we have a free choice or we just think that we do?”

And answers, “Our choices are predetermined by many factors. We might not be so free, we might be in a way ‘pre-programmed’.”

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Keeping the Cameras Rolling Legendary Czech Film Studio Barrandov and 85 Years of Cinema

By Anna West

Visitors on their way to Barrandov Studio, the largest film studio in the Czech Republic and one of the largest in Europe, may at first be struck by the impressive rock formations that surround the area. Located in the district of Hlubočepy in south-west Prague, the studio is set among fossil-rich cliffs overlooking the Vltava river. One can imagine it as a setting for an action film scene, with a stunt performer scaling the cliffside in pursuit of a villain.

Perhaps it is fitting that the nearby sound stages of Barrandov Studio have served as the location for numerous Hollywood action thrillers, from Mission Impossible and The Bourne Identity to Casino Royale.

More than 5,000 Czech and international productions have been created at the studio, including the recent Oscar winner Jojo Rabbit.

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Though the studio has been operational for more than 85 years, its exterior remains mostly unchanged since its construction in 1933. Barrandov’s history is closely connected to the Havel family, thanks to the business activities of the brothers Miloš Havel and Václav Maria Havel, the father of former Czech president Václav Havel. In 1921, Miloš created the A-B Joint Stock Company by merging his own American Film distribution company with Biografia film distributors. At the beginning of the 1930s, with his brother Václav, Miloš moved the original A-B Studios from a brewery in Vinohrady to facilities designed by Czech functionalist architect Max Urban.

Photos for this article were generously provided by the Barandov Studios archive.

The first Czech film, Murder on Ostrovni Street, was shot at the studio 14 months after its completion. Soon the studio was making up to 80 productions a year and attracting foreign production companies, like UFA, MGM, and Paramount, which developed their own distribution systems in Czechoslovakia because of Barrandov’s success. However, in the 1940s, with the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Germany, the Nazis sought to invest in making Barrandov part of an interconnected network of film studios, along with those in Berlin and Munich. According to political theorist John Keane, author of Vaclav Havel: A Political Tragedy in Six Acts, the Nazis seized a 51% stake in Barrandov, such that the original Czech corporation was liquidated and replaced

by Prag-Film, a German front company. Some studio employees and actors of Jewish descent, such as Czech actor Hugo Haas, fled or remained quiet about Nazification for fear of retribution. Others, like Czech-Austrian film star Lída Baarová, who famously was the mistress of the Nazi propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, collaborated with the Nazis.

Keane writes that Miloš, on the other hand, was “disgusted by facism” and worked “diplomatically behind the scenes to ensure the survival of Czech cinema – without soiling either his own or its reputation by manufacturing propaganda.” Miloš managed to shield many Czech film stars from working in Nazi productions and, though the number of Czech productions declined during this period, he was able to get 32 Czech films

produced between 1939 and 1944. One of the most popular productions was Babička (The Grandmother), based on the 19th-century novel by Božena Němcová.

Stories like Babička, considered a classic piece of Czech literature, helped preserve Czech culture during this period of Germanisation.

After the war, during the Czechoslovak government-in-exile, President Edvard Beneš signed Edict No. 50, which saw Barrandov Studio revert back to state ownership. Miloš went to live in Munich and never returned to Czechoslovakia. Only four years later, after the Communist coup, Barrandov once again became a locus for propagandists. Nevertheless, native talent was able to flourish, especially in the 1960s with the emergence of directors like Miloš Forman, Věra Chytilová, Ivan Passer, and Jiří Menzel. These Czech filmmakers ushered in a period now referred to as the Czech New Wave, a period characterised by films such as Chytilová’s Sedmikrásky (Daisies) and Forman’s Hoří, má panenko (The Fireman’s Ball), which lampoon communist ideology by showing its rigidity and essential incompatibility with Czech society. However, the blossoming of talent during the Prague Spring came to an abrupt end with the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Filmmakers like Forman, emigrated and continued their careers in exile. Barrandov Studio faced hardship in the following years.

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The fall of communism in 1989 brought change to the former Soviet bloc and ushered in a new era for the studio. A return to the private sector brought new development to Barrandov, including a 4,000m2 studio, making it one of the largest studios in Europe. Fiscal incentives for foreign productions, governed by the Act on Audiovisual Works and Support for Cinematography, helped to boost the film industry. In 2016, the Czech Republic made a change to its incentives scheme to attract more foreign producers. The current incentives scheme offers a 20% rebate on qualifying Czech spend and up to a 10% rebate on qualifying international spend. While other European countries offer an even higher rebate, such as Hungary and Poland’s at 30%, the incentives have proven to be profitable. According to the Czech Film Fund, Czech film incentives brought in approximately $390 million to the economy in 2019, double the amount raised in the previous year.

Despite the incentives boon to the Czech film industry, global film production has been greatly disrupted in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. According to The Hollywood Reporter, some analysts estimate that the effects of COVID-19 on the industry have already resulted in a $5 billion loss. Recently, despite production in the United States and England having largely stopped, Barrandov released a statement announcing that filming in their offices and stages would resume. The studio is working in compliance with the Czech government and Audiovisual Producers Association (APA) to implement “safety rules for operating in this challenging period.”

Nevertheless, it's clear that the production process, from catering to hiring extras, will need to change in order for the industry as a whole to move forward safely.

Those worried about the future of Barrandov Studio need only to look to its past. From Nazi takeover to communist occupation, the studio’s story is one of perseverance. The challenges it faces today are among many that the studio has endured. As the sound stages reopen and the cameras begin filming again at Barrandov, we can expect to see our lives and the human experience mirrored back to us on the big screen.

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Photo Reportage

Photo by Jan Zátorský

Petr Kozlík

My name is Petr Kozlík, and I was born in 1982. After graduating from high school, I studied general medicine and then began making a living as a fashion and portrait photographer. My passion for photography began in college and has lasted almost 14 years, until today.

In my photography career, I’ve worked for many important fashion magazines (Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Dolce Vita, etc.). I have photographed countless celebrities, including from the showbiz world, and not only from the Czech Republic, but worldwide. Among my achievements is winning a Czech Press Photo Award this year for a portrait series.

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Digitalised! #urgent

The Pros and Cons of Switching to Online Post COVID-19

By Dominik Jezek “Total mayhem.” That was my friend’s response when I asked her how everything was going in the first few weeks after a state of emergency was declared in the Czech Republic. Managing an increased workload from home while taking care of two elementary-school-age daughters made her feel like she was juggling fireballs.

Her children needed to attend video calls with their teachers, submit their homework, watch video lessons, or do other things online. Fortunately, she found an old laptop for them and didn’t have to share the one that she used for work. But you can still imagine what ensued after the WiFi became overloaded.

