Babelá M., Oborný J.: THE SPARTAKIADE AS A PHENOMENON IN THE SOCIO …               Vol. 13 Issue 2: 157 - 179 
 
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THE SPARTAKIADE AS A PHENOMENON IN THE SOCIO-
CULTURAL AND SPORTS DIMENSION IN THE 
TERRITORY OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA 
 
 
Michal Bábela, Josef Oborný 
 
Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Slovak 
Republic 
 
Original article, DOI:10.52165/sgj.13.2.157-179 
Abstract 
The aim of the article is to provide a description of the emergence and genesis of the 
Spartakiade in the territory of former Czechoslovakia. In the article, we focused on the origin 
and development of mass sport in Czechoslovakia since 1918, on the emergence and genesis 
of the Spartakiade and the definition of the term “Spartakiade”. In this paper, we also present 
a chronological name list and a brief course of individual Spartakiades that were held in the 
territory of Czechoslovakia within the period 1955 – 1985. 
 
Keywords: history, physical culture, nation.
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
In the period 1955 – 1985, various 
group sports exercises were held in 
Europe, as well as in the world, as outdoor 
sports activities in the open air. Among 
these group events, mass physical 
exercises including different age categories 
of gymnasts have a very important place in 
former Czechoslovakia in that period. 
They were called the Spartakiade. They 
were organized to honor the tradition of 
mass sports events of the first republic, a 
communist-oriented sports organization 
called Federácia robotníckych 
telocvičných jednôt (The Federation of 
Workers' Gymnastics Units) that held very 
similar mass sports events under the same 
name. These mass performances were 
called Nationwide Spartakiades  and later 
renamed to sCzechoslovak Spartakiades. 
In this paper, we present the general 
characteristics of these Spartakiades and 
briefly describe their structure and 
significance. 
 
 
 
 
We have used standard methods of 
historical research. We have focused on 
collecting material related to the issue, 
searching for primary sources such as 
diaries, newspapers, books, speeches, 
historical data, electronic data. The 
established facts and their relations were 
categorized and studied on the basis of 
comparative method. This manuscript is 
based on our findings. 
 
Mass sports performances in 
Czechoslovakia 
The development of mass gymnastics 
in former Czechoslovakia after the 
establishment of the Czechoslovak 
Republic in 1918 goes back to the period 
when other Sokol organizations (Units) 
were gradually founded, including in 
Slovakia (Beňušková, 2012). 
The Sokol movement, known as the 
Sokol (the Falcon), was founded by Dr. 
Miroslav Tyrš and Dr. Jindřich Fügner in 
Prague on 16 February 1862. A part of the 

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program of the cultural and social 
education movement was the regular 
organization of the Všesokolské Slety (Pan-
Sokol Slets) that were attended by large 
numbers of Sokol members (Sak, 2012). 
 
Figure 1. Public mass exercising of the 
Sokol members at Střelecký Ostrov, 18.6. 
1882. Drawn by A. Liebscher. Source: 
Československá obec sokolská. Dr. 
Miroslav Tyrš 1832–1932. K stým 
narozeninám zakladatele    Sokolstva. 
Československo: Praha III, Tyršův dům 
 
 
In addition to the Czech gymnasts, 
there were also gymnasts from Slovakia 
who regularly participated in the Pan-
Sokol Slets in Prague, specifically in years 
1920, 1926, 1932, and 1938. In the period 
1919 – 1937, the number of Sokol 
members in Slovakia increased from 
12,385 to 49,625 members. More members 
meant greater participation in mass 
gymnastic events (Beňušková, 2012). 
Pan-Sokol Slets were social events 
characterized by public exercises with 
international participation. International 
participation was based on the idea of Pan-
Slavic reciprocity and patriotism
1
 
(Mauerhart, 1930). Therefore, it is possible 
to talk about the beginnings of mass 
physical education exercises. In addition to 
public exercises, the Slets also included 
various accompanying events, most often 
marching in traditional costumes 
(Martínkova, Klír & Swierczeková, 2013). 
I. Pan-Sokol Slet was held 18-19 June 
1882 at the Střelecký ostrov in Prague. 700 
men from 79 Sokol units performed 
exercises under the leadership of their 
chief Dr. Miroslav Tyrš (Gajdoš, 
Provaznikova, Bednar & Banjak, 2012). A 
total of 1,572 costumed Sokol members 
with 57 flags, enthusiastically greeted by 
patriotic Praguers, marched through the 
streets of Prague (Česká obec sokolská, 
2017). 
At the Střelecký ostrov, Sokol 
members performed original collective 
mass gymnastics exercises and a 40-
member team demonstrated exercises with 
gymnastic apparatus. The parade and the 
public exercises were very well received 
by the public and this led to a significant 
expansion of the Sokol organization in the 
territory of Bohemia and abroad (Sokol 
Strašnice, 2016). 
Thanks to the success and popularity 
of this mass event, others Pan-Sokol Slets 
were held in 1891, 1895, 1901, 1907, 
1912, 1920, 1926 and 1932 (Česká obec 
sokolská, 2017). 
Very important was the tenth Pan-
Sokol Slet in 1938 that was held at a time 
                                                 
1
 Pan-Slavism, a 19th-century movement that recognized a common 
ethnic background among the various Slav peoples of eastern and east-
central Europe and sought to unite those peoples for the achievement of 
common cultural and political goals. The Pan-Slav movement originally 
was formed in the first half of the 19
th
 century by West and South Slav 
intellectuals, scholars, and poets, whose peoples were at that time also 
developing their sense of national identity. The Pan-Slavists engaged in 
studying folk songs, folklore, and peasant vernaculars of the Slav peoples, 
in demonstrating the similarities among them, and in trying to stimulate a 
sense of Slav unity. As such activities were conducted mainly in Prague, 
that city became the first Pan-Slav center for studying Slav antiquities and 
philology. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2020). 

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of a growing fascist threat. In addition to 
its high-quality sports level, the 
determination to defend democratic 
principles and the Czechoslovak Republic 
were on full display at this Slet. In 
addition, it was preceded by the state 
funeral of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk
2
 (he 
died on the 14 September 1937) that was 
held in the spirit of a demonstration against 
the rising Nazism (Strachová, 2020, 
p.105). The success of this event was due 
to a mass floor exercise called "Oath to the 
Republic" that was performed by more 
than 29,000 gymnasts and an original 
aesthetically impressive dance vortex in a 
circular exercise called “Rej” performed by 
30,000 women as the first major organized 
choreography. All parades had a 
manifestation character. This Pan-Sokol 
Slet became an encouragement to the 
Czechoslovak nation before the Munich 
Agreement was declared. It lasted 5 weeks 
and included 348,086 gymnasts with 
2,300,000 spectators (Sokol Strašnice, 
2016). On the basis of the number of 
tickets sold, Strachová estimates there 
were about 2,500,000 spectators 
(Strachová, 2020, pp. 1-2). In terms of 
organization and number of participants, 
we can unambiguously describe the Pan-
Sokol Slet as a mass sports event. 
During the World War II, organizing 
Pan-Sokol Slets was banned throughout 
the temporarily disintegrated 
Czechoslovakia
3
 since the Sokol 
movement promoted ideas of freedom and 
democratic principles. During the period of 
the totalitarian regime, the Sokolovna 
(Sokol House), playgrounds (training 
grounds) and other Sokol facilities were 
purposefully liquidated (Sokolská únia 
Slovenska, n.d.). 
In 1945, after the World War II, the 
Sokol movement was reactivated in 
liberated Czechoslovakia. (Gajdoš, 
Provaznikova, Bednar & Banjak, 2012).  
                                                 
2
 T. G. Masaryk co-founded Czechoslovakia together with Milan 
Rastislav Štefánik and Edvard Beneš and served as its first president, and 
so he is called by some Czechs the "President Liberator" (Preclík, 2019). 
3
 The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was established in the 
territory of the Czech and an independent state called the Slovak Republic 
was established in the territory of the Slovakia (Oborný, 2020). 
 
