Title: “Hry bez hranic: Adrenaline-filled European Games Unite Nations in Friendly Competition”
Subtitle: “The Revival of the Iconic Show Brings Back Memories of Czechoslovakia’s Victories”
Date: October 14, 2023
The European Games, known as “Hry bez hranic” in Czech, have recently taken place in a different location within European countries. The event featured thrilling disciplines and entertaining costumes that captivated the audience, especially the female participants. The games were hosted by renowned personalities such as presenter and actress Martina Adamcová, moderators Marcela Augustová, Barbora Krouková, and Petr Vichnar, as well as actors Martin Dejdar and Pavel Zedníček.
Marcela Augustová in the Spotlight of “Hry bez hranic”
Each nation was assigned a specific color for clarity, with the Czech team always sporting orange. Throughout the evening when the games were broadcasted, fans passionately cheered for their star-studded team, hoping for victory, which often became a reality. Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic and Slovakia won four out of the five editions they participated in (three summer games and one winter game).
The only edition where the Czech team did not emerge victorious was in 1993 when the finals took place in Karlovy Vary, with the team from Ústí nad Orlicí finishing second. One of the participants representing Ústí nad Orlicí at the time was the then-unknown Aleš Valenta, who later became an Olympic champion in freestyle skiing at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics.
The Unification of Europe through “Hry bez hranic”
How did the idea of uniting European countries through a fun and entertaining competition come about? It is said that French President Charles de Gaulle was the one who proposed the concept, hence the name of the games in French, “Jeux Sans Frontières,” and in Czech, “Hry bez hranic.”
The French television network embraced the idea of presenting a crazy competition, leading to the launch of the first season of “Hry bez hranic” in 1965, with the participation of Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland. Later, more European countries joined the show.
The peaceful rivalry between European cities, overseen by Swiss judges, became a television phenomenon until its first series concluded in 1982 due to financial constraints. However, thanks to its strong viewership, the games were revived in 1989.
The Hunger for the World
Czechoslovakia participated in the revived ”Hry bez hranic” for the first time in the winter of 1991/1992. The desire to not only watch the world but also showcase their skills was immense. And the Czech team succeeded. The finals of these games were held in Prague, and the Czech team stood on the winner’s podium.
The following season in 1992 was the summer edition. The finals, which took place on the Azores Islands, featured the town of Teplice. The reward of a trip to these islands was the icing on the cake for the Teplice team.
We are talking about the early 1990s when, for most expedition members, the finals of “Hry bez hranic” were the first opportunity to fly and experience the unknown exotic destinations. In the first half of the competition, the Czechoslovak team was consistently at the bottom, but our fighters persevered and finished first.
In the following year, 1993, the games were exclusively summer events, and the team from Ústí nad Orlicí finished second. In 1994, we once again proved that we were a competitive nation, with the team from České Těbová taking first place.
However, the popularity of the games in the Czech Republic was high, but the cost was also significant. Therefore, Czech Television decided not to participate anymore. The last edition of ”Hry bez hranic” took place in 1999.
In 2019, it was announced that the original “Hry bez hranic” could make a comeback. However, a different version called “Eurohry” (Eurogames) was eventually organized, serving as a direct successor to the iconic show. The opening sequence of the broadcast featured the same theme song as the original “Hry bez hranic.”
Commercial television networks from participating countries also joined the event. The first network to broadcast the opening season was Italy’s Canale 5, part of the Mediaset group.
The games took place from October 19th to 24th, 2019, with the participation of six countries (Italy, Greece, Spain, Germany, Poland, and Russia). The event was held in a city that year. However, the games scheduled for 2020 were canceled indefinitely.
