Togetherness, pride, mutual support, and the joy of movement. According to the mayor of the Czech community, this year's 17th All-Sokol gathering demonstrated the strength of the Sokol movement. Martin Chlumský did not hide his emotions after the event and thanked everyone who contributed to this unique celebration. During the busy week of the gathering, he even participated in the mass performances on the second day.
What are your impressions just a few hours after the gathering?
First and foremost, I need to express my gratitude. Thanks to all the participants, from the youngest to the Faithful Guard, the instructors, the organizing team, and the volunteers. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and effort created a unique atmosphere. You were amazing. THANK YOU! And my impressions? Overwhelming emotion, pride, and joy that Sokol is thriving.
What is your perspective on the 17th All-Sokol gathering?
The gathering primarily demonstrated that Sokol is a strong organization. It has many enthusiastic members who share a love for movement and collective creative work. I greatly appreciate this. The gathering resonated throughout the entire country, society, and even abroad. This brings me immense joy. I am convinced that the 17th All-Sokol gathering will be remembered as one of the best in history.
What personally impressed you the most?
Togetherness, mutual support, and the joy of movement.
And from the rich program?
It's hard to pick just one thing because the district, regional, and national gatherings were already fantastic. There were Sokol sports competitions and cultural events held all over the country. The gathering week in Prague is almost indescribable. I admire everyone who managed the parade through the city in the hot weather. The mass at St. Vitus Cathedral was beautiful, and I felt a great sense of pride during the opening ceremony at the National Theatre. The Sokol Gala was impressive, I really enjoyed the Sokol exhibitions in public spaces around Prague, the cultural performances, the atmosphere in the Sokol House, and the stage performances.
The group performances sold out Fortuna Arena. What was the atmosphere like?
The audience was amazing. They created a fantastic backdrop that added an electrifying atmosphere to the performances. People appreciated every routine, and the standing ovations gave me goosebumps. The truth is, the applause was always well-deserved because all the routines were excellent. I feel that compared to the last gathering, the choreography has significantly improved and become much more sophisticated.
How important was the participation of Sokol members from abroad?
The participation of Sokol members from abroad shows that we are all part of one big Sokol family, sharing the same values regardless of where we are. Sokol members abroad preserved our traditions during times when Sokol was banned in our country, and thanks to their help, Sokol could be revived after 1989.
You personally experienced the atmosphere on the field while performing in the "Rock Symphony" routine. What was it like?
It was amazing to be part of the performance. I had already performed "Rock Symphony" last year at the Gymnaestrada in Amsterdam, and it holds a special place in my heart. In this routine, I was filling in for an absent performer, and we didn't have any time to rehearse together. It must have been a bit more challenging for the other performers, but I am very grateful for how they welcomed me, and together we managed to perform the entire routine well. I was surprised at how quickly time flies when you're on the field.
Foto: Markéta Navrátilová, Václav Pancer a František Ortmann
Did the gathering fulfill its motto 'unites'?
Absolutely, to the last letter. We saw exercises from all generations, uniting participants from all corners of the country and abroad, and connecting culture with sport, history with the present, Sokol members with the general public. I enjoyed how we also connected through various emotions, such as joy, enthusiasm, pride, energy, the magic of experiences, and music. This motto expressed all of that perfectly.
How did this year's gathering compare to the previous one?
It's evident that as our membership base grows, it reflects in the number of participants in the routines and the overall gathering. It's great that one hundred thousand Sokol members were involved in the organization, and a record-breaking twenty thousand participants came to Prague in modern history. We have certainly made significant progress in communication. As I mentioned, the gathering was highly visible and widely talked about.
How do you perceive the strong support from the state that the gathering received?
It is a tremendous recognition of our work. I would like to thank the National Sports Agency, led by chairman Ondřej Šebek, because this is truly important. We also greatly appreciate the support from our other main partners, such as Penny and Czech Television, which dedicated the most airtime in history to the gathering during this super-sporting year. Thanks also go to the city of Prague and all other gathering partners. We highly value this support; without them, the gathering wouldn't have been at such a high level.
After 18 years, the President visited the gathering, and the Chairman of the Senate was also in the audience.
We deeply appreciate the presence of President Petr Pavel and Senate Chairman Miloš Vystrčil, as well as other distinguished guests. The moment when President Petr Pavel presented the flag is unforgettable for all Sokol members. Although it rained during the presentation, as I quoted one unnamed leader during the gathering, "a true Sokol thrives in discomfort."
It is said that right after one gathering ends, preparations for the next one begin. When will you start preparing for the 18th All-Sokol gathering?
Now it's time to rest and resume regular activities. We will begin preparations for the next gathering in about two years.
