CZECHOSLOVAK
HERITAGE
ANNIVERSARY YEARS
OF THE JOINT CZECH AND SLOVAK
OLYMPIC TEAMS
1984
GAMES OF THE XXIII OLYMPIAD, LOS ANGELES
In 1984 the Olympic Games returned to Los Angeles after fifty-two years. The city was the only candidate to host the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, which took place from 28 July – 12 August, with athletes from 140 countries taking part. Czechoslovak Olympians were not among them. They were victims of political pressure from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) towards the National Olympic Committees of the Eastern Bloc and their subsequent decision to boycott the Games. The nonsensical but official justification that the US state authorities are conducting a campaign against athletes from socialist countries and the organisers cannot guarantee their safety or compliance with the Olympic Charter deprived many Czechoslovak Olympians at the top of their sporting careers of their last opportunity to tally points or win medals at the Olympic Games. Only international referees and officials from Czechoslovakia took part in these Olympic Games, while Vladimír Černušák attended the Games as a member of the International Olympic Committee.
MAJOR FIGURES IN BRIEF
VÁCLAV HUBIČKA
(1925–2009)
Secretary General of the Czechoslovak Olympic Committee, he stood behind the creation of the Club of Czechoslovak Olympians. He played a significant part in the organisation of the 79th session of the International Olympic Committee in Prague in 1977. In 1984, he was among those who fought against the decision to join the boycott of the Games of the XXIII Olympiad in Los Angeles in 1984.
UNISSUED CZECHOSLOVAK STAMP FOR THE 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES
Exceptionally rare unissued Czechoslovak stamp for the Games of the XXIII Olympiad in Los Angeles in 1984 (catalogue number POFIS 2263N). Today it is an ornament of philatelic territorial collections of Czechoslovakia as well as collections and exhibits dedicated to the theme of the Olympic Games. The total number of this stamp that reached the philatelic market is estimated at only 100 – 120.
MAJOR FIGURES IN BRIEF
ANTONÍN HIML
(1933–1988)
Czechoslovak sports official, in the 1970s and 1980s, chairman of the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Association of Physical Education and President of the Czechoslovak Olympic Committee. He was responsible for the Czechoslovak boycott of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984. Paradoxically, he was awarded the Olympic Order in Silver in that same year.
PERSONALITIES IN BRIEF
VLADIMÍR ČERNUŠÁK
(1921-2018)
Sports official, university teacher, one of the biggest personalities of Czechoslovak and especially Slovak sports. From 1969–1983 he led the Slovak physical education organisation; from 1992 (from its foundation) to 1999 he headed the Slovak Olympic Committee (SOV); from 1999–2018 he was the honorary President of the Slovak Olympic Committee (later the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee). In the period 1981–2001, he was the first Slovak in the position of a member of the International Olympic Committee. From 2001 until his death, he was an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee.
MAJOR FIGURES IN BRIEF
DUŠAN PRIELOŽNÝ
(1930 - 1989)
Volleyball referee and official. He worked as a referee at five Olympic Games (1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980). As an official, he worked in several positions both at home and abroad; he was the chairman of the refereeing commission of the Czechoslovak Volleyball Association, and chairman of the refereeing commission of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). He was the first and only Slovak to lead the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV), of which he was president from 1983–1987. He was also the vice-president of the FIVB.
MAJOR FIGURES IN BRIEF
ĽUBOMÍR KOTLEBA
(1946)
An excellent basketball referee and official, he whistled at many world and European championships as well as at three Olympic Games – in Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984, and Seoul 1988 – including four times in medal matches, among them the gold for women in Los Angeles as well as in Seoul. He missed out on the highest honour of refereeing in crucial matches of the European Cups ten times, including three times in the final of the Men’s European League. In 1989, he embarked on an official career in the International Basketball Association (FIBA). He became FIBA’s sports director in 1996 and remained until his retirement on 1 November, 2014.