Figure 2. Jiří František Chaloupecký – a 
Czech social democrat, a railway worker, 
the founder of the left-wing Federation of 
FRTJ (Workers' Gymnastics Units) and the 
initiator of the I. robotnícka spartakiáda (I. 
Workers' Spartakiade) in Prague in 1921. 
Source: Wikipedia.org. Retrieved from 
https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ji%C5%99%
C3%AD_Franti%C5%A1ek_Chaloupeck
%C3%BD  
 
However, from February 1948 
onward, communist totalitarian ideology 
and the government of a single political 
party called Komunistická strana 
Československa – KSČ (The Communist 
Party of Czechoslovakia) prevailed, even 
though other political parties existed and 
participated marginally in the government. 
From the political point of view, it was a 
process of transition from a pluralist 
democracy to a totalitarian democracy. 
This change affected all areas of social life, 
including sports life. Political events were 
reflected in the last, XI. Pan-Sokol Slet in 
1948 that was organized immediately after 
the end of the World War II. The Slet was 
held after political events in February 
1948. As a part of it, a relay-race was held 
in the autumn 1947. The race consisted of 
11 routes leading from the border to 

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Prague and was attended by about 46,000 
runners. A floor exercise called "We will 
remain faithful" was performed to 
commemorate the members of the Sokol 
tortured and killed during the World War 
II. A modern exercise composition with 
cones was performed by women and it was 
so successful that it had to be repeated. 
Another unique performance included 
2,500 campers. A total of 500,000 
gymnasts performed mass exercises at the 
Slet. The communist regime considered the 
event appropriate propaganda, but the 
Sokol members were pro-democratic and 
therefore during the youth parade they 
demonstrated against the totalitarian 
communist regime. After this parade, more 
than 11,000 members were expelled from 
the Sokol by communist action committees 
(Česká obec sokolská, 2017). 
Subsequently, the Sokol was 
integrated into the system of unified 
physical education and ceased to carry out 
its independent activities for the next 41 
years. Thus, the Sokol was forced to stop 
organizing Pan-Sokol Slets (Kozáková, p. 
47). 
During the communist regime (1948-
1989), very similar mass events were held 
under the name Spartakiade (Život, 2017). 
 
The History of Spartakiades 
The author of the name “Spartakiáda” 
(“Spartakiade”) is Jiří František 
Chaloupecký
4
. The author of the term was 
inspired by the historical figure of 
Spartacus. Spartacus was a gladiator who 
led an uprising of Roman slaves 
(gladiators) against their exploiters, 
tyrants. Later, Spartacus led his army to 
war against the Roman troops (Morkes, 
2010). 
This concept was based on 
revolutionary ideas that combine the 
progress of revolutionary traditions with 
physical education. The concept was to 
                                                 
4
 Jiří František Chaloupecký was a Czech social democrat, a railway 
worker, the founder of the left-wing Federation of FRTJ (Workers' 
Gymnastics Units), and the initiator of the I. robotnícka spartakiáda (I. 
Workers' Spartakiade) in Prague in 1921 (Internetová encyklopedie dějin 
Brna, 2018). 
acquire an international character with easy 
transposition and application to foreign 
languages (Šimanová, 2013). 
The first mention of the name 
"Spartakiade" in the context of physical 
education comes from 1921 when the 
FRTJ (Federation of Workers' Physical 
Education Units) was established in 
Czechoslovakia. In this year, the FRTJ 
held a public exercise performance in 
Prague, in the city part called Manín, under 
the name I. robotnícka spartakiáda (I. 
Workers' Spartakiade) (Šimanová, 2013, 
pp. 13-14). 
The FRTJ was a direct branch of the 
KSČ (The Communist Party of 
Czechoslovakia) and did not identify with 
an apolitical principle of physical 
education associations. For this reason, it 
was persecuted. Therefore, the second 
Workers' Spartakiade, which was to take 
place in 1928, was banned (Grexa, 2018, p. 
32). 
Six years after the last, XI. Pan-Sokol 
Slet in 1948, a mass physical education 
event was held under the name I. Krajská 
spartakiáda DŠO Slávia (I. Regional 
Spartakiade Voluntary Sports 
organization
5
 Slávia) in Pilsen on 12 May 
1954. The gymnastic level of a great 
number of gymnasts was displayed at this 
event. The event comprised public 
exercises and the main part were floor 
exercises. After the Regional Spartakiade 
in Pilsen, gymnasts from Moravia and 
Slovakia performed floor exercises. 
Women's floor exercises with cones and 
men's exercises with poles and fencing 
with bayonets were the most popular. 
Regional Spartakiades comprised two 
parts: Junior Days and Senior Days. These 
Spartakiades were held in Slovakia in six 
                                                 
5
 The Voluntary Sports Organization (DSO) was a designation for sports 
clubs used in Czechoslovakia in the 1950s. After the communist coup in 
February 1948, physical education was united, so all existing sports 
associations and organizations with all their property had to join the 
Sokol. In 1952, another reorganization took place - on December 12, Act 
No. 71/1952 Coll. on the organization of physical education and sport was 
adopted according to which the State Committee for Physical Education 
and Sport (SVTVS) was established as a tool for the central management 
of all sports activities in the country. All existing divisions were included 
in voluntary sports organizations, newly created after the Soviet model. 
The DSO system was a part of the Revolutionary Trade Union Movement 
(ROH) (Slovenská numizmatická spoločnosť, n.d.). 

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regional settlements: Prešov, Bratislava, 
Nitra, Žilina, Banská Bystrica and Košice. 
A total of 27,410 gymnasts performed at 
the Regional Spartakiades at Senior Days 
held in Slovakia  and 41,333 gymnasts 
performed at Junior Days, i.e., a total of 
68,743 Slovak practitioners actively 
participated in Regional Spartakiades in 
1954. A total of 68,743 Slovak gymnasts 
were selected to take part in the I. 
Nationwide Spartakiade. Junior Days and 
Senior Days had a high attendance of 
120,000 spectators. 
 
 
Figure 3. Czechoslovak Spartakiade 
1985, Strahov stadium in Prague. 
Czechoslovak People's Army performed 
collective gymnastics composition with 
musical accompaniment. Source: Ilja Van 
de Pavert (1985). Personal photo from 
Spartakiade 1985. Československá 
republika, Praha. Retrieved from 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilvic/albu
ms/72157625792004861  
In addition to Regional Spartakiades, 
District Spartakiades were also held. The 
District Spartakiades were full-featured 
trainings for gymnasts and worked as a 
selection process for participation in 
Nationwide Spartakiades. In 1955, a total 
of 94 District Spartakiades were held in the 
territory of Slovakia with 174,234 
performing gymnasts (137,217 youth and 
37,017 adults) and 323,700 spectators 
(Kšiňan & Kováčik, 1955). 
Therefore, Regional Spartakiades and 
District Spartakiades can be understood as 
an important part of the preparations and 
the organizational process for the largest 
mass sports event in the history of 
Czechoslovakia called the Nationwide 
Spartakiade. 
In 1955, in preparation for the I. 
Nationwide Spartakiade, 311 District 
Spartakiades were held with a total of 
755,000 gymnasts and 23 Regional 
Spartakiades with 390,684 gymnasts. 
(Perútka, 1975). The number of spectators 
at the District and Regional Spartakiades 
totalled 1,298,000 spectators 
(Dobrovodský, 1966, p. 7.) 
All Spartakiades comprised 3 main 
sections: mass sports performances, sports 
competitions, and tourist events 
(Swierczeková, 2007). 
The program also included a Festival 
of Folk Art Creativity and Večery Družby 
(Friendship Evenings), small cultural and 
sports performances with international 
participation at the Strahov Sports Stadium 
in Prague. There were participants from 
the Soviet Union, China, Mongolia, 
Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania. 
(Šterc, 1975, p. 51).  
Dr. Jaroslav Šterc (1975) states the 
basic concept of the Nationalwide 
Spartakiade in points: 
1. Spartakiades are nationwide, and 
they are held every 5 years in honor of the 
liberation of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet 
Army during World War II. 
2. Spartakiades have the character of 
a popular manifestation. 