My friend’s problems might seem small in comparison with those in the lives of professional medical staff. Even so, they show one of the many side effects of the abrupt digitalisation that Czech schools have been going through since March.

Thanks to conferencing software like Google Classroom, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, much of the schooling continued and made the traditionally paper-based industry faster, more agile, and more efficient overall.

Photo by Rodion Kutsaev

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Government’s turn

Beer commerce

Take, for example, homework. Instead of copying down the exercise into a notebook, you open an application and tick the right answers. Moreover, you don’t need to stuff your school bag with lots of books, saving both your back and the planet. Children who are recovering from an illness can catch up at home through recorded video lessons or online courses. When they rejoin their schoolmates, they won’t be behind.

Czech liquid gold is another shining case study of how a traditional industry stood tall against the pandemic.

Many of the smaller breweries live on a month-to-month basis and don’t have the financial clout of big international players. To make matters worse, smaller breweries often focus on craft beers, which have a shorter shelf life.

When it comes to beer though, Czechs display remarkable resourcefulness.

Alas, some students have been left behind. Not all families can afford laptops for their children. Poorer regions and families lack finances to jump on the e-train, which might widen the social gap. Education Committee vice president Kateřina Valachová estimated there are 100,000 children in need of electronic devices to connect to online classes and promised the Ministry of Education would try to find resources to bridge this gap.

Shortly after the strict governmental measures were announced, Kytin brewery owner Michal Pomahac started the #zachranpivo (Save Beer) initiative and set up a website where you can find a small brewery near you and support them by buying their beer online. More than 300 small breweries have joined in, and some have already set up their own e-shops and deliveries. When you can’t meet in a pub, buy beer online and set up a video conference with friends where you talk and drink.

Cheers!

The Ministry also faces the challenge of standardisation.

The missing digital infrastructure and guidelines forced schools and teachers to take the initiative using various online solutions and systems. Introducing the necessary legislation, finding the right suppliers, and offering training courses for teachers is a long and bumpy road, but also a necessary one.

This typical Czech way of utilising digital tools brings us to the clear winners of the past few months – online companies. The active user base of popular video-conferencing tool Microsoft Teams soared from 20 to 75 million in recent months – 45 million hours of video calls a day. Google Meet saw a thirtyfold increase since January and currently reports over 100 million daily meeting participants.

Photo by Coinview

By Dominik Jezek 33

No free lunches While all these numbers are impressive, they lag behind the king of video conferencing, Zoom. Not only did the US company reach the 300 million daily users threshold this April, but its impressive growth also proves that Zoom has been left unscathed by recent privacy and security concerns. Even the British parliament introduced Zoom-powered video links for their question-and-answer sessions in order to abide by social distancing rules.

Zoom’s main selling point is also its main risk – it’s free.

And if you paid attention in your economics classes, you know there is no such thing as a free lunch. One of the first problems the company faced this year was the so-called zoombombing. As the system didn’t require you to submit a password, people were dropping into Zoom calls to which they weren’t invited and broadcasting offensive materials, like pornography.

Security companies and journalists also reported that Zoom leaked some user photos and email addresses, lied about its end-to-end encryption, routed some calls in North America through China, and much more. That’s why the firm faces an investor lawsuit, and its application was banned by many companies and institutions, including Google, SpaceX, and NASA. To put the cherry on top, Zoom was recently sued for sharing user data with Facebook and other third parties without users’ consent. Again, what can you expect from something that’s “free”?

Home office efficiency Be it Zoom or other platforms, COVID-19 forced us to go online, which resulted in many companies markedly reducing red tape. The additional benefit is that some CEOs stopped seeing working from home as their employees’ attempt to watch Netflix during working hours without being reprimanded. Some managers discovered that a video call is much more effective than driving across the city and back only to attend the meeting in person. I, for one, liked saving an hour a day by not commuting to work. That’s almost a full extra day a month!

Having to pay rent for empty open offices made companies realise they don’t need to keep everyone at work at the same time. The temporary state of having fewer employees at the workplace may suggest how much the company can save by moving to smaller spaces and introducing a rotary home office system. This would also mean reinforcement of IT systems to ensure companies’ data is secure.

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Photo by Ella Jardim

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Photo by Markus Spiske

Tightened surveillance

Here to stay

When it comes to our personal lives, security and privacy became hot topics as many of us flocked online, especially when we heard how China further tightened its grasp over its population with a new virus tracking system. It assigns you a colour code – green, yellow or red – based on your health status, recent travels, and personal information. Governmental officials outside offices, malls, and subways stop anyone without a green code from entering.

Clearly, the digitalisation tsunami brought us a great many benefits, as well as concerns. For largely paperbased industries it was a much-needed push exposing critical bottlenecks and uncovering new opportunities.

Many people used their creativity and worked overtime to keep others afloat.

Unfortunately, Chinese authorities haven’t clarified how the system works, leaving many of its citizens bewildered when receiving yellow or red codes. Be it deliberate or not, this gives the government a powerful tool to lock selected people down without the need for explanation.

Another problem arises when the entity collecting personal data keeps the tracking going even after the threat of the virus subsides. As recent history suggests, letting go of the treasure trove represented by the extended data collection could get a bit rocky. This particular issue looms even larger when you think about private companies that are already piling up swaths of our personal data.

Take Google and Apple, who cooperated on a contact-tracing app using APIs to track COVID-19 spread. Through Bluetooth IDs, their app alerts you if you have been exposed to anyone with the virus. Although the IT giants use much more sophisticated systems that promise to ensure the safety of our data, various experts expressed privacy concerns.

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The pandemic also shoved many of us deeper online.

My great hope is that it also planted seeds in our heads that will grow into more advanced digital skills, an increasingly efficient world, and a sustainable future. The world won’t be the same, and many of the changes are here to stay. Those who are not on the digitalisation train should try their best to hop aboard because one day, it might be out of reach.

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Live Longer or Die Trying The Path to Hacking Your Biology

By Julie Orlova If you have committed to a meditative technique, if experimenting with your diet is part of your daily routine, if you take supplements – you can consider yourself a biohacker. Usually associated with Silicon Valley and tech CEOs, biohacking describes a range of techniques one may apply to get the most out of the body and mind.

In the ranks of people who have popularised biohacking, there are many startuppers, entrepreneurs, and innovative thinkers. On the one hand, the creation of alternative techniques opens up opportunities for a dialogue about the human body and its capabilities and gives people

Photo by Burst

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control over their bodies. On the other hand, biohacking zealots often have zero medical or scientific background; they rely only on personal experiments as well as privileges and resources that not everybody has.

Veronika Allister is a behavioural economist and co-founder of the biohacking community Code of Life.

She tells us about her journey to the hacked body and mind and helps to shed light on ways to implement sustainable biohacking in your life.

