UP Sports Day: Huge Interest in Dragon Boats and Dominance on the Chessboard
Translated automatically…
A sightseeing hike, a canoeing trip, climbing on an artificial wall, beach volleyball, dragon boats, chess, and a faculty-level indoor soccer tournament. This year’s Palacký University Sports Day once again offered a wide variety of physical activities, attended by hundreds of students and staff at UP. Those who didn’t choose any of the offered activities but still went out with colleagues to play sports or go on a trip can still participate in a photo contest until the end of May.
The university organizes UP Sports Day every May as a benefit and incentive to promote a healthy lifestyle for its staff and students. This year’s event featured the most extensive program in its history. A rector’s day off is typically declared for Sports Day, and all physical activities are free of charge.
„This year’s Palacký University Sports Day took place on Wednesday, May 13. Although a few participants dropped out of outdoor activities during the day due to the cooler weather, it was a very successful event. For example, the canoeing trip, morning yoga classes, Pilates, climbing on the artificial wall, and volleyball tournaments – both in the gym and on the beach volleyball court – were fully booked,“ said Martina Štanclová from the UP Academic Sports Centre (ASC), one of the main organizers of the sports activities. A total of 540 athletes registered for ASC activities.
„We received enthusiastic feedback, for example, from participants in the Latin mix class, circuit training, and indoor cycling. Among the afternoon activities at the Envelopa complex, face painting was one of the most popular, and almost all of the dragon boat racers took advantage of it,“ added Štanclová.
The Kosatky Team Won the Dragon Boat Race
The university-wide dragon boat race took place for the very first time as part of UP Sports Day and drew enormous interest. „Eight eleven-member crews competed against each other, supported throughout the event by countless spectators, not only from the university. Together, they created an amazing and competitive atmosphere that was palpable throughout the event,“ described Alena Vyskočilová from the UP Welcome Office, the race’s main organizer.
The team Boží děcka took third place, Paragrafy ve vodě fought their way to second place, and the team Kosatky rowed their way to the podium. „The boats, along with important instruction and assistance, were provided by experienced athletes from the Moravian Dragons club in Přerov,“ added Vyskočilová.
A Walk Around the Chapel and Cave
Participants in the „Větrání!” – a hiking tour led by Martin Višňa from the Rector’s Office Communications Office – explored a section of the Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area. „On the 16-kilometer route from Moravičany to Litovel, our group of 25 visited, for example, the Chapel of Sts. Cyril and Methodius near Měník, which offers a beautiful view of the Mohelnice area, we visited the ruins of the Knights’ Hall on the rocky slopes of Třesín Hill and also explored its interior in the Podkova Cave,“ the guide described.
„I’ve never walked this route like this before; I’d only ever sort of followed the kayaking route we sometimes take, so I enjoyed it from a different perspective,“ said Adéla Horáková from the Doctoral Studies Department of the Faculty of Law about the outing.
There was no doubt about the chess winner
After four years, the university chess tournament – organized by the Academic Czech-Mates student association, the SC A64 Olomouc chess club, and the Faculty of Science – has become an integral part of Sports Day.
„The entire afternoon was marked by a pleasant and friendly atmosphere. From the relaxed vibe at the chessboards, it was clear that the participants thoroughly enjoyed both the game and the gathering, making the event an unqualified success. There were numerous high-quality, evenly matched games full of careful tactical thinking. Despite healthy competition and the drive to achieve the best possible result, the players adhered to the rules of fair play throughout,“ said Jan Třeštík on behalf of the organizers.
In the end, Víctor Lillo Castañ from the Department of Romance Languages at the Faculty of Arts deservedly claimed the overall victory, dominating the tournament with ease. Pavel Kačírek finished in second place, and Vít Holásek took third. „Huge congratulations to all the medalists on their performances, but thanks also go to all the players who came and helped create such a positive event with their presence,“ concluded Třeštík.
Political Scientists Take Home the Cup
About 100 players – students and faculty members from the Faculty of Arts – competing in a total of nine teams took to the field at FK Slavonín on Sports Day for the 15th annual Dean’s Cup soccer tournament. With enthusiastic fan support, they first competed in two preliminary groups and then in the playoffs.
The team from the Department of Political Science and European Studies performed best, ultimately defeating the winners of the last eight tournaments – the team from the Department of Media and Cultural Studies and Journalism (KMKSŽ) – 2-1 in the final with a successful penalty kick.
„Of course, we were very disappointed to concede the decisive goal in the final minute of the final, but it had to happen eventually; no winning streak can last forever. Even so, I’m proud of the team; they pulled together and coped with a long injury list and player rotations, especially since their performance in the semifinals against Sociology met strict standards. Congratulations to Political Science, and we look forward to the battles in the coming years,“ said Jaroslav Zahrádka, tournament organizer and coach of the KMKSŽ team.
Third place went to the team from the Department of Sociology and Cultural Anthropology. Jakub Strýček (a doctoral student from the Department of Czech Studies), Jaroslav Zahrádka, and Martin Gába (KMKSŽ students) ensured the smooth running of this year’s tournament in their roles as referees and organizers. „Some matches were truly top-notch; I’d describe some individual performances as almost professional,“ added Jakub Strýček, the tournament’s main organizer.
Bike rides, expeditions, and jogging in parks
This year’s Sports Day program also included a large bike ride in Olomouc, during which participants could set off by bike, scooter, or even on foot from the center of Olomouc to Chválkovice, home to the Druhá Dobrodruhá charity reuse center. At the finish line, they were treated to a tour of the center with the opportunity to shop and support its activities, or participate in a workshop on the basics of bike repair.
Also on the agenda was the popular Jiří Hronek Memorial, a run through Olomouc’s parks, which is regularly organized by the Department of Computer Science at the Faculty of Science. The running event offered several different course lengths, ranging from recreational distances to a full 42-kilometer marathon.
The afternoon program for children and adults featuring the PřesBar Expedition at Letňák was organized by the Department of Applied Physical Activities at the Faculty of Physical Culture, which has long been dedicated to promoting an active lifestyle and involving people with disabilities in sports. The event also included a presentation of the Expedition PřesBar 2026 project, which brings together students, educators, and people with various types of disabilities for a shared sporting challenge.
Show off your trip and enter the contest
Those who didn’t choose any of the Sports Day activities organized by UP departments but still went out with colleagues to play sports or go on a trip can send a photo from their outing with a short description to sportovniden@upol.cz by the end of May 2026 for a chance to win a practical university umbrella. For example, the team from the Academia Film Olomouc department is already in the drawing.
„Sports Day was really great; we took a walk from Horka through Sluňákov and Poděbrady and even managed to take this beautiful May photo in the village square in Horka,“ comments Eva Navrátilová, head of the department and director of AFO, on the group outing with her colleagues.
The next UP Sports Day is scheduled for May 12, 2027. Feedback and photos from this year and previous years can be found at upol.cz/en/sports-day.
