Czech House!

At least a handful of countries have a “house” here at the Winter Games. I have seen (passing by) the Italy House, the Austria House, the Norway House and the USA House. I’m sure there must be others. They are rarely houses but more like pop-up event spaces. Most of them are off limits to the general public and are used as gathering places for athletes and their families. There is usually lots of good food and drink to be had. The best I was ever at was the Austria House in Sestriere, Italy during the Turin Games. Austria was in the midst of bidding on these Games, the 2018 Winter Olympics and they went all out. Mountains of fantastic food, carving stations with every kind of meat imaginable and the beer never stopped flowing. Just think, I could be writing these posts from Salzburg instead of Pyeongchang.

I have not been to the USA House here but I have at other Olympics, including in London when Amy, (then Spectator, now OlympicSpectatorWannabe) was able to join us there when the women’s eight rowing team was celebrating the gold medal they had won. If you do a Google images search for Meghan Musnicki, there is a picture of Amy with Meghan right near the top of the search.

And speaking of Amy, that brings me to the Czech House, which I have visited on several occasions. It is in a handy place down at the coast when I am down there for the arena sports: figure skating, short track, hockey, etc.

For those new to the blog, or who may not know, the Michigan contingent in the comments section has strong Czech roots, so I try my best to have some Czech related posts.

What is particularly nice about the Czech House this time around is that it is open to the public. They are celebrating 100 years of the Czech Olympic team (summer and winter). The food is good there although may not rival Austria’s from 2006, but the Pilsner flows nonstop just the same. The walls are covered with the history of the Czech Olympic Team. Do you know in what sport it won its first Olympic medal? Hints: It was in the Summer Games and the sport is no longer in the Olympics. You still won’t get it, but maybe you could Google it after you look for Amy’s picture with Meghan Musnicki.

One night I was there they were celebrating the silver medal of Martina Sablikova, who won in speed skating. They have the tiniest ping pong tables there and they sell nice wool caps that say the Czech Olympic Team on them.

There is one thing everyone notices there and pretty much anywhere you go in Korea. Everyplace is way too brightly lit. Restaurants, stores and the Czech House, all with lights a-blazing. In fact, I happened to be there at closing time one night (it closes at 11 pm) and they dimmed the lights to let us know it was time to leave. They have it totally backwards here: they add the ambience when it’s time to kick you out!