Beyond the human Mind upgrading, body resetting, performance optimisation – the language of biohacking comes from the tech community of San Francisco, where biohacking itself originated. It was the early 2000s and tech progressives were disappointed that instead of flying cars and cyborg humans, we were left with Botox. The likes of Lepht Anonym and Kevin Warwick resurrected the dream of new modes of existence, being the first people to implant electromagnetic sensors and chips into their bodies.

Today grinders, members of a biohacking subculture, aim to become one with technology by implanting chips into their bodies to enhance their intelligence and perception of reality. Elon Musk’s neuro-enhancement brain implant project, Neuralink, falls into that category, as does Tim Ferriss’s implant of a blood-glucose monitor or the first recognised cyborg Neil Harbisson’s implant that allows him to hear colour. On the other end of the spectrum, there are DIY biologists, academics, and scientists who go beyond the books and experiment with organic and synthetic materials to find new and exciting ways to cure and prevent illnesses, improve the genetic code, or make real vegan cheese.

The majority of people who turn to biohacking start with very prosaic goals – improving their general condition, reducing stress and fatigue or managing a chronic illness or pain. Veronika says she turned to biohacking when she felt out of control, “I was lying post-surgery in a hospital, feeling so weak and helpless, and I thought that I needed to make a change and do it myself.”

On her journey, she found all types of tricks people use to be in charge of their bodies. Many of them became part of her daily routine: introducing supplements and nootropics, fasting intermittently, documenting sleep, and optimizing her exercise regimen. This is the level most biohackers stay at, perfecting their knowledge about their system to increase longevity and slow down ageing, and to feel as good as possible along the way. All of these are available in different forms, depending on how far you want to go and how much money you are willing to spend. For example, the biohacking guru Serge Faguet spent $200,000 on himself, including medical examinations, dietary supplements and drugs, special training, and nutrition.

Photo by FOODISM360

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Mind the extremes If we look at the most popular biohacks, we will discover that despite their accessibility, one should still be aware of the pitfalls. Take supplements as an example. It is common knowledge that we can all benefit from more vitamin D and magnesium, which can be bought in pharmacies. Taken to the extreme, however, using supplements can turn into a chase after some inexplicably expensive packet of pills or taking 100 pills daily without knowing if all of them are supported by clinical trials.

Another example of a very popular biohack that can turn sour is fasting. Silicon Valley types swear by intermittent eating, skipping meals, or replacing food with coffee and water for periods from 24 hours to seven days.

They report feeling euphoric, more energised, and less susceptible to mood swings. Indeed, fasting is an ancient technique. It has been under the microscope and was found to boost the immune system, reset the metabolism, and slow down ageing. Unfortunately, most of the studies with promising results were conducted on animals, while the literature on the effect on humans is relatively new and far from undisputed. Sometimes the tech types fall into another trap – their obsession with calorie tracking, glucose levels, and body composition measurements. These behaviours are also linked to eating disorders such as anorexia. To avoid associations with what is traditionally considered a “feminine” disease, the language of biohacking comes to the rescue – they do not “diet,” they undertake “fasting protocols.” Their goal is not to lose weight, but to “optimise their physical and mental performance.”

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Photo by Cottonbro

Through the mind to the body

Search for the magic pill or search for control?

If you have ever looked up biohacking, you probably found numerous listicles on top hacks that will change your life. Veronika notes that they very often lack one simple premise – the necessity of self-observation.

The most common way to assess your potential and heal is mindfulness. People have trouble sticking with it because there are no immediate results. Biohacking solves that problem by being oriented to physical sensations. But underestimating the role of mindfulness in biohacking practices would be a big mistake – any experiment must rely on checking in with yourself and finding balance, experimenting with sensations, and recognising your response to them. “That’s how I start my day. Every morning I ask myself: ‘How am I? Tired?

How is my mood?’ Sure, I have an OURA ring [a device that measures the physiological signals of your body and helps track sleep and activity – ed.]that will tell me how I feel . But without checking in with myself I won’t take on the day. Journalling is the best way to do it. This is my number one biohack.”

Truth be told, most of us have a lifestyle that could do with a little hacking – a bit more sleep and vitamin D, a little less stress and processed food. People are quick to believe those who claim what is to blame for poor health. Many deem the three-meals-a-day diet to be untrustworthy, while they jump onto the “fasting” or “futuristic implant train” to feel they are in control. That is the reason so many biohacking techniques are taken to the extreme – it gives the people a sense of control over their body and mind. Veronika highlights, “So many people rush to invest time and money in unnecessary things, maybe because it is easier than sitting down every morning, practicing stillness and listening to what your body is telling you. True biohacking is about balance – between body and mind, using traditional medicine and experimenting on yourself, using technology to collect data and practicing mindfulness.” It makes sense; to hack an organism that took six million years to evolve, we will have to put in some work to know the system first. But don’t be discouraged – a happier and longer life awaits.

Biohack number two is to introduce breathing techniques, Uddiyana bandha in particular. “Doing it in the morning on an empty stomach is amazing.

In a nutshell, it stretches your biggest muscle – the diaphragm – that you never get to exercise in a day, which is a pity since it controls the most important process in your body – breathing. Doing this breathing exercise instantly wakes you up and saturates the brain with oxygen,” says Veronika.

“My third piece of advice is to practice cold therapy. It is so underrated.” Veronika is an advocate for cryotherapy, climbing Sněžka in shorts and having cold showers and baths regularly. “If you start your day by massaging your lower body under cold water, gradually increasing the time and slowly going further up, it will be enough to improve your mood and energy level right away.” The long-term effects of cold showers include prevention of nerve degeneration, immune-system boosting, and preventing depression.

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CBD Oil

By Claire Dognini

“Nature itself is the best physician” Hippocrates

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Photo by Kimzy Nanney

Hemp has played a role in human nutrition for thousands of years in all parts of the world. The first documented mention of the plant being used as medicine dates back to 2737 BC in China, where Emperor Shen Nung developed hemp oils and teas to help with blood clots, tapeworms, and hair loss. The ancient Greeks used hemp for pain relief and inflammation. In the Middle East, the plant grew abundantly and it was used for various remedies due to its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, anti-epileptic, antiemetic, and diuretic properties.

During the Industrial Revolution, conventional medicine (or modern medicine, as we know it today) started to emerge.

Industrialisation ensured the faster production of medical equipment, and doctors were making huge breakthroughs and discoveries such as vaccines and the causes of various diseases such as scurvy. With modern medicine making great leaps forward, unconventional or alternative medicine such as hemp became something of the past. Marijuana came to be perceived as a drug and was banned around nearly the entire world in the early 20th century. In no time, the use of hemp and its healing properties was slowly forgotten.

Today, as the human race is suffering increasingly from medical issues such as high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression, many people are searching for natural remedies. Some have turned to the traditional practice of healing these illnesses with hemp or hemp extract CBD oil.