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3. The Spartakiade is a common 
action of the whole physical education 
movement and all its sections, i.e. 
Základná a rekreačná telovýchova – ZRTV 
(Basic and recreational physical 
education), sports and tourism. 
4. The main program of each 
Spartakiade will be mass sports 
performances. 
5. The Spartakiade is not just a 
central event and must involve both 
republics (the Czech and the Slovak 
people), all regions, districts and cities at 
the same time. 
The phenomenon of mass exercises at 
Spartakiades in the period from 1955 to 
1985 was, in a sense, a manifestation of the 
continuity of great and common gymnastic 
exercises of almost entire age spectrum. 
From the personnel, organizational, but 
also ideological point of view, the 
Spartakiades followed up the tradition of 
the Sokol Slets that were inspired by the 
German Turnerschaft (Roubal, 2016). 
A total of six Spartakiades were held 
on the territory of former Czechoslovakia 
between 1955 and 1985 (Swierczeková, 
2007). 
The I. Nationwide Spartakiade started 
on 23 June and finished on 5 July 1955 in 
Prague at the Strahov Stadium (Metro, 
2015). The Nationwide Spartakiade was 
the culmination of the celebrations of the 
10
th
 anniversary of the liberation of 
Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Army 
(Mucha, 1956). The budget for the I. 
Nationwide Spartakiade was 64 million 
Czechoslovak crowns with an expected 
profit of 26.5 million (Mikulecká, 2009, p. 
48). 
The slogan "Ready to work and 
defend the homeland!" dominated the 
Strahov stadium, and the editorial of the 
daily paper Rudé právo (The Red Law) 
stated: “The Spartakiade will show the 
whole world that our people are guarding 
the peace and tranquility of their homeland 
and they are determined to protect the 
security and inviolability of the Republic", 
that was thematically reflected in the 
content of the Spartakiade’s main program. 
The preparation of the composition 
itself took about two years. The training 
started in autumn, i.e., at the time of the 
year when the program had to be ready - 
compositions, music, methodology, 
trainers. The compositions were spatially 
and physically drawn, then broken down 
and planned as smaller formations that 
complemented each other over a large 
space. The complete choreography and 
visual effects that were achieved by 
seemingly insignificant movements were 
manifested only when several groups 
performed their exercises together. Many 
schools were not equipped with gyms 
during the preparations, so gymnasts 
practiced in makeshift conditions. In 
winter, girls practiced "in the hall" and 
boys "in the hallway." In summer, the 
preparations moved to school playgrounds. 
Gymnasts also practiced exercises on 
playgrounds or in open areas provided with 
temporary markings made with preserve 
lids. (Bordášová, 2010, p. 19). 
The main program of the Spartakiade, 
i.e., a mass sports performance, took place 
at the Strahov Stadium in Prague covering 
an area of 63,000 m² (approximately nine 
soccer fields) where thousands of 
gymnasts performed individual 
compositions in the same uniform outfits 
and shoes. Typical were white canvas 
shoes with elastic band popularly called 
"jarmilky". In the stadium area, special 
marks were systematically placed on a 
square matrix that represented orientation 
points for the gymnasts. From here comes 
the Czech proverb „Zpět na značky!“ 
("Back to the marks!") signaling a start of 
something from scratch again (Doležalová, 
2018). 
Another modification of the same 
proverb was „Na značky!“,  ("On  your 
marks!") as a signal to take a specific 
position as a starting position for the next 
action in the communication between 
members of each group (Oborný, 2020) 
 

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Figure 4. Czechoslovak Spartakiade 
1985, Strahov stadium in Prague. 
Czechoslovak People's Army performed 
collective gymnastics composition with 
musical accompaniment. Source: Ilja Van 
de Pavert (1985). Personal photo from 
Spartakiade 1985. Československá 
republika, Praha. Retrieved from 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilvic/albu
ms/72157625792004861    
Gymnasts were choreographed in 
square units. One square unit usually 
consisted of 36 gymnasts. By moving the 
individual gymnasts inside the unit or 
moving the units around, formations were 
created that could be observed by 
spectators from the elevated seats of the 
grandstands and from a bird's eye view. 
The gymnasts themselves did not see these 
formations (Jezzina, 2018). From the 
experience and memories of many 
gymnasts performing at Spartakiades, we 
learn that they were mostly pleasantly 
surprised by the impressiveness of the 
compositions performed at the Strahov 
stadium. (Oborný, 2020). These 
compositions were visually very attractive 
for the spectators. (Jezzina, 2018). It 
should be emphasized that the authors of 
compositions sought to bring the ancient 
Greek idea of ‘Kalokagathia’ into practice. 
The impressiveness of Spartakiade 
compositions evoked uplifting feelings in 
most spectators (Oborný, 2020). 
The mass performances also included 
musical accompaniment that contributed to 
the success and attractiveness of 
Spartakiades. It started with a counting 
exercise, that is, simple rhythms and 
setting the tempo during public 
performances (exercises) already present 
during the I. Pan-Sokol Slet in 1882. 
Musical accompaniment became an 
inseparable part of all Spartakiades. At the 
I. Nationwide Spartakiade, the gymnasts 
exercised to live music (Šterc, 1975). 
Some songs, especially by and for children 
and young people, became musical hits. 
These musical scores could also be 
purchased on gramophone records in 
specialized music shops. All Spartakiades 
were also recorded and archived on film. 
(Oborný, 2020). 
 
An overview of the mass compositions 
performed in the main program of the 
Spartakiade 1955 
 
Junior Days. The youngest school 
children (5-7 years) practiced a 
composition to a musical score called 
“Zlatá brána” (“Golden Gate”). The 
composition was practiced twice by 6,888 
children (Šterc, 1975, pp. 48-49). It was 
only children from Prague and its 
immediate surroundings who performed in 
this age category at the Strahov Stadium as 
it would be organizationally demanding to 
provide accommodation for so many 
children and their parents for a few days 
away from home. (Oborný, 2020). 
Younger school students (8-11 years) 
performed a composition to music that 
involved a special hand apparatus – dices. 
The composition was practiced by 24,192 
students. 

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Older school students (12-14 years) - 
a total of 64,800 students practiced a floor 
exercise. 
Youth common formation. A total of 
40,000 gymnasts created the letters "ČSR-
SSSR" at the Strahov stadium. 
School teenagers – Girls (9
th
-10
th 
grade). A total of 46,080 girls practiced an 
exercise with ribbons. 
School teenagers – Boys (9
th
-10
th 
grade). A total of 48,000 boys practiced a 
floor exercise. 
Juveniles of ROH included 30,400 
gymnasts. 
Juveniles DSO Sokol included 30,400 
gymnasts. 
Juveniles from state labour reserves 
included 19,200 gymnasts. 
A total of 333,468 gymnasts 
performed Spartakiade compositions 
during the Junior Days over 4 days (Šterc, 
1975, pp. 48-49). 
 