The revival of ”Hry bez hranic” brought back memories of Czechoslovakia’s victories and showcased the spirit of friendly competition that unites nations across Europe.Title: ”Adrenaline-Fueled Games Without Borders Unite Europe”
Subtitle: “Reviving the Spirit of Fun and Unity”
Date: October 14, 2023
In a thrilling display of adrenaline and excitement, the Games Without Borders took place in various locations across European countries. The event featured a range of exhilarating disciplines and entertaining costumes that captivated the audience. The games were hosted by renowned personalities such as presenter and actress Martina Adamcová, moderators Marcela Augustová, Barbora Krouková, and Petr Vichnar, as well as actors Martin Dejdar and Pavel Zedníček.
Marcela Augustová in the Spotlight of “Games Without Borders”
Each nation was assigned a specific color for clarity, with the Czech team always sporting the color orange. Throughout the evening, as the games were broadcasted, fans passionately cheered for their star-studded team, hoping for victory, which they often achieved. Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic won four out of the five editions they participated in (three summer games and one winter game).
The only edition where the Czech team did not emerge victorious was in 1993, during the finals held in Karlovy Vary, where the team from Ústí nad Orlicí finished second. One of the participants representing Ústí nad Orlicí at the time was the then-unknown Aleš Valenta, who later became an Olympic champion in freestyle skiing at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics.
The Unification of Europe
How did the idea of uniting European countries through a fun-filled competition come about? It is said that the French President Charles de Gaulle was the one who proposed the concept, hence the name “Jeux Sans Frontières” (Games Without Borders) in French, or “Hry bez hranic” in Czech.
The French television network embraced the idea of presenting a crazy competition, which led to the launch of the first season of Games Without Borders in 1965. The initial participating countries were Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland, with more European nations joining later.
Under the supervision of Swiss judges, the peaceful rivalry between European cities evolved into a television phenomenon by the time the first series concluded in 1982. However, due to financial constraints, the show was canceled in 1983. Thanks to its strong viewership, the games were revived in 1989.
The Hunger for the World
Czechoslovakia participated in the revived Games Without Borders for the first time during the winter season of 1991/1992. The desire to not only watch the world but also showcase their skills in it was immense. And the Czech team succeeded. The finals of these games were held in Prague, and the Czech team stood on the winner’s podium.
The following season in 1992 saw the summer edition of the games, with the finals taking place on the Azores Islands. The town of Teplice made it to the finals, and the reward of a trip to these exotic islands was the icing on the cake for the Teplice team.
We are talking about the early 90s when, for most members of the expedition, the finals of Games Without Borders were the first opportunity to fly and experience the unknown. In the first half of the competition, the Czechoslovak team was consistently at the bottom, but our fighters persevered and finished first.
In the following year, 1993, the games were exclusively held during the summer, and the team from Ústí nad Orlicí finished second. In 1994, we once again proved that we were a competitive nation, with the team from České Těbová securing first place.
However, the popularity of the games in the Czech Republic was high, but the cost was also significant. Therefore, Czech Television decided not to participate anymore. The last edition of Games Without Borders was held worldwide in 1999.
In 2019, it was announced that the original Games Without Borders might make a comeback. However, a different version called Eurogames eventually took place, becoming the direct successor to Games Without Borders. The opening sequence of the broadcast featured the same theme song as the original Games Without Borders.
Commercial television networks from participating countries also joined the event. The first network to broadcast the opening season was Italy’s Canale 5, part of the Mediaset group.
The games took place from October 19th to 24th, 2019, with six countries participating (Italy, Greece, Spain, Germany, Poland, and Russia). The event was held in a city that year. The 2020 edition was canceled indefinitely.
The Games Without Borders continue to be a symbol of unity, fun, and friendly competition, bringing European nations together in the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship.
How did financial constraints and other factors contribute to the cancellation of the “Hry bez hranic” games in the Czech Republic in 1994?
The 1994 victory was bittersweet as it marked the last time the Czech team would participate in “Hry bez hranic.” Despite the team’s success and the viewership it garnered, financial constraints and other factors led to the cancellation of the games in the Czech Republic.
Today, the European Games continue to unite nations in friendly competition and bring back fond memories of Czechoslovakia’s victories in “Hry bez hranic.” The event showcases the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship among European countries, promoting unity and friendship across borders.