No matter one’s age or background, hemp and its oils have the power to provide holistic nourishment. Nowadays, more and more people use it to combat pain, stress or as a vital component in their healthy lifestyle. With that said, there are still millions who are oblivious to the many benefits of the plant and how to make use of hemp products, especially with so much disinformation out there and not knowing what information you should trust.

Supplements such as cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) are becoming increasingly popular. They are enriched with hemp oils that harmonise and support the body’s natural processes, relieve tension and stress, and have positive effects on the heart, skin, muscles, and joints.

CBD and CBG are substances known as cannabinoids which are contained in hemp. With the help of COâ‚‚, these oils can be extracted under certain temperatures and pressures. They do not have any psychoactive effect. CBD stimulates the endocannabinoid system in our body. The endocannabinoid system in our body is common to all mammals and consists of CB1 and CB2 receptors. It manages basic life processes such as immunity, sleep, food intake, and reproduction. Cannabinoids in hemp, mainly CBD, contribute to the harmonisation of the endocannabinoid system and the proper functioning of body processes. CBD stimulates the endocannabinoid system and helps the homeostasis in our body which then reduces the sensation of pain and inhibiting inflammation. So far, 1,400 cannabinoids, terpenes (a class of organic compounds produced by a variety of plants and some insects), and other substances in the plant have been discovered and described.

How does our endocannabinoid system work?

Immune system

The endocannabinoid body system is common to all mammals and consists of CB1 and CB2 receptors. It manages basic life processes such as immunity, sleep, food intake, and reproduction. Cannabinoids in hemp, mainly CBD, contribute to the harmonisation of the endocannabinoid system and the proper functioning of body processes.

CB2 receptors are mainly concentrated in cells of the immune system and in the peripheral nervous system.

Once activated, they work against inflammation, which is the immune system's reaction. It is believed that these receptors play an important role in the immune response of our bodies to diseases and various symptoms.

Brain and central nervous system CB1 receptors are present throughout the human body.

They mainly concentrate in the brain and spinal cord.

They focus on places that are associated with the behaviour they influence, such as the hypothalamus, which affects appetite regulation, or the amygdala, which plays a role in memory and the processing of emotions.

They are also found in the nerve endings, where they help relieve pain.

Cannabinoids work in synergy and therefore synthetically produced cannabinoids which are usually on sale in pharmacies are not really efficient. It is necessary to use them in a complex way (hemp seeds, hemp seed oil, CBD extract, etc.) so that their healing effects can be absorbed fully. So far 1400 cannabinoids, terpenes and other substances in the plant have been discovered and described.

Discussions on their health effects are still ongoing.

Anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and antipsychotic effects have been demonstrated. Around 300 expert studies conducted over the past 35 years have shown that cannabinoids can effectively help people with chronic pain. They even work synergistically with opiatebased painkillers.

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Photo by HempCrew

Medical uses for CBD you might not have known about: Diabetes

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Diabetes is an inflammatory condition and CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. Research has suggested that CBD can help offset the damage diabetes can inflict on the walls of blood vessels. A 2016 study showed that CBD improved the metabolism and decreased the glucose level on human and animal models with type 2 diabetes.

When ingested, CBD is known to produce anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory effects by slowing everything down and calming the user. Those with PTSD are often overcome with anxiety and stress, so patients frequently find relief by using cannabidiol.

Acne A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and the National Institute of Health discovered that CBD can be used to treat acne. Researchers used hemp-derived cannabidiol on the human sebaceous glands and came to the conclusion that CBD was highly effective.

Some scientists say CBD could be an effective treatment for bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD interact with the system that controls gut function in the body, something which causes issues for Crohn’s patients. CBD’s anti-inflammatory ability brings a lot of relief to those suffering from this condition.

Fibromyalgia

Multiple Sclerosis

A 2011 study focusing on CBD treatment for fibromyalgia produced very promising results for future uses in treatment. Half of the 56 participants used CBD, while the other half used traditional methods to treat their condition. Those that used cannabis saw a great reduction in their symptoms and pain, while those using traditional methods didn’t see much of an improvement.

Scientists at the Cajal Institute used animal models and cell cultures to find that CBD reversed inflammatory responses and served as durable protection from the effects of multiple sclerosis. Mice with 10 days of CBD treatment had superior motor skills and showed progression in their condition. Using this information, researchers concluded that CBD has the potential ability to reduce various aspects of MS.

Schizophrenia In 2012, a group of German researchers published a study in the journal Translational Psychiatry. The potent antipsychotic amisulpride and CBD were compared between 42 schizophrenia patients. The two treatments were deemed effective, but the short side-effect profile of CBD outshone the pharmaceutical option.

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Crohn’s Disease

Cannabinoids are most rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream by inhaling smoke or vapour. When taken orally (capsules, elixirs, or extracts), the onset of action is longer, but also more intense.

Various suppliers sell different types of CBD and CBG products. In the CzechRepublic there are quite a few Czech manufacturers and they sell many different types of products.

Organic CBD hemp oil (2%, 5%, and 10%): It has a positive effect on heart rate, cholesterol, blood glucose, skin condition, and muscle and joint function.

Organic CBD hemp oil (2%, 5% and 10% – isolate): It has the same effects as the above oils.

CBD coconut oil: It is a food supplement with a varied cannabinoid content, especially CBD. It is very popular because of its delicate taste and ease of use. You can add it to meals and drinks or take it undiluted. It is also excellent for applying to the skin CBD capsules: Capsules are the ideal choice if you are sensitive to other CBD products. The capsules don’t irritate the taste cells, and they are very practical and easy to use. They are vegan, and the recommended dose is one capsule daily.

Organic CBG hemp oil (2% and 5%): It is most abundant in the Santhica variety and is carefully isolated. It has similar effects as CBD. Some users claim that it is stronger and works more rapidly.

E-liquids: E-liquids with various flavours – OG Kush, Spearmint, Skywalker, and Mango Kush – don’t contain THC. They are used for hemp vaporisation in e-cigarettes or vaporisers. Vaporisation is a very effective way of receiving CBD and CBG. Active substances quickly enter the bloodstream and subsequently move into all tissues and the nervous system. The effect is faster and is an ideal addition to CBD or CBG hemp oils. Users also like the pleasant taste and smell. When vaporising, you do not inhale smoke, but only the steam containing the active ingredients. CBD and CBG evaporate from e-liquid at temperatures between 120 and 180°C. Hemp herb: Hemp mix with a higher CBD or CBG content for use in herb vaporisers.

Organic CBD hemp butter – ghee: It contains valuable cannabinoids. It does not burn, so it is ideal for frying.

Hemp cosmetics with CBD: These are particularly effective because of their anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. A growing number of products are available on the market, including CBD regenerating serum for damaged skin. It can help with skin problems such as acne, eczema, urticaria, psoriasis, and herpes.