Senior Days. The program for Senior 
Days started with a folklore performance 
called “Veselica krojovaných skupín“ 
(“Festivity of costumed groups”). 6,000 
dancers from 500 folklore ensembles from 
different regions of Czechoslovakia 
participated. (Harasimowicz, 2017, pp. 
107-108) 
Women from concerns and offices 
(ROH). A total of 32,640 women 
performed a gymnastic exercise with one 
cone. 
Men from concerns and offices 
(ROH). A total of 32,076 men performed a 
floor exercise. 
Men and women from villages (DSO 
Sokol) - 31,720 gymnasts performed a 
composition including practicing a floor 
exercise. 
Physical education schools and SŠD. 
Students at the Institute of Physical 
Education and Sport, pedagogical schools, 
Tyrš Institute of Physical Education and 
Sport and students of the Sports Schools 
for Adolescents performed a joint 
composition that included 4,800 gymnasts. 
(Mucha, 1956). 
Performances by the Armed Forces of 
Czechoslovakia were held on a special day 
called The Armed Forces Day. They were 
very popular. An interesting composition 
was performed by soldiers on parallel bars 
and with rifles. At the end of the program, 
there was a mass jump of paratroopers to 
the stadium area (Jancura, 2015). 
Additionally, the soldiers’ program 
also included a group demonstration of the 
liberation of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet 
Army, exercises with children, exercises 
on beams, floor exercises and exercises on 
parallel bars (Šterc, 1975). 
The first performance by the Armed 
Forces in 1955 was accompanied by 
15,000 pigeons that circled over the 
Strahov Stadium for three minutes. 
Zväzarm Day was also a part of the main 
Spartakiade program. Members of 
Zväzarm
6
 brought in hundreds motorcycles 
and tractors in and formed circular 
assemblies. 
During the final performance, 
aerolites in swarms flew over the stadium. 
The pilots created the word “MIER” 
(“PEACE”) and the letters “I. CS” in the 
sky in honor of the I. Nationwide 
Spartakiade (Vtedy, 2015). 
At the I. Nationwide Spartakiade, a 
total of 567,506 gymnasts performed 29 
group compositions (Plní elánu, 2020). It 
was watched by 1,800,000 spectators 
(Šterc, 1975, pp. 50-51). 
In addition to the main program, 
various sports competitions and tourist 
events were held in Czechoslovakia during 
the event. For example, the famous 
Armenian gymnast Albert Azarjan 
performed an exercise on still rings and the 
Soviet gymnast Ludmila Yegorova 
performed an exercise on parallel bars in 
the gymnastics competitions. Emil 
Zátopek, a phenomenal Czechoslovak 
long-distance runner, also participated in 
                                                 
6
 Zväzarm - abbreviation for Union for Cooperation with the Army. The 
Union dealt primarily with military training, especially of the young male 
population in Czechoslovakia. Zväzarm performed some tasks of state 
defense. The Union covered military sports and technical hobby activities, 
as well as aviation, cynology, aeromodelling, motoring, orienteering, 
skydiving, diving, etc. (Retrománia, 2019). 

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athletic competitions (Česká televize, 
2011). 
From the perspective of program 
compositions and exercises, it can be noted 
that the event was held in the spirit of 
liberating ideas, the promotion of unity, the 
cohesion of the Czechoslovak nation and 
the demonstration of military readiness and 
defense of the nation. Thus, the I. 
Nationwide Spartakiade was a full-fledged 
successor to the Pan-Sokol Slets. 
This Spartakiade, as well as the 
others, had strong political undertones. 
From the political perspective, the 
advantages of "socialist" general physical 
education and sport were promoted. 
However, the political aspect of the 
Spartakiades is not the goal of this article, 
so we will not deal with this more deeply. 
Roubal (2020) asked several research 
questions in a comprehensive evaluation of 
the Czechoslovak Spartakiades: "To what 
extent did the Spartakiades from 1955 to 
1985 follow the tradition of Pan-Sokol 
Slets, whether and to what extent was 
participation spontaneous and voluntary 
and were Spartakiades generally popular 
among gymnasts?" These questions were 
in principle answered in the affirmative. 
Thus, the sports, cultural and social effects 
events were prevalent. 
The II. Nationwide Spartakiade was 
held from 23 June to 3 July in 1960 (Šterc, 
1975, p. 53). 
It was held in honor of the 15
th 
anniversary of the liberation of 
Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Army. The 
Spartakiade reflected the peaceful message 
of coexistence with other nations and 
according to the then official terminology, 
the Spartakiade was an expression of the 
political and moral unity of the 
Czechoslovak people (Oktábec & Novák, 
1960). 
The main organiser was ČSTV (The 
Czechoslovak Association of Physical 
Education) (Swierczeková, 2007). 
Preparations began in September 1958 
and were divided into two cycles. The first 
half of the compositions were performed at 
District Spartakiades in 1959 and 
rehearsals with music were held in March 
1960. A total of 290 District Spartakiades 
were held with 1,149,879 gymnasts and 
they were watched by 1,937,000 
spectators. A total of 47 Regional and 
County Spartakiades were held with the 
attendance of 847,923 gymnasts and 
participation of 1,024,670 spectators. 
Compared to the I. Nationwide 
Spartakiade, 457,259 more gymnasts took 
part in the preparations which was also 
reflected in greater participation in the 
main program (Oktábec & Novák, 1960). 
The preparations were mainly focused 
on the creation and practice of new 
concepts of gymnast’s arrivals in the 
stadium and departures from it. There was 
some pressure to develop more difficult 
compositions, especially in spatial 
orientation (Šindelářová, 2011, p. 65). 
The II. Nationwide Spartakiade begun 
on the 23 June 1960 with a cannon shot at 
the Strahov Stadium, followed by mass 
performances. (Šterc, 1975, p. 53). The 
main program consisted of 19 group 
compositions (Oktábec & Novák, 1960). 
 
An overview of the group compositions 
performed in the main program of the 
Spartakiade 1960 
 
Junior Days. The youngest school 
children (6-8 years) performed their 
composition to music called “Pohádka” 
(“Fairy-tale”). Children practiced a group 
exercise with a special hand apparatus 
called “Májka” (“Waver”). 
Younger school students (8-11 years) 
performed their composition to a music 
score called “Radostná jar” (“Joyful 
Spring”). 
Older students – Girls (12-14 years) 
performed their composition to a music 
score called “Červené míčky” (“Red Balls” 
and with rubbery red balls. 
Older students – Boys (12-14 years) 
performed their composition to music 
called „Buď připraven k práci a obraně 

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vlasti!“ (“Be ready to work and defend 
your homeland!”). 
School teenagers – Girls performed 
their composition to music called 
„Radostné mládí“ („Joyful Infancy) and  
with white rhythmic gymnastics hoops. 
School teenagers – Boys performed 
their floor exercise to music called „Mládí 
– krása – síla“ (“Youth - beauty – 
strength”). 
Adult juveniles performed their group 
gymnastic exercises to music called 
„Zapalte ohně na horách!“ (“Light the fires 
in the mountains!“).  
Apprentice juveniles. A total of 
14,120 gymnasts performed their 
composition to music called „Do nových 
zítřků“ (“To the new tomorrows“). 
 
Senior Days. Folk artistic creativity. 
At the beginning of the Senior Days 
program, a total of 6,000 artists presented a 
musical composition called „Píseň rodné 
země“ ("Song of the Homeland"). 
Women performed two compositions: 
the first composition was called 
„Rozsévačka“ (“Seeder“) and included 
15,360 women performing a floor exercise. 
The second composition was called „Za 
mír, přátelství a spolupráci“ (“For peace, 
friendship and cooperation”). A total of 
3,456 women participated in the mass 
gymnastic exercise with cones. 
Men performed two compositions: in 
the first one, called „Za vítězstvím“ (For 
the Victory“), a total of 15,000 men 
practiced a floor exercise using short bars. 
The second one included 3,000 men 
performing an exercise with medicine-
balls. (Šterc, 1975). 
The performance of soldiers was also 
admirable. Soldiers performed a 
demanding acrobatic exercise on 160 
springboard tables (also called ‘rib tables’ - 
tables with a covered area for somersaults) 
with jumping boards. The composition was 
called „Odvahou ke kázni, obratnosti 
a vytrvalosti“ ("With Courage to 
Discipline, Dexterity and Endurance”). 
The Spartakiade program ended with 
a composition to music called „Život vítězí 
nad smrtí” ("Life Wins Over Death") that 
was performed by a total of 29,000 
women. 
 
