As is tradition, the UP Academic Sport Centre (ASC) organized a wide-ranging program for UP Sports Day, featuring everything from yoga to archery, canoeing, and sport climbing. Participants could choose from a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports, team tournaments, and individual disciplines. New additions to the lineup included baseball, American football, and pole dance.

„This year’s Palacký University Sports Day was another success. Due to the colder weather, a few participants withdrew from outdoor activities during the day, but the canoeing trip, for example, set off with a full complement of registered participants,“ explained Martina Štanclová from the Academic Sport Centre, noting that the ASC received a total of 540 reservations this year. „We received the best feedback from enthusiastic participants for the Latino Mix, Circuit Training, and Indoor Cycling classes. As usual, the morning yoga, Pilates, and indoor rock climbing classes were fully booked. The volleyball tournaments – both, in the gym and on the beach volleyball court – were played with a full turnout and great enthusiasm,“ she added.

Photo Gallery Sports Day 2026 – Sports with the UP Academic Sport Centre

Those who set out on „Větrání“ – a hiking trip led by Martin Višňa from the Rector’s Office Communications Office – walked through a section of the Litovelské Pomoraví Protected Landscape Area. On the 16-kilometer route from Moravičany to Litovel, the 25-member group stopped, for example, at the Chapel of Sts. Cyril and Methodius near Měník, which offers a beautiful view of the Mohelnice area; they visited the ruins of the Knights’ Hall on the rocky slopes of Třesín Hill; and they also explored the interior of the Podkova Cave.

„I’ve never walked this route like this before; I’d only ever sort of followed the canoeing 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, commenting on the hike.

Photo Gallery Sports Day 2026 – A Walk Through the Pomoraví Region

Once again this year, the UP Sports Day program featured 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 the full 42-kilometer marathon. There was no time limit; anyone who didn’t want to run was free to walk instead. Runners gathered at Smetanovy sady, and a certificate listing their time was prepared for everyone.

Students and staff at Palacký University who enjoy playing chess had the opportunity to participate in the fourth annual tournament held as part of Palacký University Sports Day. The event was organized by the university club Academic Czech-Mates in collaboration with the SC A64 Olomouc chess club and the Faculty of Science. The Academic Czech-Mates chess tournament was open to players from across the university as well as alumni. The tournament was held in the Faculty of Science building using the Swiss system at a time control of 10+0 for 7 rounds. „This year’s university chess tournament can certainly be described as a very successful event. The entire afternoon took place in a pleasant and friendly atmosphere. From the overall relaxed atmosphere at the chessboards, it was clear that the participants thoroughly enjoyed both the game and the opportunity to get together,“ said Jan Třeštík on behalf of the organizers.

The tournament featured a number of high-quality, evenly matched games full of careful tactical thinking. Despite their healthy competitiveness and desire to achieve the best possible result, the players upheld the rules of fair play throughout. In the end, Victor Lillo Castan deservedly claimed the overall victory, dominating the tournament with ease. Pavel Kačírek finished in a strong second place, and Vít Holásek took third place. „Huge congratulations to all the medalists on their performances,“ added Třeštík, noting that the smooth and trouble-free course of the tournament would not have been possible without reliable support. „A big thank you therefore goes to Richard Biolka, who took on the role of arbiter and ensured the fair conduct of the entire competition. Special thanks also go to Oto Blahoušek, who handled the photo documentation and did a great job of capturing the perfect atmosphere of the entire afternoon. Finally, thanks go to all the players who came and helped create such a positive event with their presence. We can only hope that everyone will come together again for future chess games with a lineup that’s at least as great,“ he concluded.

Photo Gallery Sports Day 2026 – All-University Chess Tournament

Fans of indoor soccer – students and staff at the Faculty of Arts of Palacký University – competed in the 15th annual Dean’s Cup tournament. About 100 players – including students and faculty members – took to the field at FK Slavonín, forming a total of nine teams. With enthusiastic support from the fans, they first competed in two preliminary groups and then advanced to the playoffs. The team from the Department of Political Science and European Studies performed the best, ultimately defeating the winner of the last eight editions of the tournament – the team from the Department of Media and Cultural Studies and Journalism – 2–1 in the final with a successful penalty kick. Third place went to the team from the Department of Sociology and Cultural Anthropology.

„Of course, we were very disappointed to concede the decisive goal in the final minute of the final, but it was bound to happen eventually – no winning streak can last forever. Even so, I’m definitely proud of the team. They pulled together and coped with a long list of injuries and player changes, and their performance in the semifinals against Sociology, in particular, stood up to the toughest scrutiny. Congratulations to Political Science, and we look forward to the battles in the coming years,“ said Jaroslav Zahrádka, the tournament organizer and coach of the KMKSŽ team.

Jakub Strýček (a doctoral student in the Department of Czech Studies), Jaroslav Zahrádka, and Martin Gába (students at KMKSŽ) ensured that this year’s tournament ran smoothly in their roles as referees and organizers. „Some matches were of truly excellent quality; I would describe some individual performances as nearly professional,“ added Jakub Strýček, the tournament’s main organizer.

Results of the 2026 UP Faculty of Arts Dean’s Cup Tournament:

1. KPES – Department of Political Science and European Studies
2. KMKSŽ – Department of Media and Cultural Studies and Journalism
3. KSA – Department of Sociology and Cultural Anthropology
4. FC Rebecca – Department of Theater and Film Studies
5. Internazionale Vodární – Department of Psychology
6. KEMS – Department of Economic and Management Studies
7. Philosophy – Department of Philosophy
8. TriAngl – Department of English and American Studies, Department of German Studies, Department of Dutch Studies, Kurt and Ursula Schubert Center for Jewish Studies
9. Bohemistics – Department of Bohemian Studies

Photo Gallery Sports Day 2026 – Faculty of Arts Departments Football Tournament