Hemp oil also keeps skin moisturised and fresh.

Another cosmetic product is hemp ointment. The basis is natural lanolin, shea butter, and beeswax. The ointment contains CBD and cold-pressed organic hemp oil, which has anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects on skin and muscles. It is suitable for dry or irritated skin, allergic skin reactions, pigment spots, and as a nose and lip balm.

CBD oils are not to be confused with hemp seed oil, which is a cold-pressed oil from hemp seeds. It carries all their beneficial nutritional values – omega acids 3, 6, and 9, as well as valuable proteins, minerals, and vitamins. It is great nutrition for the body from inside and out. It is used for the support of natural immunity, heart protection, healthy skin, and maintaining a normal level of glucose in the blood. It also works very well on cholesterol levels and the functioning of muscles and joints. Chlorophyll helps with detoxification. Hemp seed oil is not suitable for frying, but rather for dishes served cold like salads, some pastas, or as a spread instead of butter. It is suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women, vegans, and those on a gluten-free diet.

You will also find Holy Oil (Svatý olej) on the market. It is a highly concentrated essential oil of cannabis flowers without cannabinoids. However, it contains more than 40 terpenes. It is mainly used in aromatherapy, massages, or as a natural perfume, but can also be added to CBD oils to increase efficiency. These are extracted at temperatures already high for terpenes. It is also an excellent addition to domestic insect repellents.

All mammals have an endocannabinoid body system that affects their basic life functions. Hemp therefore also helps our pets. It relieves pain and stress, strengthens vitality and health, and has anti-inflammatory effects.

There are CBD oils especially for animals available on the market.

CBD organic hemp tea: With 4% or 1.6% CBD and various ingredients. It harmonises and promotes the body’s natural defences. It has a relaxing effect and positive influence on the heart. It is not psychoactive.

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Photo by Kym MacKinnon

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Risks CBD has a major advantage over THC –it is not considered a narcotic or psychoactive substance. The use of CBD products is not illegal. Countless companies offer a variety of CBD products of various qualities. After several years of research and clinical use, cannabidiol is considered to be one of the most versatile and safest herbal active substances. Even in larger quantities it does not have significant side effects. But attention should be paid to the effect of CBD on the absorption of other drugs.

CBD products are not yet clearly regulated on the world market, and not all manufacturers declare the composition and concentration of active substances. Some CBD oils may contain a trace amount of THC. THC, or phenols and terpenes, may increase the efficacy of the product. CBD dampens the psychoactive effect of THC. However, more sensitive people may be surprised by the psychoactive effect of such a product. Another risk is the poor extraction of raw materials.

This article was written with the help of Zelená země s.r.o.

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Welcome to Oko! Bistro.

Our cosy cafĂŠ offers a wide selection of delicious meals, sweets, and coffees, all at local prices. We bake fresh bread, croissants, pies, and cakes daily and our breakfast and lunch dishes are prepared fresh using only the best locally sourced ingredients. For those looking to unwind after work, we also offer a wide selection of seasonal wine.

The main space has a relaxing ambience complemented with great music and service with a smile. Our study room is the ideal quiet space to work from where patrons can enjoy free WiFi and is accessible every weekday from 08:00-20:00 and on weekends.

The building is also home to Oko!’s offices, serving as the headquarters of Oko! Magazine and other Oko! affiliated projects. We like to think of our establishment as a creative space for innovative minds, so if there is any project or idea that you would like to share with us, please just ask for Benny or Claire at the bar.

At Oko! Bistro we pride ourselves on making all our food from scratch. Every soup, cake, bread and pastry is made with love using only the best seasonal ingredients sourced from local providers whenever possible. Many of our homemade products be it our delicious sauces, tasty cakes, or healthy fermented beverages can be ordered to take home as well as our large selection of high-quality cheeses, meets and wines. Need a cake for a special occasion? Why not let us take the stress away and prepare one for you? Just write to us using the contact from at the bottom of the page or ask us directly at the bistro.

Find us now at: Chopinova 1556/6 Praha 2 www.okobistro.cz Instagram @okobistro Facebook /OkoBistro

The Impact of the Global Pandemic on the Czech Real Estate Market

By Anna Minjaríková

When the news of COVID-19 started to surface in the media at the beginning of 2020, hardly anyone was able to foresee the impact of the disease on the world population and economy. The Czech Republic has been fighting to contain the virus since March, and, although it has been largely successful in minimising the spread, virtually no aspect of everyday life has remained unaffected, the real estate market being no exception.

The beginning of the epidemic in the Czech Republic The first positive cases of the coronavirus were confirmed on 1 March this year. The Czech Republic was among the first countries to respond to the threat, declaring a national state of emergency on 13 March, followed in quick succession by the closing of its borders at midnight on 15 March.

All the restrictions later implemented, coupled with the threat of the disease itself, plunged people’s lives and the entire economy into a state of limbo, bringing most of the country to a halt.

This paralysed the housing market, especially during the first month of the epidemic – those who did not have to move were no longer searching for a place to rent.

Consequently, this stifled the demand for buying properties.

Sale and purchase of real estate During the pandemic, buyers’ demand for apartments slightly decreased. However, even after the decrease it is still higher than the supply. This is noticeable especially in Prague and other large cities, which is mainly due to the slow authorisation of building permits and a lack of land for new buildings.

It is not recommended to panic-sell your property immediately because of the fear of falling prices.

However, if you’re certain that you would still like to sell your property in the foreseeable future (within half a year or so), you should sell now, as there are only two possible short-term outcomes: prices could either fall further or very slightly increase, meaning that owners will not stand to gain much from a delayed sale.

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The other extreme of speculating and waiting on real estate prices to start growing again is not an ideal course of action either. Instead, it is better to buy now because one will seldom hit the ideal price. If real estate prices were pushed further down by the economic slowdown, they would probably remain at the same level anyway due to the housing shortage, which is not expected to subside in the near future, as the demand will continue to be much higher than the supply.

What might currently play into the hands of potential buyers is the abolition of the real estate acquisition tax.

The Czech finance minister’s proposal for abolition of the tax was approved by the government in April 2020 and it was already supported by the Chamber of Deputies in the first reading. However, as the opposition did not agree with some parts of the law,it is now being adjusted for the second reading. Once finally approved, the abolition of the tax will save buyers 4% of the property’s price and it should also have a retroactive effect. It will even apply to buyers who bought properties back in December 2019, with those who have already paid the tax to get their money back.

The abolition of the tax is a great thing, but the fact that it was, for a long time, only a promise, slowed down the market since everyone decided to wait for further developments. It is expected that the abolition of the tax will motivate a lot of previously hesitant buyers into purchasing a property, which might put the market in motion again.

