Last modified: 2009-08-15 by jarig bakker
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![[old Sokol flag]](../images/c/cz@sokol.jpg)
image resized by Jarig Bakker, 13 Jul 2001
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Czech Sokol Organization (CSO) is the fourth most numerous civic association
in the Czech Republic, whose 180 000 members participate in sports, sporting
activities in Divisions of Sokol Versatility and cultural activities, mostly
in folk and marionette groups. CSO is one of the oldest organizations of
this type in the world. The philosophy of CSO is associated with the emancipation
struggle of the Czech nation in the 19th Century. The idea of physical
education as well as the promotion of moral values was formulated by Miroslav
Tyrs, a professor of the Charles University, and by Jindrich Fugner. The
philosophy, evolved from the ancient Greek ideals of "kalokagathia"
and now propagated by Miroslav Tyrs and his followers, became the basis
of the movement, which is connected with the origin and destiny of the
Czech (Czechoslovak) Republic. Four times Sokol was banned or its activities
were restricted by wars or totalitarian regimes. It was still alive, though-
in other countries, in communities of Czech immigrants on all continents
of the world. In 1989, when the communist regimes in eastern Europe collapsed,
the CSO was restored after a break of 42 years. The program traditions,
connected with the physical education of a man responsible for himself,
for his community and for democracy in his country, was renewed. While
entering a new century, the CSO modernizes its program. It supports 57
kinds of sports, which are being organized in the CSO. At gymnastics, handball,
basketball, judo and athletics Sokol sportsmen reached the highest levels
of national and international competitions. The CSO also supports new kinds
of sports, for example acrobatic rockīnīroll, at which the members of Sokol
won the World Championship. The most numerous part of the CSO is the Division
of Sokol Versatility, in which the program of sporting activities is made.
This program includes wide range of sporting activities for people of all
ages and abilities, including for those who are handicapped. Sokol districts
and units significantly influenced the Terry Fox Run in the Czech Republic,
where, like in Canada, many people participated. The most important event,
that shows the abilities of the CSO members, is "Slet", a sport-cultural
festival of all activities that the CSO practiced during last six years.
CSO is organized in 43 districts covering the whole Czech Republic. Its
headquarters are at the Tyrs House in Prague. Czech Sokol Organization
is the most numerous organization of the World Sokol Federation.
Source: this
website.
Jarig Bakker, 13 Jul 2001
![[modern Sokol flag]](../images/c/cz@soko1.gif)
image by Jarig Bakker, 11 Jan 2007
Jeroen van Leeuwen sent me an image of a poster with the modern flag
of the Sokol Sporting Organization in the Czech Republic. That flag has
the colors of the Czech/Czechoslovakian flag, but the blue triangle is
replaced with a blue hoist-stripe, charged with a large white "S" with
superimposed "KOL" in a hoist diagonal row, red shaded white.
This is a weird flag: I have seen many on the internet, all different.
According to Jeroen this last version is it...
Jarig Bakker, 11 Jan 2007