The Active Czech Foundation hosted its first annual Active Czech Conference earlier this month, in Prague, conducted in both Czech and English.

The conference was opened by Zsofie Pusztai, head of the World Health Organization in the Czech Republic and other speakers included

Andreas Paulsen, former CEO of EuropeActive who talked about how regular physical activity is enshrined in EU law. František Horák from the National Sports Agency spoke about upcoming sports law.

Barbora Macková presented the new Interdepartmental Working Group for the Development of Physical Activities as an advisory body of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic.

Other topics covered included movement as an integral part of health care – Veronika Všetíčková, from the European Liver Patient’s Association, spoke about the benefits of exercise for people with liver disease – and working with other sectors, such as schools and companies to introduce physical activity.

The second Active September was introduced: a movement promotion campaign, which includes open days of fitness centres and other sports venues.

A 2023 survey by the Czech Chamber of Fitness found that total revenue of fitness centres in 2023 had doubled from the previous year to 11.3 billion crowns (£400 million).

The most popular services are group classes, cardio and yoga (all 82.4 per cent), followed by weights (76.5 per cent) and Pilates (70.6 per cent).