Some of the best real estate investment opportunities in the Czech Republic are in the Central Bohemian region or Ústí nad Labem. That is, if you aim for a bigger profit and are willing to take a risk. If not, Prague or Brno would be better options. Ostrava is also a great place to invest, since it still offers low prices despite being a big city with a potential for growth.

Photo by zdenek-machacek

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Photo by Zdenek Machacek

Mortgages

Rents vs. coronavirus

Regarding mortgages, there are two significant changes that have come with the pandemic: the deferring of mortgage repayments and the relaxation of the rules for granting new mortgages.

The act of closing borders has had a significant impact on rentals too. With the number of foreign newcomers plummeting, the entire Airbnb market of over 13,000 rental units froze. Since it is not yet clear how long travel will be suspended for, many owners have opted instead to offer their apartments as long-term rentals, which has increased the supply of new flats on the market. Demand has nevertheless remained low due to decreased tenant mobility.

As for the former: It is now possible to defer repayments for loans provided to clients prior to 26 March for three or six months.

What does the relaxation of the rules mean? As of 1 April this year, the Czech National Bank relaxed its recommendations for assessing new mortgages and so the limit for new mortgage loans has been eased from 80% to 90% in the case of LTV (loan to value). Additionally, the condition that the loan can be a maximum value of eight to nine times the annual net income has also been removed. And another change: The installment can now form up to 50% of the applicant’s net monthly income.

These two major changes have the potential to motivate more people into purchasing property, just like the abolition of real estate acquisition tax. This depends on people’s willingness to take a risk and on banks that still remain careful.

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Prague is the most striking example of disparity between the pre-pandemic period and current rent prices: the number of new rental ads rose to around 2,000 a week, while the four-year median of new weekly offers was around 1,250. At the same time, the median price of rental offers in the city fell by about 10% from mid-March to mid-April. However, this number includes apartments from the outskirts of the capital, where fewer properties are rented through Airbnb, while in the tourist parts of Prague, prices fell by as much as 50%.

What to watch out for when renting an Airbnb apartment There is nothing wrong with renting an apartment originally used for Airbnb business, but not every single one of these owners might have good intentions.

While some of them may have decided to turn away from Airbnb permanently because of the pandemic, others might be just waiting for the tourists to start coming back.

Once this happens, their tenants might be forced to search for a new apartment again.

What could help you to protect yourself from such problems? Certainly the lease agreement. Pay attention to what it contains and focus especially on the length of the lease and the terms for termination of the contract.

Besides that, it is vital that the lease agreement be in accordance with the Czech civil code, which is legally binding for all civil contracts.

Future market development At the moment, the situation is slowly improving. In the next few months, the market in Prague will probably still have to cope with a surplus of Airbnb apartments. There are two possible options: Either foreigners will return and the apartments will gradually start being used for Airbnb again, or the apartment owners will decide to sell them, which will again increase supply and thus may possibly lead to a further decrease in their selling price.

Will the pandemic have a long-term impact on real estate? It’s still hard to say. The decline in property prices during the last economic crisis in 2008 did not manifest until around six months after the economic downturn, which could theoretically happen in this case as well, depending on how the world economy develops in the coming months. Even so, a long-term fall in property prices due to the global coronavirus pandemic is not expected.

Even if the lease agreement seems to be fine, it is advisable to insist on the inclusion of a fine for early termination in the agreement. Not only will it protect you, but the owner’s reaction to this might also reveal a lot about their true intentions – if they are serious about the long-term contract, they are less likely to reject the inclusion of the fine.

You should also watch out for the rent price. There is a chance the owner will offer you a long-term contract but later increase the rent. It is good to read the contract carefully and perhaps to ask the owner about the rent.

If you ask them about their plans on increasing the rent and they brush your question off, trying to convince you that there is no danger of that happening, stay alert.

Photo by Jaromir Kavan

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The Business of Leadership A Conversation with Pepper de Callier

By Anna West 54

I met with Pepper de Callier over Zoom, though a distance of only five kilometers separated us. We had both been quarantined for over two months at the time and, over a spotty WiFi connection, we discussed the new realities of social and physical distancing. “This is something that I am discussing with my clients,” de Callier told me. As a leadership coach, he was helping his clients, business executives at some of the top companies in the world, navigate how to lead teams – from a distance. Even leaders need to be led sometimes.

De Callier is what others have described as an authority on leadership. He has devoted much of his career to counselling and coaching executives, most recently as the founder and executive director of the Prague Leadership Institute, an organisation with the mission to “create the centre of excellence for the development of high-performance 21st-century leaders.” Formerly a consultant at executive search and consulting firms Spencer Stuart and Heidrick & Struggles, de Callier has advised executives from global behemoths like Microsoft, Boeing, General Electric, and Merck, as well as notable Czech and Slovak firms TV Nova, Česká spořitelna, and Slovak Telekom. He is also the founder and chairman of the supervisory board of Aspen Institute Prague.

In his own words, de Callier “helps leaders and boards see themselves through the eyes of other people.”

From talking to de Callier, it is evident that he is a keen observer of people. He is also a great storyteller, and uses storytelling as a way to relate to people. He insists, however, that in his work he does not prescribe solutions.

Rather he employs Socratic questioning, a method whereby he asks questions so that his clients may reach answers on their own. “Through that mechanism, we can determine where you are, what needs to be looked at, and what you want to get. It’s understanding the causal relationship between what you think, say, and do, and what happens around you,” he said.

De Callier has lived in Prague for almost 17 years. He and his wife fell in love with the city and have since made it their permanent residence. “This is our home.

We love it. The people and the history. We plan to be here for the rest of our lives,” he said. In addition to his executive coaching work, de Callier serves as chair of the board of trustees of the Lobkowicz collection. Those familiar with Prague will know the Lobkowicz Palace, which is part of the Prague Castle complex. The palace houses the Lobkowicz collection, the oldest and largest privately owned art collection in the Czech Republic.

Both the collection and the palace are owned by the Lobkowicz family, one of the oldest Bohemian noble families in Central Europe. During the forced occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Nazis and during the period of communist rule, the collection was dispersed. Now, as chairman of the board, de Callier helps to uphold the mission of the organisation, which is to preserve, protect, and share with the public the art, artifacts, and buildings that were returned to the family after the 1989 Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. De Callier jokes that he has had a hard time retiring.

Before he became well-known for his work in the business community, de Callier came from rather humble beginnings. He was raised in the middle of farm country in central Indiana, which he remembers as idyllic. De Callier likened his childhood and teenage years to the classic coming-of-age film American Graffiti.

De Callier’s mother was his first business mentor. She was a senior business executive, which was unconventional in the 1950s, when most women in the United States held positions as secretaries, clerical workers, household workers, or teachers. De Callier remembered that his mother let him cut school once a month to attend her business meetings after she saw his fascination with the sales process. “I fell in love with the whole concept of influencing the decisions of other people,” said de Callier.