 
Figure 5. Czechoslovak Spartakiade 
1985, Strahov stadium in Prague. 
Czechoslovak People's Army performed 
collective gymnastics composition with 
musical accompaniment. Source: Ilja Van 
de Pavert (1985). Personal photo from 
Spartakiade 1985. Československá 
republika, Praha. Retrieved from 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilvic/albu
ms/72157625792004861.  
During the Spartakiade, a parade was 
held with attendance of 180,000 gymnasts 
from Czechoslovakia and foreign 
countries. 
An interesting part of the II. 
Nationwide Spartakiade was an innovation 
in sound technology. Music for group 
performances was reproduced with 
magneto phones and radio. The sound 
system consisted of 112 terrestrial speakers 
and 3,500 speakers located around the 
stadium (Oktábec & Novák, 1960, p. 40). 
A total of 349,662 adult gymnasts and 
371,947 young gymnasts took part in the 
collective performances in the main 
program. The total number of gymnasts 
was 721,603, watched by 2,023,000 
spectators. (Oktábec & Novák, 1960, pp. 
16-21). A total of 68,129 Slovak gymnasts 
performed in the main program (Slovenský 
zväz rekreačnej telesnej výchovy a športu, 
n.d.) 

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In addition to mass exercises, there 
were also Večery Družby (Friendship 
Evenings) held during the event, where 
410 gymnasts from the Union of Soviet 
Socialist Republics (the USSR), Hungary, 
Bulgaria, the People's Republic of China, 
the German Democratic Republic, Poland 
and France performed gymnastics and 
dance exercises (Oktábec & Novák, 1960, 
p. 24). 
As an accompanying feature of the 
Spartakiade, there was also a 
comprehensive program of cultural events 
including plays, film shows, concerts, 
operas, exhibitions, performances by 
people's arts dance and song ensembles, 
etc. (Oktábec & Novák, 1960). 
The program also included sports 
competitions. There were championship 
competitions at the district level and 
international championships in skiing, 
gymnastics, ice hockey, sports gymnastics, 
swimming, light athletic, etc. Climbing 
events in the High Tatras (mountains in the 
Slovak Republic) and tourist events in 
Krkonoše (mountains in the Czech 
Republic) were held (Šindelářová, 2011, p. 
66). A total of 3,059,035 athletes competed 
in all sports contests (Oktábec & Novák, 
1960). 
The high organizational level was 
appreciated by several participating high-
ranking foreign officials. Apparently, the 
II. Nationwide Spartakiade in 1960 was 
well managed organizationally, as 
evidenced by positive reports in the press 
and on the radio and television. Thus, this 
Spartakiade became the quality model for 
the organization of the next one (Oktábec 
& Novák, 1960). 
However, there were also some 
negative aspects. For example, university 
students were forced to perform at the 
event. Therefore, a year earlier (in 1959), 
the only regular multi-sport university 
competition registered a significant drop in 
participants because they had to practice 
Spartakiade compositions (Bobrík & 
Seman, 2010, p. 68). Spartakiades, as a 
model of the functioning mass physical 
education in Czechoslovakia, required a 
sufficient number of active practitioners. 
Therefore, new members were recruited in 
the period before the organization of the 
Spartakiades, especially in university 
physical education units and sports clubs, 
(Bobrík & Seman, 2012, p. 33) in order to 
not only create a high membership base 
camp but also to have enough people who 
could be easily forced to perform. 
The III. Nationwide Spartakiade was 
held from 1 to 4 July 1965 (Dobrovodský, 
1966). As the previous one, this too was 
held to commemorate the 20
th
 anniversary 
of the liberation of Czechoslovakia by the 
Soviet Army. The slogan was: „Ve jménu 
zdraví, síly a krásy za šťastný život v míru, 
za víťezství komunismu!“ ("In the name of 
health, strength and beauty for a happy life 
in peace, for the victory of communism!") 
(Šterc, 1975). The slogan makes us think 
that the Spartakiade was held in the spirit 
of Kalokagathia, but also in the spirit of 
strengthening the communist ideology. 
The preparations were completed by 
gymnasts in 1,485 public performances of 
units and schools at 424 Parish and District 
Spartakiades (Dobrovodský, 1966). A total 
of 1,365,514 gymnasts took part in them 
(Novák, 1966). For the first time, an 
exercise with parents and preschool 
children was included at the District 
Spartakiades. These exercises took place at 
the national level and the title of the 
collective composition was „Na sluníčku“ 
("In the sun") (Česká televize, n.d.). 
A significant change occurred in the 
design concept of the main program. Two 
cycles, Junior Days and Senior Days, were 
replaced by a single cycle lasting 4 days. 
The number of compositions was reduced 
to 12 and continuous Program Afternoons 
with a representative slogan were created. 
The Program Afternoons were designed 
around two program thematic concepts 
(Šterc, 1975). The first concept, „Zpěv 
míru“ ("Song of Peace"), took place 1-3 
July 1965 and the second program concept, 
„Vítězství patří nám“ ("Victory belongs to 
us"), was held between 2-4 July 1965. In 

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eight groups compositions for each 
concept,  about 90,000 gymnasts practiced 
at the stadium (Dobrovodský, 1966). 
 
An overview of the mass compositions 
performed in the main program of the 
Spartakiade 1965 
 
Younger school students (8-11 years) 
performed a composition called „Učit se 
hrou” (“Learn through Game”). Girls 
practiced dance exercises and boys an 
exercise with crates (boxes). A total of 
13,440 boys and 13,440 girls performed. 
Older students – Boys (12-14 years) 
performed a composition called „Jeden za 
všechny“ (“One for All”). It included 
12,000 boys practicing a gymnastics 
exercise. 
Older students – Girls (12-14 years) 
performed a composition called „Má země 
je kvetoucí louka“ (“My country is a 
flowering meadow"). 16,000 girls 
performed an exercise with two flowers 
with a ribbon.  
School teenagers – Boys performed a 
composition called „Přes překážky“(“Over 
the obstacles"). They used 1,260 benches 
in their exercise. 
School teenagers – Girls performed a 
composition called „Jaro země mé“ (“My 
country's spring”). A total of 14,484 girls 
practiced a floor exercise. 
Apprentice juveniles. A total of 
14,120 gymnasts performed a composition 
called „Svou práci přetváříme svět“ (“We 
are transforming the world with our work“) 
and 12,000 boys and girls practiced a 
composition using a short jump rope. 
(Šterc, 1975). The dance performance was 
delivered to the musical rhythm of cha-
cha-cha (Česká televize, n.d.). 
Men performed a composition called 
„Jednotně vpřed“ (“Unanimously go 
ahead“ and included  14,104 men 
performing gymnastics exercises in 2 
groups. 
Women performed two compositions 
called „Zpěv míru“ (“Singing of Peace“) 
and „Pohybem ke kráse“ (“By movement 
to beauty“). A total of 16,000 women 
performed the compositions based on a 
modern concept of gymnastics and 
choreography. 
 
