Czech national pentathlon team enjoying their training camp at Hamdan Sports Complex

DUBAI UAE

Sallam Sallam

The Czech Republic’s modern pentathlon team, which includes rising star Martin Vlach and 2015 World Championship mixed relay gold medal winner Jan Kuf, has expressed its delights with the world-class facilities available at Hamdan Sports Complex, where it is training ahead of the summer’s Tokyo Olympic Games.

Besides Kuf and Vlach, who has already qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games by finishing third in the men’s individual event at the 2019 European Modern Pentathlon Championships, the five-member pentathlon team also includes Ondrej Polivka, who represented the country at the 2012 London Olympic Games; Marek Grycz, winner of the men’s relay title alongside Vlach at the 2018 Junior World Championships; and David Kindl.

The team is accompanied by four coaches: Jakub Kucera, Eva Brozova, Ivo Konvicka and Vaclav Frajbis.

“Dubai has become one of the top destinations for internationals teams and athletes looking for one-stop solutions as they prepare for big international events,” said Mihail Kouzev, a former Bulgarian Olympian and founder of the Hamdan Sports Complex-based MK Fencing Academy, who has organized the trip for the Czechs.

“You have some of the world’s most modern and advanced sports facilities here in Dubai, built to the latest international standards, and the country’s sports sector enjoys great support and patronage from the wise leadership, who keep encouraging members of the community to embrace a sporty and physically active lifestyle.

“This is the first time UAE and Dubai are hosting a modern pentathlon team, and the Czechs have been amazed with the facilities available here, as well as the support they have received from every segment, especially the different government entities.

“They are thoroughly enjoying the camp here and their positive feedback is further evidence of Dubai’s growing stature as a top international sports destinations, not just for football and its top stars, but also for teams and athletes of every sport. This has been possible only through teamwork and the desire of every stakeholder to work together for Dubai.”

The Czech modern pentathlon team is also accompanied by an eight-member fencing contingent that includes some of Czech Republic’s top hopes for the future, including Jakub Jurka, whose grandfather Jaraoslav Jurka represented Czechoslovakia in fencing at the Olympic Games in 1976 and 1980, Martin Rubes Jr, Kristian D’Amico, Adam Osicka, Matyas Pavlik and Frantisek Coufal, and they are accompanied by coaches Martin Rubes Sr and Tomas Jurka.

The two teams, who arrived in Dubai on February 8, will be training daily until February 20 at the Hamdan Sports Complex, which is a one-stop solution for all their training needs, including gym, swimming, fencing as well as outdoor running.

The Hamdan Sports Complex, one of the world’s most iconic sports landmarks, is a regular pick for international sports teams and athletes, and they look prepare for different international competitions, including the Olympic Games.

Built on 24-hectares of land, Hamdan Sports Complex is one of the world’s biggest and most modern multi-purpose facilities in the world, designed to host more than different 10 Olympic sports, including basketball, badminton, handball and volleyball alongside all kinds of aquatic sports like swimming, synchronised swimming, diving, synchronised diving and water polo.

Dressed on the outside in contrasting hues of blue and a glistening glass façade, the cavernous complex boasts two 50-meter Olympic-standard swimming pools in its golden teardrop-shaped competition centre inside. Both pools have moveable floors and they can be covered when needed to turn the arena into a sturdy surface fit for any non-aquatic sport event, or even non-sports events like conferences and exhibitions.

Rising over the 10-lane swimming pools and diving tank is a three-tier, horseshoe-shaped seating bowl that can accommodate 15,000 spectators. The arena also boasts a truly royal VVIP lounge as well as luxurious executive boxes, and a working area for journalist that can accommodate 200, as well as a specious press conference.

The arena also boasts changing rooms for 400 athletes, rooms for umpires, as a health club, gymnasium, as well as training pool. Besides these, there is a fully functional medical room with state-of-the-art medical facilities and a doping control room.

All these state-of-the-art facilities make the Complex one of the most appealing venues for international athletes looking for the best possible place to prepare for top competitions.