However, his early experiences with business leadership did not immediately lead to a successful career. “I was a discipline problem,” he admitted. After being kicked out of high school, de Callier’s grandfather signed him up for barber school in Indianapolis. He became a barber in a rougher neighborhood in the city before receiving a life-changing call from his old teacher – the very one who had expelled him from high school.

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“Edwin P. White. I will never forget his name,” he told me. White convinced de Callier to go on with his education. He ended up sponsoring him at the University of Arizona, where de Callier got his bachelor's degree.

Years later, de Callier wrote in his recurring column for Hospodářské noviny about that fateful phone call. For him, it was a turning point. “If you can make a phone call like that, make it. Change someone’s life,” he said. “It was an experience that made me understand just how not special I am, just how human I am. In my work with people, the reason that I think I’m effective is because I have experienced enough setbacks in my own life … I know what it’s like to overcome that, so I know it's possible. I’m not afraid to share that with people because I don’t want to be looked at as something different, I want to be looked at as someone who didn't give up, who saw that there was a way to learn and grow.”

After attending university, de Callier went on to receive further education at Stanford and later became a salesman at Aetna insurance company. He rose through the ranks and ended up training other insurance agents.

Later, he was recruited to the Philadelphia Life Insurance Company, where in his first year he sold the largest insurance policy ever sold by the company at the time – $23 million on the life of one person. De Callier later became disenchanted with his work. In this transitional period, he almost moved his family to Marlow, a small town outside of London known for being the place where Izaak Walton wrote The Compleat Angler. Instead, de Callier was recruited to become the publisher of Monterey Life, a magazine based in Carmel, California.

Despite his lack of experience in the publishing industry, de Callier revitalised the magazine, in part by strengthening the editorial content and working with famous photographers like Ansel Adams.

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Critical moments of transition, like the ones that de Callier experienced in his lifetime, are among the most common challenges faced by business executives, and one of the reasons that leaders seek out his services.

“It can come from a downturn in a marketplace, or something like the coronavirus pandemic that we are currently going through,” explained de Callier. “In times like these, resilience matters. You can't be resilient unless you’re engaged. You can’t be engaged unless you trust, and you can’t trust unless you know.”

Unfortunately, with instability in the global markets and unemployment soaring in the global workforce, it seems that as a society we are facing a critical turning point such as the one that de Callier described. As our Zoom session came to a close, I asked de Callier what he can glean from his past experiences, his circuitous career path, and what he could recommend to executives and non-executives alike experiencing a transition. “I was not afraid to reinvent myself,” de Callier said. “That is what transition is all about. It's finding new ways to be authentic. This is not my quote, but the Stone Age didn’t end because we ran out of stones, it ended because we started using new tools.” Like de Callier’s unexpected opportunity to join Monterey Life, being open to opportunities that arise, that are outside the confines of one’s resumé, is where self-discovery begins.

Photos provided for this article are from Pepper de Callier’s private collection

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Freight Guys

Taking the stress out of shipping Over the past decade, FreightGuys has been helping its North American customers to eliminate the hassle behind sending cargo abroad. Through harnessing technology in a traditional industry. Now we are happy to introduce it to the Czech market. Founder Micha Leinwand built the company from humble beginnings and with a clear vision.

“We work in an industry that tends to over promise and under deliver. That is not the sort of business that I wanted to create. Our mission is to provide a quality service that, in an increasingly busy and interconnected world, places convenience and efficiency at the core of its philosophy whilst putting our customers first in everything that we do.”

For more than ten years, we have helped many happy customers to ship cargo to destinations all over the world.

Our success is predominantly down to the value we place on customer service which derives from Micha’s background growing up in an honest and hardworking farming community in Israel. ”The sort of work ethic I was taught growing up is how I approach my business.

Life lessons on the fields; a time to reap, a time to sow.

It can be unpredictable too and we currently live in such times. People are still going to need people to keep food on the table. I like to think that we’re doing our part, in keeping things moving forward.”

Shipping can be a tricky business and people will all too often hire the services of the first provider that shows up in an internet search, usually resulting in the customer being heavily overcharged. The alternative is to conduct research between the plethora of companies advertising their services which can be tedious and highly inefficient.

FreightGuys takes away the fuss by providing its clients with all available shipping options on just one screen.

Our quick turnaround on quotes is unparalleled within the market and customers can expect to receive competitive prices complemented with a first-class service for any type of freight, no matter the shape or size.

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w w w. f r e i g h t g u y s . c o m

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Photo by The Czech Olympic Committee

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Olympics Isolation and Hope

Hit Hard by the Pandemic, the Czech Olympic Team Still Stands Tall

By Dominik Jezek Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Olympic Committee announced the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games until next year. Many athletes who have worked tirelessly over the past four years saw their Olympic dreams melt away. But modern pentathlete Jan Kuf’s story is different. The world and European champion experienced twists and turns that seem scripted by a Hollywood screenwriter.

“A pentathlete’s training is a full-time job, plus weekends.

We train every week and sometimes get Sundays off.

We go running five times a week for 60-90 minutes and swimming three times a week. For the parkour with horses, we travel to Podĕbrady twice a week, which is a trip that takes the whole afternoon,” explains Jan. His weekly schedule also includes two or three fencing and shooting practices. To fence with the professionals, Jan has to travel to Letňany. He usually arrives at the ASC Dukla stadium at 09:00 and returns home at 20:00.

Practice takes five straight hours on average, and travelling eats up the rest.

Photo by The Czech Olympic Committee

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Photo by Filip Komorous

Surgeries and chances

Anti-gravity help

When the Olympic year draws near, Jan changes his routine. At the beginning of 2020, though, fate dealt him different cards. “The state of my meniscus was so bad I needed surgery. This a routine surgery; mine took about 15 minutes. Everything seemed alright until my knee began swelling repeatedly. The doctors found inflammation and instructed that I undergo knee washouts. The procedure tied me to a hospital bed for another 14 days,” says Jan.

The turn of events after COVID-19 made everything grind to a halt, including the postponement of the Games, was a saving grace for the 29-year-old. Since the races scheduled to the end of 2020 now do not count in the qualifying calculations, he can focus fully on his recovery. “After the surgery, it felt like my thigh did not have any muscles. It was half the size of the other. My knee had to relearn everything,” says Jan. When COVID-19 broke out, Dukla allowed him to take home some exercise equipment for his rehabilitation. He also found great help in his girlfriend, who works as a physiotherapist. Despite all that, the lockdown and social distancing restrictions prevented him from swimming, the most helpful exercise during his recovery.