Figure 6. Czechoslovak Spartakiade 
1985, Strahov stadium in Prague. Women 
performed the original aesthetically 
impressive dance vortex in a circular 
exercise called “Rej”. Source: Ilja Van de 
Pavert (1985). Personal photo from 
Spartakiade 1985. Československá 
republika, Praha. Retrieved from 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilvic/albu
ms/72157625792004861  
One of the most attractive mass 
compositions was the performance of the 
Czechoslovak Army called "Vítězství patří 
nám" (“Victory belongs to us“), where 
16,000 soldiers entered the stadium in 
armored transporters (Šterc, 1975). 
This Spartakiade also included sports 
competitions and tourist events that were 
attended by 2,200,000 athletes and tourists. 
It introduced a multi-competency badge 
(PPOV) competition in categories: best 
district, best team and best athlete 
(Šindelářová, 2011, p.69). 
The benefit of the Spartakiade was the 
organization of the National Spartakiade 
for deaf, blind and physically handicapped 
athletes that was held in parallel with the 
main event at the Strahov Stadium (Česká 
televize, n.d.). 
Friendship Evenings were held in 
a sports hall in Prague for the first time. 
Gymnastic exercises were practiced by 
gymnasts from Bulgaria, Finland, France, 

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Yugoslavia and Cuba (Šindelářová, 2011, 
p.69). 
At III. Nationwide Spartakiade in 
1965, a total of 356,120 gymnasts took 
part in the main program in front of 
730,000 viewers (Šterc, 1975, p. 59). A 
total of 27,757 gymnasts from Slovakia 
participated (Slovenský zväz rekreačnej 
telesnej výchovy a športu, n.d.). 
Even though there was a decrease in 
the number of gymnasts and compositions 
and there were some changes in the design 
of the  program, it is not possible to 
evaluate III. Nationwide Spartakiade as 
unsuccessful, as it introduced an 
innovation that worked and was applied to 
future Spartakiades. 
Five years later, in 1970, the IV. 
Nationwide Spartakiade was planned; 
however, the highest political authorities 
decided to cancel the event. The main 
reason was fear of demonstrations because 
of August 1968 when occupying troops of 
the Soviet Union and its allies had entered 
the territory of Czechoslovakia. The 
political leadership expected 
demonstrations against the occupation and 
the political regime that could probably be 
organized at a planned mass sports event 
such as the Spartakiade. Thus, there were 
also concerns for the safety of gymnasts. 
(Školské, 2015). 
In 1975, the official name ‘The 
Nationwide Spartakiade’ was changed to 
Czechoslovak Spartakiade (Doležalová, 
2018). 
The Czechoslovak Spartakiade 1975 
was held from 23 June to 1 July  
(YouTube, 2015). 
It was traditionally held as a 
celebration of the 30
th
 anniversary of the 
liberation of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet 
Army. The slogan this time was: „Pod 
vedením Komunistické strany 
Československa za další rozvoj 
socialistické tělesné výchovy“ ("Under the 
leadership of the Communist Party of 
Czechoslovakia for the further 
development of socialist physical 
education”) (Chválny, 1976). 
More than 1,460,000 gymnasts 
performed at Local, Parish and District 
Spartakiades during the preparation stage. 
A total of 180,000 gymnasts performed in 
two Program Afternoons at the Strahov 
Stadium. The main program comprised 16 
compositions (https://www.maria-
online.us/go.php?x=1). A total of 27,757 
gymnasts from Slovakia took part in this 
mass event (Slovenský zväz rekreačnej 
telesnej výchovy a športu, n.d.). 
The Program Afternoons were 
conceived around two program thematic 
concepts that were repeated twice, 
following the model from the Spartakiade 
in 1965 (Šindelářová, 2011). 
 
An overview of the mass compositions 
performed in the main program of the 
Spartakiade 1975 
 
Parents with children (3-5 years) 
performed a composition with a musical 
accompaniment. Children from Prague and 
its immediate surroundings practiced 
exercises at the Strahov stadium. Three-
year-old children were the youngest 
gymnasts in the history of Czechoslovakia 
who took part in a mass sports event. 
The youngest school children (6-8 
years) performed a composition with 
concrete building blocks. 
Younger school students - Boys (9-11 
years) - 7,000 boys performed a 
composition using red and white flying 
discs.  
Younger school students - Girls (9-11 
years)- 14,000 girls performed a dance 
composition. 
Older students (12-14 years) – 11,500 
boys performed a composition using sticks 
and balls. 
Apprentice juveniles - 14,000 boys 
and girls performed a composition to 
music using non-traditional instruments 
similar to a Swedish vaulting box. 
School teenagers – Girls performed a 
composition called „Zpíváme slunci“ (“We 
sing to the Sun“). A total of 7,000 girls 

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practiced exercises with gymnastic 
elements. 
Men (17-75 years) performed a brisk 
and practical group composition aimed at 
preventing obesity. 
Women practiced group exercises with 
cones and blue ribbons to a well-known 
musical composition ‘Vltava’ composed 
by world-famous artist Bedřich Smetana. 
The performance of the Army began 
with a flight of fighters over the stadium 
and continued with admirable gymnastic 
mass compositions demanding physical 
fitness and spatial orientation (YouTube, 
2015). 
Gymnasts from ten, mostly socialist, 
countries took part in the international 
event Večery Družby (Friendship 
Evenings) (Wikipedia, 2020). 
Sports competitions experienced a 
great boom. A total of 3,890,475 athletes 
participated in winter and summer 
Spartakiade sports competitions 
(Šindelářová, 2011, p.72). An interesting 
sporting event was the Spartakiade Relay 
of Dukla Prague attended by 820,660 
runners, some from other countries. 
Tourists participated in an event called 
“Ohňové posolstvo” ("Fire Message") 
including almost 250,000 tourists 
(Wikipedia, 2020). 
At the end of the Spartakiade, there 
was a parade with120,000 participants 
marching through Prague. It was watched 
by 700,000 spectators (Březina, 1996). 
Despite unfavorable weather - there 
was constant rain during the mass 
performances on the first day of the main 
program, the Czechoslovak Spartakiade in 
1975 surpassed all previous mass physical 
education events in terms of its aesthetic 
value, performance, organization, care, 
technical parameters at the stadium and 
participants’ involvement in the procession 
around Prague (Perútka, 1980, p. 222). 
Other sports events held elsewhere 
were often dedicated to Spartakiades. For 
example, in 1975 the oldest national road 
race in Slovakia called “Devín – 
Bratislava” was dedicated not only to the 
30
th
 anniversary of the liberation of 
Czechoslovakia, but also to the 
Czechoslovak Spartakiade. (Bobrík & 
Seman, 2017, p. 43). 
The Czechoslovak Spartakiade in 
1980 was held from 26 to 29 June. It was 
held in honor of the 35
th
 anniversary of 
liberation by the Soviet Army. A total of 
fifteen compositions were presented in 
four Program Afternoons. The 
compositions were modern in terms of 
music and physical movement. The 
originality of spatial solutions and a higher 
difficulty level of exercises provided a 
proof of increasing effectiveness of the 
physical education process in 
Czechoslovakia. 
The gymnastic compositions by the 
Czechoslovak Army and women were 
repeated in both Program Afternoons. The 
highest number of gymnasts participating 
in one composition was 13,824. 
A total of 1,265,320 gymnasts took 
part in the Regional and Parish 
Spartakiades and a total of 702,732 
gymnasts took part in the District 
Spartakiades (Chválny, 1981, pp.161-162). 
A total of 189,000 gymnasts 
performed at Strahov during the main 
Spartakiade program. The main program 
was watched by 2,340,000 spectators. The 
event cost 673,000,000 Czechoslovak 
crowns, i.e., about 220,000,000 euros 
(Kern, 2015). A total of 34,652 Slovak 
gymnasts participated in the main program 
(Slovenský zväz rekreačnej telesnej 
výchovy a športu, n.d.). 
 