These complications led to a shift in priorities. There could be no more pushing through the pain under medication to make it to the Olympics. To make matters worse, Jan still had to qualify for the Games, and the last race in which he could secure his spot was in May. “When I look back at the state of my knee in May, my chances weren’t too rosy. I could have participated, but that was about the long and the short of it,” ponders Jan. Had he qualified for the Olympics, getting to the winner’s podium among the fierce competition would have been too tough a nut to crack. “Making it to the Olympics is great, but I wouldn’t stand a chance against other fully fit athletes,” said Jan.

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Jan’s home club acknowledged his frustrations and granted him permission to visit their rehabilitation facilities. At first, Jan felt like he returned to a ghost town.

A huge stadium, once visited by hundreds, was now occupied only by three people – a janitor, a cleaning lady, and Jan himself.

Jan also had access to a peculiar rehabilitation device: an anti-gravity treadmill. “It helped with my recovery a great deal. It has a sort of bubble around it that inflates to lessen the impacts on your joints. After you put on the special shorts and strap in, the treadmill weighs you, and you choose how much of your body weight you want to run with,” explains Jan and smiles. “When you set it to less than 50 %, it’s more of a moonwalk.”

Photo by Filip Komorous

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Horsey superstition

ABCs and broom fencing

There has been other good news for this student at Prague’s University of Economics and Management.

Thanks to the rise of teammate Martin Vlach and his international success, Jan now shares the photoshoots and related activities with someone else. Therefore, he can focus even more on getting into top shape in order to qualify for the Olympics.

Barbora, who worked for 13 years as a sports editor at Mlada fronta Dnes before joining the Czech Olympic Committee, could finally act. As the preparations for the Olympics had been in full swing, she and her team immediately called off some activities. At the same time, they had to adapt and move online. Thanks to several years of a strong social media presence and support from their president, Jiri Kejval, the Committee was well-equipped to handle the situation.

Should he be successful, Jan will follow in the footsteps of another Czech pentathlete, David Svoboda, who won gold in the modern pentathlon at the London Olympics in 2012. “Superstitious? I guess I am a bit. David fell from a horse in 2008, and four years later, he won gold. I also fell from a horse at the last Games, so this could be a positive sign. On top of that, my story has a plot twist with the injury and the postponement. But I have never been the nervous type, so I don’t feel any pressure that I have to win in the next Games. The people around me, fortunately, take it with a grain of salt too,” shares Jan. The amiable athlete is currently slowly getting back to his daily routine and looks forward to future events, however uncertain they may be. The earliest you can see Jan racing is at the Milan Kadlec Memorial that takes place in Prague and Podebrady from 20-23 August.

“When it comes to social media, we are the second best National Olympic Committee in Europe, right after the UK. We had to create content that would both entertain and make people move using the hashtag #zabavsepohybem (enjoy yourself with exercise). This strategy worked perfectly,” explains Barbora. One of their most successful posts was the so-called Olympic ABCs, where you could design a set of exercises based on your name.

The athletes played their part as well, be it a more serious documentation of their training at home or a goofy photoshoot of modern pentathletes doing broom fencing, wheelbarrow workout, or in Jan’s case, shooting practice on a deer painting.

New dawn for Czech NOC

More focus on children

As for the major competitions, the World Athletics Federation has provisional dates for the European Championships that were originally due to take place in September, as well as for the World Championship which was to follow it. However, any of the participating countries can object and their athletes, who in some cases will not have had equal practice conditions, could contribute toward the cancellation of the events.

By moving their events online, the Czech NOC reached a much wider audience. The Czech Coaching Academy’s educational seminar, Dialogues, scored more than 5,000 views. That is more than hundredfold the number of people who would have attended the event in person.

Despite their success, these events are to come back offline as they are designed for one-on-one interactions where participants can get personal in-depth feedback and advice.

The Tokyo Olympic Games are now set to start on 23 July next year, but no one can guarantee they will take place. Although the uncertainty still gnaws at the organisers, the show must go on. When the decision to postpone the Games was announced, Czech Olympic Committee (Czech NOC) spokesperson Barbora Zehanova felt relieved. It meant an end to a period where she and her colleagues on the communications team didn’t know what would happen the following day.

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The Czech NOC also partnered with the National Sports Agency to enhance the Czech TV educational morning show UčíTelka (TeacherTelly) with physical exercise lessons. Every day, children had the chance to train with a different athlete and get to know less popular sports.

With major events and activities cancelled or rescheduled, the Czech Olympic Foundation came into the spotlight. The foundation supports children from 6 to 18 years old that lack resources to buy sports equipment and pay club fees. “When biker Jaroslav Kulhavy contacted us with his Everest Challenge, we put our heads together and created the fundraiser ‘8848 for children,’ where you could have joined the event by buying a start number. As soon as we could, we also facilitated children's meetings with our famous athletes.

We had some crayons and school supplies from our supplier Koh-I-Noor, which together with the athletes we delivered to vulnerable children’s homes. Yes, we definitely kept ourselves busy,” says Barbora.

Photo by The Czech Olympic Committee

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Looking ahead But children were not the only ones in need of support.

Athletes had to deal with the fact that their four years of training might have been for nothing, especially those who wanted to end their careers after the Olympics. Czech NOC sports director Martin Doktor worked hand-in-hand with Czech athletic stars Barbora Spotakova, David Kostelecky, and others who braved the situation with unyielding optimism and became role models for their fellow athletes. Rather than launching a bigger-scale initiative, they worked with individual athletes who felt under the weather.

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As for the outlook into next year’s Games, some sports already have their defined qualification criteria.

The Czech Republic has 42 qualified athletes for the next Olympic Games as of now. But most of the sports have qualification criteria according to the rankings, big events, or internal nominations, so the number could potentially be higher. “I can’t really say that the Czech Republic will have more athletes at the Games due to their postponement. Some, such as Jan Kuf, can qualify from the World Championship next year, but the total number of athletes won’t soar compared to what we would have had this year,” says Barbora. The increase will probably be in lower single digits.

The silver lining When it comes to permanent effects of the coronavirus crisis on the operations of the Czech NOC, the organisational meetings may remain online. Conversely, their events are still aimed at individual consultations and personal contact where people are more likely to discuss their problems; you can’t entirely replace these by video conferences.

“From these difficult times, we are taking two things.

The first one is a greater focus on the Czech Olympic

Foundation activities and promotion. We consider keeping children participating in sports a vital matter, and we would like to carry on in this trend,” summarises Barbora and adds, “The second part is that we’ve recently launched the Silnější pro život (Stronger for Life) campaign, where we use our media spaces originally reserved for the Olympics. The campaign promotes exercise, quality relationship cultivation, optimism, endurance, and basically everything that the Olympic mindset stands for. If you go out with the trash and use the stairs instead of the elevator, it is an exercise boosting your immunity. This is one of the topics we are focusing on right now and you will keep seeing it more throughout this summer.”

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Photo by The Czech Olympic Committee

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Illustration and comic by @da.banjo

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