An overview of the mass compositions 
performed in the main program of the 
Spartakiade 1980 
 
I. Program Afternoon (26 June – 28 
June) 
Opening I. – a total of 2,944 high 
school students performed a dance 
composition called „Oslava 
života“("Celebration of Life"). 
The youngest school children (5-7 
years) performed a composition by ČSTV 

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and the Ministry of Education; 840 
children with 192 trainers participated. The 
aim of the composition was to lead 
children to an all-round movement 
development through simple gymnastic 
exercises. 
School teenagers – Boys (15-18 years) 
performed mass composition by ČSTV and 
the Ministry of Education; 6,912 boys 
presented a mass gymnastic exercise in 
pairs and trios. The composition had lots of 
difficult elements.  
Younger school students – Girls (8-11 
years) performed a collective composition 
by ČSTV and the Ministry of Education. 
13,824 girls practiced a mass exercise 
using non-traditional tools – red wooden 
frames. 
Apprentice Youth (15-18 years) 
performed a collective composition by 
ČSTV and the Ministry of Education; 
6,912 girls practiced gymnastic exercise 
using metal bars and orange ribbons and 
6,912 boys exercised with chrome bars. 
10,368 women performed a collective 
composition by ČSTV and the Ministry of 
Education. The composition was focused 
on the rhythm, movement alterations and 
spatial perception. 
Older students – Boys (12-14 years) – 
9,216 students performed a collective 
composition by ČSTV and the Ministry of 
Education. 
The Czechoslovak People's Army 
performed a mass composition organized 
by Ministry of National Defense. A total of 
13,824 soldiers were involved in the first 
and second Program Afternoon. The 
soldiers performed demanding gymnastic 
exercises with acrobatic elements, e.g., 
ejection from "live " trampolines into bent 
high squadrons. 
The Ending I. – a total of 15,018 
gymnasts performed a group composition 
forming the symbol of the XXII. Olympic 
Games.  
II. Program Afternoon (27 June  - 29 
June) 
Opening II. – A total of 1,944 women 
performed a collective composition with 
red battalions as part of a coin technique 
and 1,728 men performed sports 
gymnastics. 
Parents with children (3-4 years) 
performed a collective composition by 
ČSTV and the Ministry of Education, 
including 2,450 children with mothers and 
fathers. They practiced exercises in pairs 
and more emphasis was put on the 
elements of basic gymnastics for parents. 
Women performed the same collective 
composition as in the I. Program 
Afternoon. 
Younger school students – Boys (8-11 
years) performed a collective composition 
by ČSTV and the Ministry of Education. 
13,824 boys practiced a mass exercise 
using balls, skipping ropes and rings also 
known as “Hula Hoops”. 
Zväzarm and schools – The collective 
composition of ČSTV and the Ministry of 
Education was intended primarily for 
future high school graduates aged 16 and 
over. A total of 6,144 boys practiced a 
mass gymnastic exercise using an original 
metal gymnastic apparatus called 
“semicircles”. 
Universities - A group composition 
was performed by 5,760 male and 5,760 
female students. The performance had a 
dance character with the use of aesthetic 
elements of "jazz gymnastics" and folklore 
motives. 
Older students - Girls (12-14 years) – 
13,824 female students performed a 
collective composition by ČSTV and the 
Ministry of Education. The exercise was 
focused on basic and modern gymnastics. 
6,912 Men performed a collective 
composition by ČSTV and the Ministry of 
Education. It was a dynamic composition 
with a fitness test performed by 18-year-
olds as well as 80-year-old men. 
School female teenagers and women – 
5,760 female gymnasts performed a 
collective composition by ČSTV and the 
Ministry of Education. The exercises 
included fitness gymnastics using special 
mattresses. 

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School teenagers – Girls (15-18 
years) performed a collective composition 
by ČSTV and the Ministry of Education. 
13,824 girls practiced a mass exercise 
using white skipping ropes with foam 
tassels. 
The Czechoslovak People's Army 
performed the same composition as in the 
I. Program Afternoon (Chválny, 1981). 
 
 
Figure 7. Czechoslovak Spartakiade 
1985, Strahov stadium in Prague. Women 
performed the original dance composition 
with scarves.Source: Ilja Van de Pavert 
(1985). Personal photo from Spartakiade 
1985. Československá republika, Praha. 
Retrieved from 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilvic/albu
ms/72157625792004861.  
In addition to the main program, 
Večery Družby (Friendship Evenings) with 
international participation were 
traditionally held in the Prague Sports 
Hall. The event was attended by gymnasts 
from ten countries. The program was 
repeated four times and was watched by 
more than 50,000 spectators. 
A total of 4,232,840 athletes took part 
in the sports competitions during the 
Spartakiade. As part of sports 
competitions, the Spartakiade Cup of 
Talents in Skiing and Sledding was held in 
the winter season. The Talent Cup of the 
Chairman of the Central Committee of the 
ČSTV, Youth Sports Games, 
Apprenticeship Olympiads, Youth 
Agricultural Olympiad, etc., were held in 
the summer as part of sports competitions 
(Film Europe Media Company, n.d.). 
More than 3,100,000 tourists took part 
in 2,320 tourist events called “Fire 
Message" (Chválny, 1981, pp. 161-162). 
The entire Spartakiade was recorded 
and archived on film by renowned Czech 
cinematographers and directors, so it is 
still possible to view the audio-visual 
digitized recording of the main program 
(https://www.fdb.cz/film/ceskoslovenska-
Spartakiadea-1980/30795).  
The Czechoslovak Spartakiade in 
1985 was held from 27 to 30 June 
(Demetrovič, 1985). 
It was held to commemorate the 40
th
 
anniversary of the national liberation and 
liberation by the Soviet Army. The 
program reflected the pride and love of the 
working people and youth for their 
socialist homeland (Súkup, 1985, p.2). The 
ceremonial parade through Prague was 
attended by 176,400 gymnasts and 
watched by 90,000 spectators (Demetrovič, 
1985, p. 184).  
Preparations for the Spartakiade began 
with the traditional ritual “Fire Message", 
organized by the Tourism Association. A 
total of 3,242 fire wafers were lit 
throughput the Czechoslovak Republic 
(Demetrovič, 1985, p. 47). 
A total of 2,186,905 gymnasts 
performed at Local, Parish and District 
Spartakiades that were viewed by almost 
3,917,611 spectators (Demetrovič, 1985, 
p.188). 
The Spartakiade compositions were 
organized by ČSTV - ZRTV and again 
included a large number of practicing 
gymnasts. The exercises were performed 
by 5-year-old children to adults. They were 
mainly floor exercises. 
The large base of gymnasts came from 
primary schools (younger and older 
students), apprentice schools (school 
teenagers, juveniles) and universities. 
Spartakiade preparations in schools were 
incorporated in compulsory physical 
education lessons. Both basic service 
soldiers and younger professional soldiers 

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were selected for the military 
compositions, 13,824 men in total 
(Doležalová, 2018). 
The main program at the Strahov 
Stadium was divided into two Program 
Afternoons; each Program Afternoon had 
two repeats. During the main program, a 
total of 172,496 gymnasts performed mass 
exercises in fifteen compositions; it was 
watched by 940,000 spectators 
(Demetrovič, 1985, pp. 188-189). A total 
of 36,433 gymnasts from Slovakia 
participated in ten performances 
(Slovenský zväz rekreačnej telesnej 
výchovy a športu, n.d.). 
 
An overview of the mass compositions 
performed in the main program of the 
Spartakiade 1985 
 
I. Program Afternoon (27 June – 29 
June) 
Opening I. – A total of 648 gymnasts 
performed in the opening ceremony.  
Women I. – 13,824 women performed 
a group composition with small hoops and 
ribbons; its title was  „Listy ratolesti“ 
(“Leaves of a branch“).  
Parents with children - 2,336 
practicing pairs performed a group 
composition called „Prvé dotyky“ („First 
touches“). 
Older students – Boys (11-14 years) 
performed a collective composition called 
„Lano života“ (“Rope of life“). A total of 
10,368 boys performed the mass exercise 
with ropes. 
Younger school students – Girls (8-11 
years) 10,752 girls performed a collective 
composition called „Kto je kamarát“(“Who 
is a friend“) using a ribbon with rings at 
both ends. 
The Czechoslovak People's Army 
performed a collective composition called 
„Mať to štastie“(“To have luck“). There 
were 13,824 soldiers in each of the four 
performances executing demanding 
disciplinary gymnastics and acrobatic 
exercises.   
School teenagers – 13,824 girls 
performed collective composition 
„Najkrajší vek“ (“The most beautiful age“) 
using ribbons on a short pole. 
Universities – A collective 
composition called „Mladosť a krása“ 
(“Youth and beauty“) was performed by 
5,148 university students. Male students 
did an exercise with over-balls and female 
students with a ball in the net. 
School teenagers – 6,912 boys 
performed a collective composition „Zajtra 
muži“ (“Men tomorrow“) with two 
benches. 
Apprentice Youth – 13,824 boys and 
girls performed a composition called 
„Dynamická, veselá“ (“Dynamic, 
cheerful“) using skipping ropes (Súkup, 
1985, p. 8). 
 
 
Figure 8. Czechoslovak Spartakiade 1985, 
Strahov stadium in Prague. Boys practiced 
mass gymnastic exercise using the original 
gymnastic apparatus called the 
“semicircles” made from metal. Source: 
Ilja Van de Pavert (1985). Personal photo 
from Spartakiade 1985. Československá 
republika, Praha. Retrieved from 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilvic/album
s/72157625792004861.  
II. Program Afternoon (28 – 30 June) 
Zväzarm performed a collective 
composition called „Áno i nie“ (“Yes and 
no“). There were 6,144 gymnasts 
performing gymnastic geometric exercises 
using heavy metal semicircles. 
The youngest school children (5-7 
years) 5,760 children performed a 

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collective composition called „Leťme s 
drakmi“ (“Let's fly with dragons“) using an 
original pedagogical toy that consisted of 5 
foam cubes joined into one unit depicting a 
dragon. 
Younger school students - Boys (8-11 
years) performed a composition „Les 
tenistov“ (“Forest of tennis players“). 
There were 10,752 boys exercising with 
tennis rackets and moss balls. 
Older students – Girls (11-14 years) – 
13,824 girls performed a composition 
called “Usmiate púčiky” (“Smiling buds”). 
Women II – 13,824 women performed 
a collective composition „Listy ratolesti“ 
(“Leaves of a branch”) using  scarves. 
Men performed a collective 
composition „Od 18 do 80 rokov“ (“From 
18 to 80 years“). A total of 8,640 men 
executed demanding acrobatic exercises. 
School female teenagers and women – 
6,912 gymnasts performed a collective 
composition with cones. 
The Czechoslovak People's Army 
performed the same collective composition 
as in the I. Program Afternoon. 
The last and final Spartakiade 
composition was performed by 16,000 
gymnasts (Súkup, 1985). 
The Spartakiade in 1985 received a 
positive response, as evidenced by the 
statement of a participant and then 
chairman of the International Olympic 
Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, who 
said: "The Spartakiade is one of the most 
important sporting events I have ever seen. 
I have seen many mass sports 
performances in other countries, but in my 
life never like the one here in Prague. I 
think that such gymnastic events as the 
Spartakiade can also contribute to the 
development of elite sport. 
Congratulations on organizing the 
Spartakiade (Demetrovič, 1985). "Your 
physical education performances are a 
clear example for other countries" (Súkup, 
1985, p.27). 
In addition to Czechoslovak 
gymnasts, delegations from eight countries 
(Bulgarian People's Republic, Finland, 
France, Cuba, the Hungarian People's 
Republic, the German Democratic 
Republic, the Polish People's Republic, the 
USSR) performed gymnastic exercises in 
35 collective compositions at Večery 
Družby (Friendship Evenings). About 
70,000 spectators attended this traditional 
gymnastic event (Demetrovič, 1985, p. 
184). An interesting, modern gymnastic 
performance was presented by German 
gymnasts. Romanian gymnasts 
successfully performed gymnastic 
exercises using a new, non-traditional tool 
– connecting hemispheres filled with silk 
scarves. Slovak gymnast from the Faculty 
of Physical Education and Sports in 
Bratislava, led by Hedviga Šimoneková, 
Emilie Fialová and Anton Gajdoš, 
performed an attractive folk dance and an 
interesting gymnastic composition with 
skipping ropes (Súkup, 1985, p. 25). 
 
 
Figure 9. Czechoslovak Spartakiade 1985, 
Strahov stadium in Prague. Girls 
performed collective conposition with 
musical accompaniment called „Najkrajší 
vek“ („The most beautiful age“).Source: 
Ilja Van de Pavert (1985). Personal photo 
from Spartakiade 1985. Československá 
republika, Praha. Retrieved from 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ilvic/album
s/72157625792004861.  
A total of 9,089,243 athletes took part 
in more than 12,000 sports competitions in 
various sports events. In an event for 
tourists called „Za jeden den kolem celé 
ČSSR“ ("In one day around the whole 
Czechoslovakia") participants completed a 

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total of 48 hiking marches throughout 
Czechoslovakia in one day (Demetrovič, 
1985, p. 185). 
Immediately after the end of the 
Spartakiade, preparations for the 
Spartakiade in 1990 started, as evidenced 
by mass preparations in 1988 and 1989 
including thousands of gymnasts (Kern, 
2015). However, due to the political, 
economic, cultural and ideological changes 
that began in November 1989, the planned 
Czechoslovak Spartakiade did not take 
place in 1990 (Oborný, 2020).  
After the fall of communism, the 
festival of ideological physical education - 
Spartakiade - was replaced by the Prague 
Sports Games that were held at a much 
smaller stadium. The number of gymnasts 
and spectators was lower and there were 
fewer events and categories (Kern, 2015). 
Since 1985 the idea of Spartakiade has 
not been revived. The only mass exercises 
on a large training ground since 1985 were 
due to the revival of Sokol Slets in 1994, 
2000, 2005, 2012 and 2018. These Sokol 
Slets were held at the transnational level, 
but never had such a high participation of 
gymnasts as Spartakiades (Česká obec 
sokolská, 2020). 
 
CONCLUSION 
 
Spartakiades, as a successor of Pan-
Sokol Slets, that were held in 
Czechoslovakia in the period 1955 - 1985, 
were certainly a phenomenon in the 
physical education culture and sports. To 
this day there has not been a comparable 
event that would involve such a large 
number of gymnasts in group 
performances. There were 552,000 
gymnasts in 1955 and 172,496 performing 
at the last Spartakiade in 1985. 
Spartakiades were mass sports 
performances with a well-thought-out 
organizational structure, systematic, 
regular preparation and with a precise 
execution of compositions. The 
composition content was divided into 
gender and age categories from 5 to 80-
year-olds. Chorographically, there were 
floor exercises, different types of 
gymnastics and dance exercises using 
various non-traditional instruments and 
tools. Very attractive were performances 
given by the Czechoslovak Army as 
soldiers performed demanding gymnastic 
and acrobatic exercises. The goal was to 
create unique thematic formations that the 
spectators seated in the elevated parts of 
the stadium could admire. The Spartakiade 
compositions were the result of several 
years and months of preparation and drills 
and they symbolized ideological messages, 
most often the message of unity, 
cooperation and maintaining peace. As part 
of each Spartakiade, various cultural, 
social and sports competitions with 
international participation were held. Thus, 
we can unequivocally confirm that 
Spartakiades represented the development 
of physical education culture for the 
masses with an emphasis on the socio-
cultural-physical development of the 
individual. 
 
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Corresponding author: 
 
Mgr. Michal Bábela, PhD. 
Comenius University in Bratislava 
Faculty of Physical Education and Sports 
Nábr. arm. gen. L. Svobodu 9 
814 69 Bratislava 
Slovak Republic 
E mail: michal.babela@uniba.sk 
 
 
Article received: 5.9.20202 
Article accepted: 15.11.2020 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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